Solana Enters ETF Era as Institutional Demand Rises, Reports Bybit

Quick Breakdown

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  Bitwise Solana Staking ETF (BSOL) records $116M in early inflows.
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  SOL price dips 8% post-launch amid short-term profit-taking.
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  Global ETF expansion boosts Solana’s institutional and retail reach.

Solana has officially joined Bitcoin and Ethereum in the regulated exchange-traded fund (ETF) market, marking a major milestone for institutional access to the Layer 1 blockchain. According to a recent report by Bybit, the October 2025 launch of the Bitwise Solana Staking ETF (BSOL) and Grayscale’s conversion of its Solana Trust (GSOL) have positioned Solana as one of the few crypto assets now available through U.S. brokerage accounts.

ETF Inflows Despite Muted Market Reaction

The Bitwise ETF, which incorporates native staking yield, recorded $116 million in net inflows within its first two trading sessions, signaling strong early interest from wealth managers and institutional investors. Grayscale’s GSOL, though smaller in scale, adds further legitimacy to Solana’s investment profile.

Despite this positive momentum, Solana’s price fell 8% during the week of the ETF debut, underperforming Bitcoin and Ethereum. Analysts cited “sell-the-news” dynamics and profit-taking among whales, including a large on-chain transfer by Jump Crypto, as contributing factors. However, historical patterns from Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs suggest a potential rebound as inflows accumulate.

Global ETF Expansion and Long-Term Market Impact

Beyond short-term price movements, Solana’s ETF listings mark a structural shift in liquidity, legitimacy, and accessibility. Bybit’s report highlights that each $1 billion in ETF inflows could increase SOL’s market cap by 30–50%, mirroring Bitcoin’s elasticity following its ETF approval.

Globally, Hong Kong, Brazil, and Canada have also approved Solana ETFs, creating a cross-border framework that enhances liquidity and price discovery. With Hong Kong’s dual RMB and USD settlement model, Solana’s reach extends further into Asia’s retail and institutional markets.

As staking-based ETFs accumulate SOL for delegation, supply tightening may amplify long-term price effects. Bybit concludes that the ETF era marks the beginning of Solana’s transformation.

In a separate development reflecting the growing convergence of traditional finance and crypto markets, and highlighting Bybit’s commitment to institutional services, the exchange recently announced the integration of the uMint tokenized fund, a digital asset product launched by global banking giant UBS.