Invesco and Galaxy Digital have filed initial documents with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to launch a spot Solana exchange-traded fund (ETF), becoming the ninth issuer to enter the growing competition for crypto investment products beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum. The proposed Invesco Galaxy Solana ETF aims to track the spot price of Solana (SOL), currently ranked among the top cryptocurrencies by market capitalization.
The filing, submitted on June 25, 2025, outlines plans for the fund to trade on the Cboe BZX exchange under the ticker symbol ‘QSOL’. Like other spot crypto ETFs, it would directly hold Solana tokens while using the Lukka Prime Solana Reference Rate as its pricing benchmark. This move signals continued institutional interest in altcoin investment vehicles following the successful launches of Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs earlier.
Market analysts highlight the timing coincides with a broader regulatory shift, as the current administration’s crypto-friendly stance has accelerated ETF applications. Bloomberg’s ETF specialists now estimate a 95% chance of SEC approval for Solana ETFs by year-end 2025, reflecting heightened optimism about regulatory acceptance.
Invesco Galaxy’s ETF Structure
The partnership between Invesco and Galaxy Digital leverages both firms’ extensive ETF experience, particularly Galaxy’s crypto-native expertise. According to the SEC filing, the fund will operate as a grantor trust, meaning investors would hold shares representing direct ownership of Solana tokens stored in institutional-grade custody.
Unlike futures-based products, this spot ETF structure eliminates the need for rolling contracts and provides more precise exposure to Solana’s market movements. The filing explicitly mentions the intention to avoid staking rewards, distinguishing it from some Ethereum ETF proposals that include staking components.
The Expanding Solana ETF Landscape
With Invesco Galaxy’s entry, nine major financial institutions are now vying for SEC approval on Solana ETFs. The competitive field includes heavyweight asset managers like VanEck, Bitwise, Grayscale, and Fidelity, all submitting similar proposals in recent weeks.
This surge follows the SEC’s unexpected approval of Ethereum spot ETFs in 2024, which established a regulatory precedent for non-Bitcoin crypto products. Industry observers note the accelerated filings indicate confidence in Solana’s regulatory classification as a non-security commodity, though the SEC hasn’t formally confirmed this stance.
The race highlights Solana’s rising institutional profile, attributed to its high-throughput blockchain architecture and growing developer ecosystem. Major financial platforms like Cboe have already designated ticker symbols for proposed Solana ETFs, signaling infrastructure readiness.
Market Implications and Regulatory Outlook
Approval of Solana ETFs would mark a significant expansion of crypto accessibility in traditional finance, potentially opening pathways for other altcoins. The regulatory process involves two critical steps: approval of the 19b-4 exchange rule change and effectiveness of the S-1 registration statement.
Analysts point to political dynamics influencing the approval timeline, with the current administration’s pro-crypto stance accelerating momentum. The SEC’s recent shift toward a more collaborative approach with issuersβevident in the Ethereum ETF approvalsβsuggests a viable path forward for Solana products.
Market impact could be substantial, as Solana ETFs would provide regulated exposure to a cryptocurrency that has demonstrated both high performance and volatility. Institutional inflows might mirror the $30+ billion accumulated by Bitcoin ETFs since January 2024, though likely at smaller scale initially.
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The Solana ETF race signals a maturation phase for crypto markets, where institutional participation expands beyond Bitcoin dominance. Approval would validate Solana’s infrastructure while testing regulatory boundaries for proof-of-stake assets, potentially reshaping altcoin investment strategies across traditional finance.
- ETF
- Exchange-Traded Fund. A type of investment fund that is traded on stock exchanges, much like stocks. It holds assets such as stocks, commodities, or bonds and generally operates with an arbitrage mechanism designed to keep it trading close to its net asset value.
- SEC
- Securities and Exchange Commission. A U.S. government agency responsible for protecting investors and maintaining the fair and orderly functioning of the securities markets.
- Form S-1
- An SEC registration form used by companies to register securities offerings. It requires disclosure of business operations, financial conditions, management background, and risks of the investment.
- Altcoin
- Any cryptocurrency other than Bitcoin. The term is derived from “alternative coin”. Altcoins often present themselves as better alternatives to Bitcoin.