Solana News Today: Institutional Capital Flocks to Crypto as Volatility Ignites Long-Term Value Creation

The crypto and financial sectors are experiencing a surge in institutional interest and capital inflows, driven by robust performance in altcoin ETFs, aggressive fundraising by startups, and strategic expansions by major players. Solana (SOL) continues to dominate the narrative, with its staking ETFs and network metrics signaling growing institutional adoption. Meanwhile, crypto startups raised over $100 million in a single week, underscoring the sector's resilience amid market volatility.

Solana's staking ETF, the REX-Osprey Staking Solana ETF (SSK), has become a focal point for institutional investors. The fund's assets under management (AUM) surpassed $400 million in October 2025, fueled by $24 million in net inflows for the week, up from $14.5 million previously, according to a Crypto.News report. This growth highlights the appetite for liquid alternative assets in a bearish market, with JPMorgan analysts projecting over $6 billion in inflows for future Solana ETFs from firms like VanEck and Grayscale. The SSK ETF's 0.75% expense ratio is offset by its unique structure, which distributes all staking revenue to investors—a feature that differentiates it from upcoming competitors, the report noted.

The Solana network itself is thriving, with stablecoin supply rising 14% to $15.6 billion and decentralized exchange (DEX) volume jumping 55% to $48 billion in the past 30 days, Crypto.News noted. Solana-based protocols now handle $140 billion in DEX volume, trailing Ethereum's $148 billion but closing the gap rapidly. Meanwhile, the SOL price rebounded to $195 as of October 25, up 12% from its monthly low, as trade tensions between the U.S. and China stabilized.

Crypto fundraising remains robust, with 11 startups securing $99.6 million in the week ending October 25, 2025, per Yahoo Finance. This brings 2025's total crypto funding to nearly $22 billion, far outpacing 2024's $11 billion. Galaxy Ventures' Mike Giampapa noted that leveraged trading losses in October have not dented long-term optimism, as blockchain-based financial systems continue to attract capital. Notable deals include Coinbase's $375 million acquisition of token fundraising platform Echo and FalconX's purchase of 21Shares to expand its ETF footprint, the Yahoo Finance coverage added. Pave Bank, a programmable banking platform, raised $39 million in a Series A round led by Accel, with participation from Wintermute and Tether Investments.

Ripple is leveraging its recent acquisitions to solidify XRP's role in institutional finance. The company's Ripple Prime division, formed through the acquisition of Hidden Road, aims to integrate payments, custody, and stablecoin utility with prime brokerage functions, according to a TradingView article. CEO Brad Garlinghouse emphasized that these moves position XRP as a functional asset for banks and asset managers. While XRP's price has traded narrowly between $2.30 and $2.50, analysts suggest its utility-driven adoption could catalyze a rally beyond $27 in the long term.

In traditional finance, Prenetics Global raised $48 million via an equity offering to fund its IM8 supplement brand and Bitcoin treasury strategy, according to a Yahoo Finance article. The offering, oversubscribed with a double warrant structure, could generate up to $216 million in total proceeds. IM8 is projected to reach $160–$200 million in 2026 revenue, having already hit $100 million in annual recurring revenue within 11 months. Prenetics also announced a strategic review of non-core business units to focus on Bitcoin accumulation, as covered by Investing.com.

These developments reflect a broader trend of institutional capital and strategic innovation across crypto and traditional markets, with volatility acting as a catalyst for consolidation and long-term value creation.