Solana News Today: Institutions Flock to Solana: High Speed, Low Costs Drive Blockchain Mainstream

The Solana ecosystem is experiencing a surge in institutional interest, with the Solana Company (NASDAQ: HSDT) announcing a significant increase in its holdings of the native SOL token. As of October 29, 2025, the company and its subsidiaries hold over 2.3 million SOL, up roughly 1 million since early October, according to a Solana Company update. This growth underscores a broader trend of institutional adoption, with the company reporting a gross staking yield of 7.03% APY—surpassing the average of top validators by 36 basis points.

The uptick in institutional activity coincides with major developments across the Solana network. Bitwise and Grayscale, two of the largest asset managers in crypto, are set to launch their first Solana spot ETFs on U.S. exchanges this week, despite the ongoing federal government shutdown, according to a Yahoo report. Fidelity has also expanded Solana access across its platforms, giving millions of U.S. investors direct exposure to SOL. These moves come as the Solana blockchain processes over 3,500 transactions per second and maintains 3.7 million daily active wallets.

Reliance Global Group (NASDAQ: RELI) further amplified Solana's institutional profile by adding the token to its Digital Asset Treasury, joining Bitcoin, Ethereum, Cardano, and XRP in its portfolio, per a Reliance Global announcement. The company cited Solana's high throughput (65,000 TPS), low fees, and fast finality (400 ms) as key drivers of the acquisition. Similarly, DeFi Development Corp., a treasury firm backed by Citadel, has accumulated significant Solana holdings, signaling growing confidence in the network's scalability and real-world applications.

The momentum extends beyond traditional finance. Western Union is set to launch a dollar-backed stablecoin, USDPT, on Solana's blockchain in 2026, leveraging the network's low-cost and high-speed capabilities to streamline cross-border remittances, according to a CoinMarketCap article. The initiative, developed in partnership with Anchorage Digital Bank, aligns with regulatory frameworks established by the U.S. GENIUS Act. Meanwhile, Jupiter, a leading Solana DEX, has launched a beta prediction market with Kalshi, allowing users to wager on real-world events.

Market conditions have also bolstered Solana's appeal. The token surged past $200 as the sector's market cap expanded 8% to $254 billion, driven by optimism around ETF approvals and a potential U.S.-China trade deal. The Solana Company's staking strategy, which automatically restakes rewards to compound returns, has attracted attention from investors seeking high-yield digital assets. Cosmo Jiang of Pantera Capital noted that the company's active management approach has generated consistent alpha, outperforming benchmarks by over 35 basis points.

As institutional adoption accelerates, Solana's total value locked (TVL) rose 6% to $11.8 billion, outpacing BNB Chain's $8.7 billion. The network's DeFi and DApp ecosystems continue to dominate, with daily revenue surpassing competitors. However, challenges remain, including regulatory scrutiny and market volatility. Despite these risks, the growing alignment between corporate treasuries, asset managers, and blockchain infrastructure suggests Solana is well-positioned to cement its role in mainstream finance.