2026 Predictions: Institutional Staking – From Optional to Operational

This is an excerpt from our latest report: Zodia Custody 2026 predictions. Download the full report now to find out what next year holds for institutional digital asset custody.

Why now?

Staking sits at the intersection of three converging forces: maturing infrastructure, institutional demand for yield, and regulatory normalisation.

Maturing infrastructure

The Ethereum network’s transition to Proof-of-Stake has catalysed the shift. With more than $110 billion in assets staked globally, staking has moved from an experiment to an ecosystem. Institutions are no longer debating if they should stake, but how to do so safely and at scale.

Regulatory clarity is improving

The SEC’s evolving position distinguishes custodial staking from unregistered reward programs, recognising the difference between delegated network participation and retail-style yield products. Across the EU, MiCAR has formalised frameworks for the provision of staking services as ancillary to custody services, paving the way for compliant, bank-aligned offerings.

Client demand is accelerating innovation

Large asset managers are designing staking products not to earn rewards, but to enhance capital efficiency and participate in protocol governance. Emerging providers are competing on institutional-grade features such as slashing protection, governance transparency, and customisable delegation policies – essentials for risk oversight and fiduciary compliance.

Institutional impact

Staking represents a new form of yield on otherwise idle digital assets, but for institutions, the implications go far beyond returns.

• Capital efficiency: Staking converts static holdings into productive assets while maintaining on-chain exposure.
• Risk & control: Validator management, slashing risk, and reporting obligations demand professional infrastructure and controls.
• Compliance: Regulatory classification and audit requirements mean staking must align with fiduciary duties and jurisdictional standards.

Institutions that treat staking as an operational process – with segregation, reporting, and compliance factored in – will capture sustainable yield and strategic advantage. Those that don’t risk falling behind in an increasingly competitive, yield-aware digital asset market.

“Institutional staking is moving from experiment to expectation. Our clients want yield, but they want it delivered with the same rigour as any other financial operation – segregated, secure, and compliant. That’s why we’re building staking not as an add-on, but as an integrated capability within custody itself.”

Nezhda Aliyeva, Head of Product – Platform

Zodia in action

At Zodia Custody, we view staking as the next chapter of asset utility – but only if it’s executed within a well-controlled, segregated, and secure custody framework.

We have embedded staking services directly into our core custody platform, giving institutions the ability to participate in network rewards without compromising asset safety or regulatory posture. Assets remain under custody, never co-mingled, with clear separation of duties and auditable reporting.

Our roadmap includes:

• Broadening our network coverage across Proof-of-Stake protocols.
• Delegated staking and automated reward tracking.
• Enhanced reporting capabilities to satisfy both internal governance and external audit requirements.

For institutions, Zodia provides a safe and scalable path to staking. Turning participation in network consensus into a controlled, transparent, and trusted source of yield.

 

This is an excerpt from our latest report: Zodia Custody 2026 predictions. Download the full report now to find out what next year holds for institutional digital asset custody.