Volatility Shares Launches First Solana Futures ETFs in US

Volatility Shares LLC is set to introduce the first-ever Solana futures exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in the United States on Thursday, March 20, 2025. The two ETFs, which will track Solana futures, will be listed under the ticker symbols SOLZ and SOLT. This marks a significant milestone for the cryptocurrency market, as it paves the way for potential spot Solana ETFs in the future.

The Volatility Shares Solana ETF (SOLZ) will track Solana futures, while the Volatility Shares 2X Solana ETF (SOLT) will offer 2X leveraged exposure to Solana futures. Both ETFs will have attached fees of 0.95% and 1.85%, respectively. These ETFs provide institutional investors with access to Solana investments without directly purchasing the asset, a move that has been anticipated by industry leaders as a precursor to a potential spot Solana ETF.

Justin Young, CEO of Volatility Shares, expressed optimism about the launch, stating, "Our launch comes at a time of renewed optimism for cryptocurrency innovation in the US. We believe the Trump administration recognizes the strategic importance of maintaining American leadership in financial technology." This sentiment is echoed by several industry experts who predict that the approval of these futures ETFs could signal the eventual approval of a spot Solana ETF, following a similar path to that of Bitcoin and Ethereum.

The launch of these ETFs is expected to bring a new level of accessibility and legitimacy to Solana investments, potentially attracting more institutional investors to the cryptocurrency market. The ETFs will not directly hold Solana but will instead track the performance of Solana futures, providing a regulated and transparent way for investors to gain exposure to the cryptocurrency. This move is seen as a significant step forward for the cryptocurrency industry, as it demonstrates the growing acceptance and integration of digital assets into traditional financial markets.

According to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the launch of these funds could be significant in the approval of a spot Solana ETF, which would hold the token directly. The SEC has stated in the past that in order to approve a spot product, they would like to see an established futures market for the asset. After the launch of the spot Bitcoin (BTC) and Ether (ETH) ETFs last year, issuers have been looking to bring further crypto-related products to the market. Several issuers, including Grayscale, Franklin Templeton and VanEck, have filed paperwork to launch a spot Solana ETF, which have yet to be reviewed by the SEC. However, a decision likely won’t be made before Paul Atkins, who has been nominated by President Donald Trump to serve as chair of the SEC, is confirmed by the Senate. There is currently no hearing scheduled for Atkins.