Solana News Today: Institutional Staking Drives Solana ETF Momentum as Approval Looms

The cryptocurrency market is witnessing a seismic shift as publicly traded companies increasingly adopt Solana (SOL) and XRP as part of their corporate treasury strategies, signaling a potential surge in crypto ETFs. Nasdaq-listed VisionSys AI (VSA) recently announced a $2 billion Solana treasury initiative, joining a growing cohort of firms including Forward Industries, DeFi Development Corp., and Upexi, which collectively hold over $4.5 billion in SOL. These companies are leveraging Solana's high-speed blockchain and staking mechanisms to generate yield, with VisionSys partnering with Marinade Finance-a leading Solana staking protocol-to manage its $2 billion reserve. This trend underscores a broader institutional shift toward blockchain-based treasury management, where digital assets are no longer speculative but strategic tools for capital optimization.

VisionSys AI's plan, which includes acquiring $500 million in SOL within six months, has already triggered a 40% stock price drop, highlighting market skepticism about the scalability of such aggressive strategies. However, the firm's CEO, Heng Wang, argues that the initiative represents a "once-in-a-generation" opportunity to integrate AI-driven blockchain treasury management. This aligns with broader industry trends: Forward Industries, the largest corporate holder of SOL, acquired 6.8 million tokens ($1.6 billion) via a $1.65 billion private investment in public equity (PIPE), while DeFi Development Corp. has deployed liquid staking tokens (LSTs) to compound returns. These moves reflect a calculated bet on Solana's ecosystem, which now supports over $8 billion in tokenized real-world assets (RWAs) and growing institutional infrastructure.

The surge in corporate Solana treasuries is accelerating regulatory momentum for ETFs. Eight major financial institutions, including 21Shares, VanEck, and Fidelity, have submitted applications for Solana ETFs, with the SEC's final decision deadline set for October 16, 2025. Prediction markets and analysts project a 95% approval probability, buoyed by the success of Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs. If approved, these funds could catalyze a wave of institutional inflows, mirroring the $70 billion Bitcoin ETF frenzy. The market is already pricing in this potential: Solana's price surged 7% following VisionSys' announcement, trading near $219, while analyst forecasts range from $160 to $600 by year-end.

The convergence of corporate treasuries and ETF speculation is reshaping Solana's market dynamics. With 13 publicly traded companies now holding 8.91 million SOL (1.55% of total supply), the token's circulating liquidity is contracting, amplifying price volatility. For example, Upexi's 2 million SOL treasury generates $23 million annually in staking rewards, while Sharps Technology's validator operations add operational revenue streams. These multi-layered returns differentiate Solana treasuries from Bitcoin's static reserves, creating a "treasury-as-a-service" model that blends price appreciation, yield generation, and ecosystem participation.

However, risks loom large. The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASU 2023-08) mandates fair value accounting for crypto assets, exposing firms to quarterly earnings volatility tied to Solana's price swings. Regulatory uncertainty also persists, as the SEC's classification of SOL remains unresolved. Despite these challenges, the trend is gaining traction: Sol Strategies Inc. recently listed on the Nasdaq, and BIT Mining plans a $300 million capital raise to fund its Solana treasury. Analysts at CoinDesk and Bloomberg argue that the next phase of crypto adoption will hinge on ETF approvals, which could unlock billions in institutional capital and solidify Solana's role as a high-growth alternative to Bitcoin.

The implications for the broader crypto market are profound. As corporate treasuries and ETFs align with Solana's staking ecosystem, the network's total value locked (TVL) and validator participation are set to surge. This could create a self-reinforcing cycle where institutional demand drives price appreciation, which in turn incentivizes further capital allocation. With XRP ETF applications also in the pipeline, the market is bracing for a "crypto ETF avalanche" that could redefine asset allocation strategies for decades.

Source: [1] VisionSys AI Unveils $2B SOL Treasury Plan with Marinade (https://www.coindesk.com/business/2025/10/01/solana-gets-another-treasury-firm-with-usd2b-plan-backed-by-defi-protocol-marinade) [2] VisionSys AI Stock Tanks 45% After Announcing $2 Billion Solana Treasury Partnership (https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/25/10/47970345/visionsys-ai-stock-tanks-45-after-announcing-2-billion-solana-treasury-partnership) [3] Solana rises 7% as VisionSys unveils $2 billion treasury (https://www.fxstreet.com/cryptocurrencies/news/solana-jumps-7-as-visionsys-partners-with-marinade-finance-to-launch-2-billion-sol-treasury-202510011715) [4] 13 Public Companies Adopt Solana Treasury Strategy (https://themarketperiodical.com/2025/09/09/13-public-companies-adopt-solana-treasury-strategy-can-sol-hit-300-next/) [5] 5 Companies Already Holding Millions in Solana (https://www.ccn.com/education/crypto/5-companies-holding-millions-in-solana-and-whos-planning-to-join/) [6] What Are Solana Treasury Companies (https://www.coingecko.com/learn/what-are-solana-treasury-companies)