Solana ETF stakes claim with $222 million in volume since making debut

The long-awaited Solana exchange-traded fund has officially launched, marking a significant milestone in the evolution of crypto ETFs. The REX‑Osprey Solana ETF went live on July 2 and, as of July 16, has recorded over $222 million in trading volume, demonstrating immediate market interest in exposure to the high-performance blockchain.

The ETF has attracted $69.7 million in net inflows with only one day of outflows since launch, suggesting sustained investor appetite despite the 0.75% management fee. During the same period, the ETH and BTC ETFs collected over $1 billion and $3 billion in inflows, respectively, establishing a commanding first and second place.

The Solana ETFs introduce a notable innovation in the crypto ETF landscape through integrated staking mechanisms. Unlike Bitcoin ETFs that simply hold the underlying asset, the REX‑Osprey Solana ETF can stake its SOL holdings to earn network rewards, potentially enhancing returns for investors.

This staking feature allows the ETF to generate additional yield beyond price appreciation, as staked SOL earns rewards from network validation activities. The mechanism represents a significant evolution in crypto ETF structure, as traditional Bitcoin ETFs cannot offer similar yield-generating features due to Bitcoin's proof-of-work consensus model.

The successful launch also highlights the growing regulatory compliance of the crypto space. With the introduction of staking, REX‑Osprey has partnered with Anchorage Digital to manage the custody and onchain staking of the fund's Solana. Anchorage is the only federally chartered crypto bank in the United States and acts as a qualified custodian to manage the funds.

This is an excerpt from The Block's Data & Insights newsletter. Dig into the numbers making up the industry's most thought-provoking trends.