Ether treasury managers are increasingly looking beyond straightforward staking rewards to extract higher yields, with liquid staking and other active deployment strategies moving into the mainstream playbook. Speaking at ETHCC 2026, Kean Gilbert, head of institutional relations at Lido Finance, highlighted liquid staking as a pathway for treasuries to earn extra returns while maintaining exposure to ETH staking benefits.

In the United States, listed staking products for Ether have proliferated, and public disclosures show treasuries experimenting with a blend of staking approaches. The current landscape includes several exchange-traded or registered products that package staked ETH into visible yields, alongside native staking options. As investors compare these vehicles, the underlying economics remain uneven, with different structures and fees complicating apples-to-apples judgments about potential returns.

Key takeaways

• Liquid staking offers a transferable token that can be deployed elsewhere in DeFi while ETH remains staked, enabling yield-enhancing strategies beyond simple staking rewards.
• Treasury managers are weighing active deployment methods—such as posting ETH as collateral and borrowing against it—as potential sources of higher return relative to passive staking vehicles.
• Public filings show real-world adoption of liquid-staking alongside native staking, with companies reporting notable portions of rewards attributable to liquid-staking activity.
• The U.S. ETF landscape for staked ETH has grown, but reported yields vary across products, and several datasets indicate that direct yield comparisons are not straightforward.
• Analysts emphasize that actively managed treasury strategies offer potential premium through dynamic deployment, even if headline yields on ETFs don’t directly mirror on-chain staking rewards.

Active yield and the logic of liquid staking

Liquid staking, at its core, allows Ether holders to stake their assets while receiving a tradeable token representing their staked position. That token can be used across DeFi protocols, giving treasuries a path to generate additional yield without surrendering staking exposure. At ETHCC 2026, Gilbert framed liquid staking as a viable mechanism for treasury desks to pursue incremental returns by layering on additional strategies on top of the basic staking rewards.

Beyond simply staking, some treasury operations are considering using ETH as collateral to borrow against it, enabling a form of leverage that could boost overall yield if managed prudently. In practice, this means treasuries may activate a range of DeFi primitives—collateralized loans, liquidity provision, and cross- protocol basis trading—to capture returns that passive staked ETH products alone cannot deliver.

“A staked ETH ETF is a passive vehicle. A DAT trading at a meaningful mNAV premium is promising something a passive ETF structurally cannot deliver, which is active, dynamic deployment of spot inventory across opportunities as they arise.”

That perspective comes from Jimmy Xue, co-founder and chief operating officer of Axis, a quantitative yield platform. He adds that the premium reflected in a mutualized treasury’s market value—often described as a market net asset value or mNAV premium—signals investor confidence in a manager’s ability to deploy a treasurer’s ETH treasury across opportunities as they emerge. In his view, basis trading and related strategies can be major yield sources for treasury-oriented products, helping to bridge the gap between simple staking rewards and the full spectrum of deployed yields.

Yield figures and the ETF contrast

The current U.S. ETF lineup for staked Ether includes a set of products that publicly disclose staking economics, but direct comparisons to on-chain staking returns are not straightforward. Among notable offerings are:

• REX-Osprey ETH + Staking ETF, which launched in September 2025.
• Grayscale’s Ethereum Staking ETF and Ethereum Staking Mini ETF.
• BlackRock’s iShares Staked Ethereum Trust ETF, introduced on March 12.

Issuer disclosures reveal varying fee structures and payout assumptions, which complicates simple yield comparisons. For example, Grayscale’s Ethereum Trust pages show net staking rewards around 2.26% as of April 6, while Grayscale’s ETH Staking product page lists about 2.56% as of April 2. By contrast, on-chain native ETH staking yields have hovered around 2.7% to 2.8% per year according to data from Staking Rewards. The discrepancy underscores how ETF mechanics—management fees, hedges, and the timing of reward accrual—shape reported yields even when the underlying staking economics are similar.

As Xue noted, the real value proposition of an actively managed treasury is not simply the headline yield but the ability to deploy capital from spot inventory across opportunities as they arise. This view aligns with the broader market trend of treasury desks seeking to convert passive staking into diversified, yield-enhancing activity through liquid staking and related strategies.

