Solana Takes a Dip as Canadian Sol Strategies Eyes NASDAQ Listing via SEC Filing

Solana's price stumbles just as Wall Street flirts with crypto—again.

Canadian fund manager Sol Strategies dropped a bombshell filing with the SEC, aiming to list a Solana-focused product on NASDAQ. The move screams institutional FOMO, even as retail traders nurse losses.

Market jitters or smart money positioning? Either way, another hedge fund just proved crypto's irresistible—even when it's bleeding.

Bonus jab: Nothing says 'mature asset class' like volatile tokens getting the traditional finance stamp of approval during a sell-off.

Canadian Sol Strategies eyes NASDAQ listing 

The Canadian Stock Exchange-listed Sol Strategies (CYFRF) has filed with theUS Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC) seeking a listing on the NASDAQ stock exchange.

According to the filing, under FORM 40-F, Sol Strategies' common shares will be listed under the ticker STKE if approved. The Ontario-based firm trades on the Canadian Securities Exchange under the symbol HODL.

Sol Strategies is one of the early adopters of Solana-based treasury funds. The company boasts over 420,000 SOL valued at approximately $61 million, whereby 269,258 SOL are directly owned, while 268,671 SOL are held in staking contracts linked to the firm's validators.

In addition to supporting its validator operations, Sol Strategies' $500 million in funding, secured in April through the issuance of convertible notes, will be used to accumulate Solana.

Technical outlook: Solana is on the cusp of another breakdown

Solana's price upside movement remains muted despite Sol Strategies' move to seek a listing on the NASDAQ exchange, which, if approved, WOULD expose the company to US investors. 

The ascending channel's lower boundary support at around $145 is limiting potential losses. However, odds are in favor of an extended pullback, backed by a sell signal from the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) indicator. This signal, which often encourages traders to reduce exposure to SOL, has been maintained since May 18, when the blue MACD line crossed below the red signal line. 

The Relative Strength Index (RSI) downtrend, which is below the 50 midline, reinforces the bearish grip. A continued movement toward oversold territory would indicate bearish momentum and increase the probability of losses lasting longer than expected. 

Tentative areas to monitor include $135, which was tested as support in April and February, as well as $125, which was tested in April and September 2024.

SOL/USD daily chart

On the other hand, Solana's derivatives market is on the edge, facing elevated risk, with the long-to-short ratio (0.9853) maintaining a bearish bias. Despite a minor increase in the Open Interest (OI) to $6.6 billion, a surge in long positions liquidations to $6 million in the last 24 hours highlights an upside-heavy structure likely to prolong the downtrend. 

Solana derivatives stats | Source: CoinGlass

An 11.5% decrease in volume to $11.6 billion suggests declining trading activity and a lack of conviction among traders. If the SOL price rebounds from the lower boundary of the ascending channel's support, sentiment and risk appetite could improve, increasing the chances of a recovery aiming for highs above the 200-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA), currently at $161.

Open Interest, funding rate FAQs

How does Open Interest affect cryptocurrency prices?

Higher Open Interest is associated with higher liquidity and new capital inflow to the market. This is considered the equivalent of increase in efficiency and the ongoing trend continues. When Open Interest decreases, it is considered a sign of liquidation in the market, investors are leaving and the overall demand for an asset is on a decline, fueling a bearish sentiment among investors.

How does Funding rates affect cryptocurrency prices?

Funding fees bridge the difference between spot prices and prices of futures contracts of an asset by increasing liquidation risks faced by traders. A consistently high and positive funding rate implies there is a bullish sentiment among market participants and there is an expectation of a price hike. A consistently negative funding rate for an asset implies a bearish sentiment, indicating that traders expect the cryptocurrency’s price to fall and a bearish trend reversal is likely to occur.