Solana News Today: Institutional Altcoin Inflows Surge 82% Year-to-Date as Ethereum and Solana Lead Charge

Institutional investment flows in the altcoin market remained robust last week, as several high-utility projects attracted notable capital inflows, reflecting growing confidence in altcoins beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum. According to CoinShares' weekly report, digital asset investment products recorded $572 million in net inflows overall, despite an initial outflow of $1 billion early in the week triggered by weak U.S. employment data. The market rebounded strongly following the U.S. government’s decision to allow cryptocurrencies in 401(k) retirement plans, which generated $1.57 billion in inflows [1].

Ethereum ETPs led the weekly inflows with $268 million, boosting year-to-date inflows to $8.2 billion and driving assets under management to an all-time high of $32.6 billion, marking an 82% increase year-to-date [1]. Bitcoin also saw $260 million in inflows, recovering after a two-week decline. Among altcoins, Solana (SOL) attracted the largest inflow of $21.8 million, followed by XRP with $18.4 million and Near (NEAR) with $10.1 million. Smaller but notable inflows were recorded for Cardano (ADA), Chainlink (LINK), and Stellar (XLM), with $1.5 million, $700,000, and $600,000 respectively [1].

These figures signal a broader shift in institutional allocation strategies, with capital increasingly flowing into altcoins that offer scalable infrastructure and real-world applications. Solana and XRP, for example, continue to benefit from their roles in high-speed transactions and cross-border payments, respectively. Chainlink (LINK), meanwhile, saw a 29.75% price increase in the past week and is being closely watched by analysts as it approaches key resistance levels near $23 [4]. Whale activity in the project has also intensified, reinforcing its appeal to institutional investors.

VeChain (VET) emerged as a standout altcoin in the DeFi sector, with a 2,400% surge in developer activity and expanding institutional partnerships. The launch of its VeWorld wallet, which now supports cross-chain transfers with major blockchains, has been a key factor in attracting new investment [7]. Similarly, Hedera (HBAR) is showing strong bullish momentum, supported by whale accumulation and institutional engagement. Analysts project its price could reach $0.56–$0.75 by year-end [7].

The trend of institutional capital flowing into altcoins is expected to persist as traditional investors seek to diversify their crypto exposure beyond the dominant coins. Projects with clear use cases in decentralized finance, cross-chain infrastructure, and global payment systems are increasingly favored over speculative assets. While Cardano and Stellar continue to be positioned for long-term growth, the most significant inflows were directed toward projects with immediate utility and expanding ecosystems [7].

Source: [1] Last Week's List of Altcoins Attracting the Most Investment from Institutions Was Published https://coinmarketcap.com/community/articles/689a5d483962772b13d65fa5/ [4] Bitcoin, Solana, XRP Join Ethereum in Massive $1.57B https://crypto-economy.com/bitcoin-solana-xrp-join-ethereum-in-massive-1-57b-crypto-inflow-frenzy/ [7] VeChain, HBAR, Chainlink and Remittix https://crypto-economy.com/best-cryptos-to-buy-now-just-beginning-their-parabolic-ascent-vechain-hbar-chainlink-and-remittix/