Glass‑door into real-world adoption: Sharplink and BTCS

Public disclosures provide a rare window into how Ether treasuries are actually deploying liquid-staking strategies. Sharplink Gaming, the second-largest Ether holder by reported holdings, disclosed that it had staked 14,516 ETH as of March, generating roughly 30.8 million dollars in staking rewards. Of those rewards, about one-third were attributed to liquid staking, with the remaining two-thirds stemming from native staking, according to a March 1 filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. It’s worth noting that Sharplink’s broader 2025 results showed a material net loss—about $734 million—driven by the downturn in the crypto market during the year’s latter half. The filing provides a tangible backdrop to the tension between mark-to-market losses and staking yield, a dynamic that treasury desks must manage in real time.

BTCS Inc., ranked among the larger Ether treasuries by returns, has also integrated liquid staking into its program. The company holds 29,122 ETH and has liquid-staked 4,160 ETH through Rocket Pool nodes, a figure disclosed in a July 2025 SEC filing. That mix illustrates how treasuries blend native staking with liquid staking to diversify revenue streams and preserve liquidity while maintaining exposure to Ether’s yield potential.

Market observers have approached these disclosures with caution, recognizing that each firm’s structure—and the data they publish—reflects unique risk profiles, governance practices, and fee frameworks. Yet the trend is clear: treasury operations are increasingly reporting and quantifying liquid-staking activity as a meaningful component of total yield generation, rather than treating it as a separate, marginal strategy.

Where the space goes from here

As more Ether treasury players disclose their strategies, the debate over what constitutes the best approach will intensify. The ETF route provides visibility and regulatory clarity for investors seeking traditional, paper-traded exposure to staked ETH; liquid staking and other active yield methods offer potential upside through more dynamic management, albeit with higher complexity and counterparty considerations. The field is at a point where the lines between passive exposure and active treasury management are increasingly blurred, and investors are paying attention to who can consistently convert ETH into productive capital deployments.

ETHCC 2026 underscored that the conversation around liquid staking is transitioning from niche experimentation to a standard item on treasuries’ flight plans. For many market participants, the critical question is not only whether liquid staking can outperform passive staking on a headline basis but whether treasury managers can reliably manage risk and liquidity while pursuing higher, more diversified yields.

Looking ahead, investors and builders should watch several developments: the pace at which more treasuries disclose liquid-staking activity; how ETF providers adjust for complexities in yield reporting and fee structures; and how risk management frameworks evolve as treasuries deploy capital across collateralized and leverage-based strategies. If the past year offers a guide, the next chapter of Ether treasury management will hinge on transparent disclosures, prudent risk-taking, and the ability to translate sophisticated yield engineering into durable, risk-adjusted returns.

As the market weighs these approaches, one certainty remains: the sophistication of Ether treasuries is rising, and liquid staking is no longer a niche feature but a core instrument in the ongoing quest to turn ETH in all its forms into productive capital.

TLDR:

• Swift introduces a dual-track model combining its payment scheme with a blockchain-based shared ledger system
• The framework supports real-time cross-border payments and regulated tokenised value movement across networks
• Major banks like BBVA, BNP Paribas, CaixaBank, and Citi are backing the new retail payments framework
• The system connects over 11,500 institutions, enabling scalable and secure global transaction processing

Swift has outlined a dual-track strategy to reshape cross-border payments, combining its existing infrastructure with a blockchain-based shared ledger.

The approach focuses on improving speed, accessibility, and interoperability while maintaining trusted connections across its global financial network.

A dual-track strategy for modern payments

A recent post shared by Swift on X introduced its evolving payments framework and direction. The message framed the future of payments as a coordinated system rather than a single solution. It described how Swift is building on its established network while adding new digital capabilities.

The first component of this strategy centers on Swift’s payments scheme. This system is designed to deliver faster and more efficient cross-border transactions.

It supports financial institutions that rely on secure and standardized messaging across international markets. As a result, banks can process transactions with reduced friction and improved consistency.

