The first spot Solana staking ETF could launch in the United States within weeks, with analysts declaring “all systems go” after regulatory breakthroughs. REX Shares’ proposed fund cleared a critical hurdle when the SEC issued no objections to its structure, bypassing the standard 19b-4 review process. This development positions Solana to become the third cryptocurrency with a spot ETF after Bitcoin and Ethereum, marking a watershed moment for altcoin institutional adoption.
REX Shares’ innovative approach uses a C-corporation structure β a rarity in the ETF landscape β which allows the fund to incorporate staking rewards while avoiding traditional regulatory bottlenecks. ETF analyst James Seyffart noted this “regulatory end-around” could enable launch “within the next few weeks,” accelerating Solana’s path to mainstream investment vehicles. The fund would provide investors with staking yields generated through validator operations, a feature absent from existing spot crypto ETFs.
This regulatory milestone follows Purpose Investments’ launch of the world’s first spot Solana ETF (SOLL) on the Toronto Stock Exchange in April 2025, which already offers direct exposure but without integrated staking. The REX-Osprey collaboration now stands poised to deliver the first US-listed product combining spot Solana exposure with staking rewards, creating a novel income-generating instrument for traditional brokerage accounts.
Solana’s Market Position
Solana ranks as the sixth-largest cryptocurrency with approximately 2.4% of the total crypto market capitalization, distinguished by its high-speed transactions and lower fees compared to Ethereum. Its blockchain hosts rapidly expanding decentralized applications across DeFi, NFTs, and payment solutions, driving institutional interest. Polymarket data indicates a 91% probability of spot Solana ETF approval in 2025, with 68% odds specifically by July 31.
Existing Solana investment products demonstrate robust demand, with Volatility Shares’ SOLZ ETF gathering nearly $20 million in assets since its March 2025 launch. The leveraged SOLT counterpart holds approximately $45 million, signaling strong institutional appetite. These figures approach the assets of smaller spot Ethereum ETFs like Grayscale’s Ethereum Mini Trust, underscoring Solana’s competitive positioning.
REX Shares’ Regulatory Strategy
REX Shares employed an unconventional C-corporation framework that subjects the ETF to corporate taxation but avoids the SEC’s standard 19b-4 filing requirement. This structure enables immediate launch upon SEC non-objection rather than waiting for formal approval cycles. The firm’s collaboration with Osprey Funds creates the REX-Osprey Ethereum and Solana staked ETFs, both advancing toward launch simultaneously.
Tax implications remain a consideration, as the fund will incur corporate tax expenses affecting net asset value. However, the integrated staking mechanism β powered by Purpose Investments’ validator infrastructure β potentially offsets this through reward generation. This model eliminates third-party staking costs, potentially delivering higher net yields to investors according to Purpose’s innovation chief Vlad Tasevski.
Market Impact and Adoption
Approval would trigger significant capital inflows similar to Bitcoin ETF launches, with analysts projecting billions in potential assets under management. Solana’s inclusion in diversified basket ETFs alongside Bitcoin and Ethereum appears increasingly likely, creating new portfolio construction options. The staking feature addresses a key limitation of existing spot crypto ETFs by providing yield generation within regulated frameworks.
Current Solana-linked ETFs demonstrate strong performance indicators:
ETF | Assets | Inflow Ranking |
---|---|---|
Volatility Shares SOLZ | $20M | Top among altcoin products |
Volatility Shares 2x SOLT | $45M | High leveraged demand |
Institutional adoption barriers would significantly lower as financial advisors gain brokerage-channel access without requiring clients to manage crypto wallets or exchanges. The development also pressures competitors like Bitwise, whose Ethereum staking ETF proposal remains delayed by SEC review. Industry observers suggest Solana’s ETF approval could accelerate similar products for other altcoins like Cardano or Avalanche.
The integration of staking rewards creates a compelling value proposition compared to traditional assets, potentially attracting income-focused investors. Purpose’s SOLL ETF in Canada already demonstrates the model’s viability, combining spot exposure with staking yields through proprietary validator infrastructure. US adoption would dramatically expand the investor base and liquidity profile for Solana.
Regulatory acceptance of Solana ETFs signals growing SEC comfort with proof-of-stake cryptocurrencies, potentially easing future approvals. The speed of REX Shares’ progress β from initial filing to imminent launch β suggests a shifting regulatory landscape for crypto investment vehicles. This development arrives as traditional finance increasingly embraces blockchain assets through regulated channels.
Market analysts emphasize the staking component’s importance, noting that spot crypto ETFs feel “incomplete” without yield generation mechanisms. The REX-Osprey solution addresses this gap while navigating regulatory constraints through structural innovation. Success could establish a blueprint for future staking-enabled crypto ETFs across multiple blockchain assets.
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The imminent Solana staking ETF launch represents a paradigm shift for altcoin accessibility, potentially unlocking billions in institutional capital while validating Solana’s technology stack. Market impact could mirror Bitcoin’s ETF-driven price surge, with staking rewards creating an additional demand driver absent from previous crypto ETF iterations. This development solidifies Solana’s position within the institutional digital asset landscape while establishing a regulatory template for future proof-of-stake cryptocurrency investment vehicles.
- Staking
- The process of locking cryptocurrency to support blockchain network operations in exchange for rewards. In proof-of-stake systems, stakers help validate transactions and maintain network security.
- ETF (Exchange-Traded Fund)
- An investment fund traded on stock exchanges that holds assets like stocks, commodities, or cryptocurrencies. ETFs combine features of mutual funds and individual stocks.
- C-corporation
- A legal business structure where the company is taxed separately from its owners. REX Shares uses this structure for tax efficiency in their staking ETF.
- 19b-4 process
- The SEC’s standard review procedure for new exchange-traded products. REX Shares bypassed this through their unique corporate structure.