Solana News Today: Grayscale Merges Staking Yields with Regulated ETFs, Expanding Crypto Access

Grayscale Investments has become the first U.S.-listed provider to activate staking for its Solana Trust (OTCQX: GSOL), offering investors a regulated pathway to earn staking rewards on the Solana network. The move, announced on October 6, 2025, positions GSOL as a unique vehicle for traditional investors to access blockchain yield while maintaining exposure to spot Solana (SOL) prices. Pending regulatory approval for uplisting as an exchange-traded product (ETP), GSOL is expected to become one of the first U.S.-listed spot Solana ETPs with integrated staking capabilitiesGrayscale Launches First Staking Spot Crypto ETPs in U.S.^[1].

The activation of staking for GSOL follows a broader expansion of Grayscale's staking offerings, which now include its Ethereum Trust ETF (ETHE) and Ethereum Mini Trust ETF (ETH). These products, already the first U.S.-listed spot crypto ETPs to enable staking, have been joined by GSOL, which currently manages $122.5 million in assets under management (AUM). By staking across these funds, Grayscale aims to provide investors with exposure to the long-term value accrual of Ethereum and Solana networks while preserving their core objective of tracking spot price movementsGrayscale Activates Staking for $GSOL Solana ETP^[2].

Grayscale's staking strategy for GSOL involves institutional custodians and a diversified network of validator providers, designed to minimize single-point-of-failure risks while securing the Solana protocol. The company emphasized that staking will be conducted passively, without active yield optimization strategies, ensuring alignment with the fund's passive investment approach. This structure allows GSOL holders to earn staking rewards indirectly through their brokerage accounts, a feature previously limited to on-chain crypto usersGrayscale Becomes First U.S. ETP to Offer Ethereum, Solana Staking^[3].

The activation of staking in regulated investment products reflects growing institutional adoption of digital assets. This trend follows the launch of spot Bitcoin ETFs in January 2024 and spot Ether ETFs in July 2024, signaling a shift toward mainstream integration of crypto yield mechanisms. Grayscale's GSOL differs structurally from REX Shares' Solana Staking ETF ($SSK), which captures staking rewards indirectly by holding a mix of Solana tokens and staked ETPs. In contrast, GSOL's approach involves direct staking within the fund's structure, offering a more transparent and direct exposure to Solana's native staking rewardsGrayscale Activates Staking for Ethereum and Solana ETPs, …^[4].

Grayscale's CEO, Peter Mintzberg, described the move as a "first-mover innovation" aligned with the firm's mission to deliver tangible value potential for investors. As the largest digital asset-focused ETF issuer by AUM ($35 billion as of September 2025), Grayscale aims to bridge the gap between on-chain participation and traditional financial products. The company also released an educational report, Staking 101: Secure the Blockchain, Earn Rewards, to demystify staking for investors and highlight its role in blockchain securityGrayscale Launches First Staking Spot Crypto ETPs in U.S.^[5].

The introduction of staking in GSOL underscores the evolving dynamics of the digital asset market. By offering yield generation within a regulated framework, Grayscale may attract a broader investor base, including those previously hesitant to engage with on-chain staking due to technical or regulatory uncertainties. The move also aligns with broader industry trends, such as the tokenization of real-world assets and the growing demand for diversified investment vehicles that combine traditional and digital asset strategiesGrayscale Activates Staking for Ethereum and Solana ETPs, …^[6].