At the same time, Swift is working on a blockchain-based shared ledger. This second track focuses on enabling continuous, real-time payment processing across borders.

The system is also structured to support regulated tokenised assets, which are becoming more relevant in financial markets.

The combination of these two systems creates a parallel structure. Each track addresses different needs while remaining connected.

Traditional payment flows continue to operate, while newer digital rails expand capabilities. This approach allows institutions to adopt innovation without disrupting existing operations.

Swift’s network already connects over 11,500 financial institutions across more than 200 countries and territories. Therefore, any enhancement to its system has a wide reach.

By integrating both traditional and blockchain-based systems, Swift aims to support a broader range of payment use cases.

Banks support framework for retail transactions

Several global banks have joined Swift in supporting the rollout of its updated payments framework. These include BBVA, BNP Paribas, CaixaBank, and Citi. Their participation reflects early adoption of the system in real-world banking environments.

The framework focuses on improving retail transactions, especially cross-border consumer payments. These payments often face delays and higher processing costs. Swift’s updated model aims to address these issues by improving speed and reliability.

Through the payments scheme, banks can continue using familiar systems while gaining efficiency. Meanwhile, the shared ledger introduces new options for processing value instantly. This is particularly relevant for tokenised assets that require constant availability.

The integration of both systems allows financial institutions to test and expand new services. Banks can gradually adopt blockchain-based features while maintaining operational stability. This phased approach reduces risk while encouraging innovation.

Swift’s announcement also pointed users to further details through its official website. The shared post emphasized how both tracks work together rather than compete. It framed the development as a step toward a more connected and flexible financial system.

As global payments evolve, financial institutions continue to explore ways to improve transaction speed and transparency.

Swift’s dual approach reflects this shift by combining established infrastructure with emerging technologies. The framework is structured to support both current needs and future developments in cross-border finance.

The rollout of this model is ongoing, with participating banks playing a key role in implementation. As adoption expands, the system is expected to handle a wider range of payment types. This includes both traditional transfers and digital asset-based transactions.

Swift’s strategy shows how financial networks are adapting to changing demands. By aligning multiple technologies, the organization is positioning its network to handle diverse payment flows in a connected manner.

AVAX One signs a no‑upfront‑capex 10MW AI/HPC microgrid deal in Alberta and buys 220 S21 Pro miners, lifting hash rate 33% and formalizing a dual AI infra plus Bitcoin mining strategy.

AVAX One Technology has committed to a 10 megawatt AI and high‑performance computing microgrid data center in Alberta, Canada, tying its turnaround story to the convergence of power‑hungry AI workloads and Bitcoin mining economics. In a statement released via GlobeNewswire, the company said it has signed a Front End Engineering & Design (FEED) proposal with BlueFlare Energy Solutions for a 10MW AI/HPC micro‑grid at the 4‑31 Battery site, describing the facility as “one of Alberta’s first dedicated micro‑grid‑powered AI and high‑performance computing data centers.” The FEED will be conducted “without any upfront capital commitment from AVAX One,” relying on an independent review from one of three pre‑qualified international engineering firms to define technical, regulatory and cost parameters before a final investment decision.

According to AVAX One, the 4‑31 Battery site offers behind‑the‑meter natural‑gas‑to‑power capability, proximity to 138 kV transmission lines, redundant fiber and highway access, giving the project both cheap energy and export optionality. BlueFlare CEO Landon Ruszkowski called the FEED engagement “the first formal step in what we believe will become a landmark AI infrastructure project in Alberta,” emphasizing that the study will set the foundation for a scalable, modular compute build‑out. AVAX One CEO Jolie Kahn framed the initiative in macro terms, saying, “We are launching a strategy that we believe directly aligns with one of the most significant infrastructure‑type opportunities of the coming decade. Demand for AI and high‑performance computing continues to accelerate, while access to power remains the primary bottleneck.”

