While the lines move in the crypto universe, and Wall Street learns to juggle with tomorrow’s protocols, some products are already establishing themselves as turning points. At the time you read these lines, pages are being written between decentralized ambition and mainstream finance. The Solana ETF launched by Bitwise did not just make noise: it broke the silence of the skeptics. Enough to shake the balances, and perhaps even open a new era.
In Brief
- •Bitwise launches a Solana ETF that records $55.4 million on the first day.
- •The fund starts with $223 million in assets, proof of strong institutional appetite.
- •Solana is fully staked in the ETF, aiming for an estimated 7% annual return.
- •The SEC paved the way for these staking ETFs through two major regulatory clarifications.
SOL Makes a Smashing Entry into the ETF Arena
Bitwise did not simply launch an ETF on Solana, one of the 4 new crypto ETFs on Nasdaq. It set a pace. The Bitwise Solana Staking ETF (BSOL) logged a volume of 55.4 million dollars on its first day – a record for a crypto product launched in 2025.
The kickoff was expected. Yet, few saw such amplitude. The day before, Eric Balchunas, ETF analyst at Bloomberg, made a bet on X: BSOL: 52 million? HBR: 8? LTCC: 7?
Result: BSOL exceeds forecasts and crushes the competition. Even Balchunas admits, half-bluffed, half-fan: “I can’t believe how right I was. Sixth sense for ETFs activated. If only @Polymarket allowed betting on this, I would be rich“
Launched with 223 million dollars in assets under management, BSOL mainly attracted a professional audience. An audience still wary of altcoins until recently. But here, Solana is not just monitored: it is staked at 100%, with a targeted yield of 7%.
It is no coincidence that Bitwise bet everything on staking. The same day, two other altcoin ETFs were released. The Hedera ETF (HBR) caps at 8 million volume. The Litecoin ETF (LTCC) does not take off, with only 1 million. Solana, on the other hand, shines. It transforms speculative enthusiasm into an act of structured faith.
When the Crypto World Talks Yield, Wall Street Listens to Solana
With BSOL, staking steps out of the shadows to join the regulated ETF ball. And it is a strong signal. Long hindered by regulatory uncertainty, products backed by PoS (proof-of-stake) blockchains were on hold. But the SEC clarified in May and August 2025 that certain forms of staking are not classified as “securities.”
Since then, everything has accelerated. Bitwise, which had tested a similar product in Europe, understood that the timing was ideal.
A tweet by @BitwiseInvest captures the moment:
It is now the largest spot Solana ETF, with 100% staking, aiming to maximize average rewards of over 7%. The story of Solana continues.
The story, precisely, is starting to look like a turning point. Solana establishes itself in the ETF arena. Bitwise proves that in crypto, agility sometimes beats size.
Numbers Shaking the Markets
- •$223 million in assets at launch for BSOL;
- •$55.4 million in trading volume on day one;
- •7% targeted yield via active staking;
- •SEC: clarifications in May and August 2025 that changed everything;
- •HBR (Hedera): $8M; LTCC (Litecoin): $1M.
The BSOL result prompts reflection: Is BlackRock really indispensable in the crypto ETF universe? Or have we just witnessed that agility, product expertise, and the ability to sense the right timing can still beat the heavyweights?