New Solana Fund Offers Spot Exposure and Staking Yield
A major traditional asset manager joined the rush into Solana investment products on Wednesday, launching a fund that combines spot exposure with network staking income.
Franklin Templeton's SOEZ began trading on NYSE Arca, giving investors access to both Solana price movements and the yield generated from securing the network. Roger Bayston, who leads digital assets at the firm, said Solana has become fundamental infrastructure for the emerging digital economy.
The blockchain's performance characteristics attract developers building everything from tokenized real-world assets to next-generation financial applications, Bayston explained in a statement. That sustained momentum continues to draw interest from both technical builders and institutional capital.
Expanding ETF Landscape for Digital Assets
Franklin Templeton arrived late to the Solana ETF category. Crypto-focused issuers, including Canary Capital, Bitwise, and Grayscale, all launched competing products earlier this year, as did traditional Wall Street firms like Fidelity and VanEck. REX-Osprey pioneered the staking-enabled structure back in July.
The broader ETF landscape for digital assets has exploded in recent weeks. Firms have rolled out funds tracking everything from Chainlink to Dogecoin, taking advantage of a dramatically friendlier regulatory environment under the current SEC leadership.
The securities regulator has streamlined approval processes and provided clearer guidance on acceptable fund structures, allowing products to reach market much faster than in previous years. The shift began roughly a year ago when the second Trump administration took office.
Prominent Figures Advocate for Solana's Potential
SkyBridge Capital founder Anthony Scaramucci promoted Solana's potential during a CNBC appearance Wednesday, revealing he's publishing a book titled "Solana Rising." The former White House communications director said he expects Solana to emerge as a major winner while emphasizing that multiple blockchain platforms can succeed simultaneously.
Franklin Templeton's Growing Digital Asset Portfolio
Franklin Templeton already offers ETFs for Bitcoin, Ethereum, and XRP, plus a diversified crypto index fund. The SOEZ launch expands the firm's digital asset lineup as traditional finance continues integrating cryptocurrency exposure into standard investment vehicles accessible through regular brokerage accounts.