While the FEED runs in parallel with early site work, AVAX One has bought 220 Bitmain Antminer S21 Pro machines for under $500,000 to immediately monetize available power and stabilize cash flow. The company said the purchase will “increase [its] total hash rate capacity in Alberta by approximately 33%, from roughly 150 petahash to more than 200 petahash,” effectively turning the interim phase of the AI project into a Bitcoin mining expansion. A KuCoin flash note on the announcement highlighted the move as a deliberate “dual‑track strategy of ‘mining + AI computing,’” arguing that rapid monetization of stranded energy can improve the risk‑reward profile of AVAX One’s AI infrastructure build.

Management is now explicitly positioning AVAX One as a hybrid AI infrastructure and Bitcoin mining platform, using low‑cost Canadian natural gas as the common input. “Our goal is to leverage behind‑the‑meter energy and modular data center design to support both AI and digital asset workloads, capturing upside from two fast‑growing, power‑constrained markets,” Kahn said, adding that the FEED structure “allows us to advance a 10MW AI/HPC opportunity without dilutive upfront capital while our mining operations generate cash flow.”

• Toncoin adoption grows with 87 million Telegram wallet users in the US.
• Market sentiment remains bearish due to altcoin rotation and whale activity.
• The resistance at $1.28 will likely define Toncoin’s short-term price movements.

Toncoin (TON), the native token of the TON blockchain, has been in the spotlight recently due to the ongoing Sub-Second mainnet activation and its integration with Telegram’s massive user base.

💎 The Sub-Second mainnet activation starts now!

TON Core has just shared the completion of the Bug Bounty & stated that changes were already implemented. Now they are moving to the next stage – Sub-Second Mainnet activation.

For additional reliability, activation will be… pic.twitter.com/ddSdwXDnYM

— TON 💎 (@ton_blockchain) April 1, 2026

The upgrade, which is scheduled to run from March 31 to April 12, is set to improve the network’s speed, efficiency, and scalability, which could impact Toncoin’s adoption and market behavior.

However, despite its technological potential, Toncoin has faced a challenging market environment in recent months.

Currently, TON coin trades around $1.23, down about 2.5% over the past 24 hours.

This underperformance is largely linked to a broader trend in the crypto market known as altcoin sector rotation, where investors move their capital from higher-risk altcoins into more stable assets.

The Altcoin Season Index, which measures market interest in altcoins, has dropped significantly, highlighting the cautious sentiment among traders.

This environment has made it difficult for Toncoin to break out from its current range, despite ongoing development progress.

TON adoption and ecosystem growth

TON’s growth is closely tied to its adoption within Telegram, which now supports over 87 million active users in the United States with its self-custodial TON Wallet.

This wallet allows users to transfer and stake Toncoin directly within the messaging app, offering a seamless on-ramp for millions of potential users.

Such integration provides Toncoin with a unique advantage, as it could benefit from network effects far faster than many other Layer-1 blockchains.

On-chain activity supports this potential, with Toncoin showing consistent daily usage.

According to available data, the network records hundreds of thousands of active wallets and millions of daily transactions.

This suggests that while Toncoin’s price has been stagnant, actual usage is steadily growing, signaling a foundation for long-term adoption.

However, a significant portion of the token supply, around 68%, is held by whales.

This concentration increases the risk of large sell-offs, making sudden price spikes less predictable.

Toncoin technical analysis

Toncoin presents an intriguing case of technological potential versus market sentiment.

Its integration with Telegram gives it a unique edge, and the Sub-Second mainnet activation may improve network performance, but short-term price action remains uncertain.

From a technical perspective the short-term support lies near $1.02, with a secondary floor around $0.81.

If the price rebounds following the Sub-Second mainnet activation, the immediate resistance sits at $1.34, followed by higher resistance levels at $1.50 and $1.90.

Historically, a break above $1.28 has always meant momentum for higher price ranges.

But while the Sub-Second mainnet activation could provide a short-term positive driver, the token’s price is still largely influenced by broader market conditions rather than project-specific developments.

On the downside, analysts highlight that failure to hold the $1.20 level could lead to tests of the yearly low around $1.10, especially if broader altcoin rotation continues.

US-listed spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds recorded $471.32 million in net inflows on April 6, marking their largest single-day inflow in six weeks since February 25. Twelve of the twelve ETFs tracked posted either zero or positive flows, with BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) leading inflows. The surge brought cumulative net inflows across all spot bitcoin ETFs to $56.43 billion.

