Solana News Today: Solana Staking ETF Surpasses $100M AUM in 12 Trading Days as First U.S. Product Combines Exposure with Staking Rewards

The Solana Staking Exchange-Traded Fund (SSK), launched by REX-Osprey on July 2, has surpassed $100 million in assets under management (AUM) within 12 trading days. This achievement marks a milestone for the first U.S.-listed ETF to combine direct exposure to Solana (SOL) with on-chain staking rewards. By registering under the Investment Company Act of 1940, the fund enables investors to receive regular staking income as dividends—a feature absent in most crypto ETFs, which operate under the 1933 Securities Act and cannot distribute staking yields.

Greg King, founder and CEO of REX-Osprey, emphasized the fund’s appeal to institutional and retail investors seeking both blockchain exposure and recurring income. In a statement, King highlighted SSK’s role in bridging traditional finance and crypto: “SSK is opening the door for mainstream investors to access the power of Solana staking through the familiar ETF wrapper.” The fund’s structure allows investors to earn monthly staking distributions without directly managing staked assets, addressing a key barrier for conventional investors entering the crypto market.

SSK’s rapid growth aligns with a broader shift in institutional capital toward staking-based returns as an alternative to traditional fixed-income assets. With global interest rates stabilizing and Bitcoin’s price gains moderating, asset managers are increasingly allocating to crypto yield strategies. Solana’s recent performance—trading above $200 per token and rising 25.3% in seven days—further underscores its attractiveness, driven by its high-performance blockchain infrastructure and liquidity.

The SSK ETF’s compliance with regulatory frameworks may set a precedent for future staking-focused products. While current Ethereum ETFs do not offer on-chain staking features, regulatory clarity and innovative fund structures could address this gap. Fidelity’s recent S-1 filing for a spot Solana ETF with the SEC, alongside applications from other asset managers, signals growing industry confidence in staking-linked offerings. REX-Osprey has already submitted applications for similarly structured ETFs on XRP, DOGE, and ETH, reflecting demand for diversified yield-generating crypto instruments.

Institutional adoption of staking strategies is supported by maturing crypto infrastructure. Platforms offering Ethereum staking and tokenized U.S. Treasury products have attracted steady inflows from allocators prioritizing returns while adhering to regulatory standards. Despite ongoing challenges in navigating SEC guidelines for staking rewards, SSK’s structure demonstrates a viable path for aligning crypto yield opportunities with mainstream investment norms.

The $100M milestone achieved by SSK highlights the increasing legitimacy of crypto as a component of diversified portfolios. As asset managers explore compliant frameworks for staking-based products, the market may see a proliferation of yield-focused ETFs bridging traditional finance and blockchain innovation. This trend could accelerate broader participation from risk-averse investors, further integrating crypto into global capital markets.