Solana’s Institutional Ascendancy: Franklin Templeton ETF Ignites 17% Surge and Staking-Driven Growth

In a landmark development for the digital asset ecosystem, Franklin Templeton, a global investment management titan, has launched a Solana ETF (SOEZ), catalyzing an immediate 17% surge in SOL's price and marking a pivotal moment of institutional validation. This fund represents the seventh Solana-focused ETF available to US investors, structured as a grantor trust that meticulously tracks the CF Benchmarks Solana Index. A defining and innovative feature of this product is its explicit design to maximize staking rewards, directly channeling the network's native yield mechanism to investors—a significant step in bridging traditional finance with crypto-native income generation. The launch underscores a rapidly growing institutional appetite for exposure to high-performance blockchain infrastructure beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum. Roger Bayston, Head of Digital Assets at Franklin Templeton, emphasized Solana's evolving role, stating, "Solana is becoming a core layer of the digital economy." This sentiment is rooted in the network's unparalleled transaction speed and low cost, which support a vast and expanding application landscape ranging from tokenization of real-world assets to decentralized finance (DeFi) and high-frequency trading platforms. The approval and successful launch of SOEZ signal a maturation in regulatory comfort and a recognition of Solana's robust, developer-active ecosystem. For investors, this ETF provides a regulated, familiar vehicle to gain exposure to SOL's price appreciation while simultaneously earning staking yields, effectively offering a combined growth-and-income proposition. This move by a traditional finance heavyweight like Franklin Templeton is a powerful bullish indicator, suggesting that institutional capital is preparing for deeper integration of scalable blockchains into the global financial fabric. As of early December 2025, this development reinforces Solana's position not merely as an alternative cryptocurrency but as a foundational protocol poised for sustained growth, driven by both technological utility and accelerating institutional demand.

Franklin Templeton Launches Solana ETF as Institutional Demand Grows

Franklin Templeton's newly approved solana ETF (SOEZ) sparked a 17% price surge for SOL, marking the seventh such fund for US investors. The grantor trust structure tracks the CF Benchmarks Solana Index while maximizing staking rewards.

"Solana is becoming a core LAYER of the digital economy," said Roger Bayston, Head of Digital Assets at Franklin Templeton. The network's speed supports applications ranging from tokenized assets to next-gen finance—a draw for both developers and institutions.

Coinbase Custody safeguards the fund's SOL holdings, valued using CME's reference rate. BNY Mellon handles administration, contrasting with the operational simplicity pitched to investors: "SOEZ fits seamlessly into existing workflows," noted ETF specialist David Mann.

Solana Mobile Announces SKR Token Launch with 10 Billion Supply

Solana Mobile has confirmed the launch of its native token, SKR, set for January 2026. The token will have a fixed supply of 10 billion units, with allocations designed to foster ecosystem growth. Early users will receive 30% through airdrops, while 25% is earmarked for partnerships. Liquidity and launch reserves account for 10%, with another 10% held in a community treasury. Solana Labs and the project team will receive 10% and 15%, respectively.

The SKR token will feature an inflationary model, starting at 10% in the first year and gradually declining to 2%. This structure incentivizes early stakers and network participants. The token will serve as the backbone of the Solana Mobile ecosystem, enabling rewards, governance, and platform utilities.

Solana Mobile to Launch SKR Governance Token Amid Hardware Security Concerns

Solana Mobile will debut its SKR governance token in January 2026, allocating 10 billion tokens to decentralize ownership of its Seeker smartphone ecosystem. The distribution targets early adopters, with 30% earmarked for airdrops to Seeker and Saga phone holders, 25% for ecosystem partnerships, and 15% retained by Solana Mobile. The token’s inflation model starts at 10% annually, declining to a 2% long-term rate.

The launch coincides with disclosed vulnerabilities in the MediaTek Dimensity 7300 chip used in Seeker devices, which researchers warn could enable private key theft through physical access. Solana Mobile positions SKR as a tool to align incentives across developers, validators, and users, despite the hardware risks.

Vanguard's Crypto Policy Reversal Fuels Solana ETF Inflows Amid $1,000 Price Target Speculation

Solana's institutional credibility received a seismic boost as Vanguard—the $11 trillion asset management giant—lifted its crypto ban, granting 50 million clients access to Solana ETFs. The altcoin has absorbed $46.7 million in daily inflows following the announcement, extending its 22-day streak of positive momentum during a historically bearish month for digital assets.

Technical charts reveal a double-bottom pattern forming at Solana's $120 support level, a historically reliable reversal signal. TradFi's preference for SOL over competing ETF offerings underscores its status as the institutional altcoin of choice—a distinction that could accelerate inflows if even a fractional percentage of Vanguard's AUM migrates to crypto products.