PostFinance, a government-owned retail bank in Switzerland, has announced the launch of Ether (ETH) staking services for its 2.7 million customers. As one of the country’s leading banks, this move makes Ether staking accessible to a significant portion of the Swiss population.
Accessible Ether Staking for All
Unlike traditional Ethereum staking, which typically requires a minimum of 32 ETH (roughly $106,000 at current prices), PostFinance allows customers to stake as little as 0.1 ETH, worth approximately $331, according to CoinGecko.
In a blog post published on January 16, 2025, PostFinance explained that its Ether staking service is fully integrated into its digital banking platform. Customers can stake ETH for a fixed minimum term of 12 weeks and sell any earned staking rewards during this period.
Direct Integration and Future Plans
Alexander Thoma, PostFinance’s head of digital assets, emphasized the simplicity of the service, noting that it is based on native staking directly on the Ethereum blockchain.
“The staking service is completely integrated into PostFinance’s existing services. Customers can see their staking rewards directly in their asset statement alongside their other crypto assets,” said Thoma.
While the initial offering is limited to Ether, PostFinance has indicated plans to expand staking services to additional cryptocurrencies in the future.
Growing Popularity of Ether Staking
Since the launch of Ethereum’s Beacon Chain in December 2020, the total amount of staked Ether has grown significantly. Over 33 million ETH is currently staked, a sharp increase from just 682,000 ETH in December 2020, according to Beacon Chain data.
Liquid staking platforms like Lido Finance dominate the market, holding a 28% share, while Coinbase follows with a 9.5% share, according to Dune Analytics.
PostFinance’s Crypto Journey
Founded in 1906, PostFinance is the financial services arm of Swiss Post, Switzerland’s national postal service. The bank manages approximately $136 billion in assets, according to Swiss Sustainable Finance (SSF).
PostFinance has been actively exploring the crypto space for several years:
- 2021: Issued digital collectibles linked to physical stamps.
- 2022: Began developing a crypto custody platform.
- 2023: Partnered with Sygnum to offer crypto trading and custody services, launching the service in February 2024.
PostFinance’s move reflects a broader trend of traditional financial institutions entering the crypto sector. In December, Anchorage Digital became the first U.S. federally chartered bank to support liquid Ether staking.
By offering accessible staking services, PostFinance demonstrates how banks can simplify cryptocurrency adoption, further bridging the gap between traditional finance and digital assets.