The inflow spike reflects renewed institutional confidence in crypto markets after a period of weakness. No spot bitcoin ETF registered negative flows during the day, a rare occurrence that underscores broad-based buying pressure across the sector.

Sources: The Block | SoSoValue

This article was generated automatically by The Defiant’s AI news system from publicly available sources.

STRIDE Introduces Structured Security Evaluation

Solana traded near $180 during the announcement period, reflecting stable market conditions despite recent events. The foundation launched STRIDE to standardize how protocols assess and manage risks. The framework focuses on eight areas, including governance, infrastructure, and operational security.

The program evaluates protocols independently and publishes the results for public access. This approach improves transparency for users interacting with decentralized applications. It also helps projects identify weaknesses and strengthen their defenses.

Protocols exceeding $10 million in total value locked can access funded monitoring services. Those above $100 million gain support for formal verification of smart contracts. These measures aim to reduce risks before incidents occur.

SIRN Focuses on Real-Time Threat Response

Solana introduced the Solana Incident Response Network to coordinate responses during active threats. The network includes firms such as Asymmetric Research, OtterSec, and Neodyme. It enables members to share intelligence and act quickly during security events.

The network prioritizes access based on protocol size and risk exposure. It connects security experts, exchanges, and infrastructure providers. This coordination improves reaction time when incidents emerge.

Experts noted that faster response could limit damage during exploits. Some analysts pointed to delays in freezing stolen assets in past incidents. A unified response network may help address such gaps.

Drift Exploit Highlights Human Security Risks

The recent breach at Drift Protocol exposed weaknesses beyond smart contract code. Attackers used social engineering to target contributors over several months. They compromised devices and gained approval access through trusted channels.

The attack bypassed traditional audits and monitoring systems. Transactions appeared valid, which made detection difficult in real time. This case highlighted the gap between technical security and human trust.

As a result, the new initiatives aim to address both onchain and offchain risks. The foundation emphasized that projects must still maintain strong internal security practices. It stated that ecosystem tools support, but do not replace, team responsibility.

Institutional collateral and liquidity optimization fintech Transcend announced today, April 7, that it has connected to privacy-focused blockchain Canton Network. The integration enables clients to move collateral and cash in real time across counterparties and markets using a mix of traditional and tokenized assets.

Per the release, Transcend connects to more than 45 central counterparty clearinghouses (CCPs) — the intermediaries that sit between buyers and sellers in derivatives and securities markets to reduce counterparty risk — as well as five triparty agents. The integration with Canton appears to be the fintech’s first partnership with a crypto firm, letting institutions incorporate tokenized assets into existing workflows without restructuring their operating models.

The company is also building a node-as-a-service on Canton and two-way APIs to translate between DeFi and TradFi systems, nothing it will start with Canton and extend to other blockchain platforms.

Canton has been accumulating high-profile institutional partnerships in recent months, as The Defiant previously reported. JPMorgan announced it would issue its deposit token natively on Canton, with rollout planned in phases throughout 2026. Before that, DTCC selected Canton to tokenize a subset of the U.S. Treasury securities it holds, citing the network’s privacy features.

Most recently, LayerZero became the first interoperability protocol to go live on Canton, letting TradFi institutions route tokenized assets across more than 165 public blockchains while maintaining compliance requirements.

Canton describes itself as a public blockchain with a focus on configurable privacy for institutional players, a characterization that has broadly drawn skepticism from the DeFi community, which argues the network’s permissioned validator set makes the label misleading.

It’s also worth noting that the over $262 billion in tokenized RWAs reported on Canton reflects represented value — assets that use blockchain for record-keeping, but cannot be freely transferred on-chain, per RWAxyz.

Transcend CEO Bimal Kadikar framed today’s move as a bridge between two financial paradigms. “The future of collateral is TradFi and DeFi, operating in concert,” Kadikar said in the release.

This article was written with the assistance of AI workflows. All our stories are curated, edited and fact-checked by a human.