Solana Staking ETF Race Heats Up as CoinShares Joins Institutional Surge

In a significant development for the cryptocurrency market, CoinShares has filed with the SEC to launch a Solana-focused staking ETF on Nasdaq, joining major players like BlackRock, Fidelity, and Grayscale in the race to offer yield-bearing digital asset products. The proposed CoinShares Solana Staking ETF plans to stake a portion of its SOL holdings through custodian BitGo, capitalizing on the growing institutional interest in crypto staking mechanisms. This move underscores the accelerating mainstream adoption of Solana and other proof-of-stake blockchains as viable investment vehicles. As of August 2025, the cryptocurrency sector continues to witness unprecedented institutional participation, with staking ETFs emerging as a new frontier for traditional finance to gain exposure to blockchain networks while earning passive income. The regulatory approval of such products could potentially unlock billions in institutional capital for Solana, further validating its position as a leading smart contract platform. Market analysts suggest this development may positively impact SOL's valuation as it demonstrates increasing utility beyond speculative trading, though the final SEC decision remains pending. This trend reflects the broader maturation of cryptocurrency markets, where yield-generation mechanisms are becoming as important as price appreciation for institutional investors.

CoinShares Files for Solana Staking ETF Amid Growing Institutional Interest

CoinShares has joined the race to offer staking-enabled crypto ETFs, filing with the SEC for a Solana-focused product on Nasdaq. The move follows similar staking ETF proposals from BlackRock, Fidelity, and Grayscale, signaling institutional appetite for yield-bearing digital asset products.

The proposed CoinShares solana Staking ETF would stake a portion of its SOL holdings through custodian BitGo, though the exact percentage remains undisclosed. This structure introduces unique liquidity challenges—unstaking SOL requires 2-3 days, while ETF redemptions demand same-day settlement. The filing explicitly warns about potential redemption bottlenecks during periods of high withdrawals.

Market demand appears robust despite the operational complexities. The recently launched Rex-Osprey Solana + Staking ETF has already attracted $137 million in assets, though Solana products still trail far behind ethereum counterparts in total institutional holdings.

Solana (SOL) Retreats 25% From July Peak as Bearish Sentiment Takes Hold

Solana's SOL token has plunged 25% from its July high of $206, now hovering near $162 as profit-taking and weak market sentiment dominate. The LAYER 1 blockchain asset faces critical tests at support levels of $160, $140–$136, and $120, with traders eyeing the $136–$148 range as a potential accumulation zone.

Analyst Autumn Riley notes institutional buying interest historically emerged in this price band, suggesting a possible inflection point for long-term investors. Resistance looms at $180–$185, requiring significant bullish catalysts to overcome.

The retreat erases gains from SOL's July rally, which peaked at $206 amid surging developer activity and institutional demand. Market capitalization now stands at approximately $90 billion as traders reassess positions.

Pump.fun Revenue Plummets 80% as Memecoin Fatigue Hits Solana Ecosystem

Pump.fun, the dominant platform for memecoin launches on Solana, has seen its monthly revenue collapse from $130 million in January to just $24.96 million in July 2025 - an 80% decline that signals waning retail interest in speculative crypto assets.

The platform's Total Value Locked remains elevated at $190.57 million, but this liquidity appears increasingly disconnected from actual trading activity. Meanwhile, LetsBonk has emerged as the new market leader as active traders abandon Pump.fun in droves, with participation dropping 62%.

This downturn reflects broader sector weakness, with the total memecoin market capitalization shrinking from $85 billion to $65 billion. The dramatic revenue contraction at what was once Solana's hottest launchpad suggests crypto's speculative frenzy may be entering a cooling-off period.

DeFi Development Corp. Expands Solana Treasury with $18 Million Purchase

DeFi Development Corp., a publicly traded real estate software firm, has acquired an additional 110,000 SOL tokens worth approximately $18.4 million. This latest purchase elevates the company's total Solana holdings to 1.29 million SOL, valued at over $215 million at current prices.

The firm's Solana-per-share (SPS) metric has surged 47% to 0.0618 SPS in the past month, reflecting aggressive treasury growth. "Market conditions appeared favorable," said Dan Kang, Head of Investor Relations. "We're focused on growing SOL per share as quickly as possible."

Funding for the acquisition came from existing cash reserves and a $5 billion equity line of credit. Shares of DeFi Development Corp. rallied 10% on Monday, compounding year-to-date gains exceeding 2,100%.

Phantom Acquires Solana Trading Terminal Solsniper to Bolster Trading Capabilities

Phantom, the well-funded crypto wallet provider, has acquired Solsniper, a Solana-based trading and analytics platform. The deal terms remain undisclosed. Solsniper's web app will continue operating independently, while its team, led by CEO Max Zhuang, joins Phantom.

The acquisition signals Phantom's ambition to expand its trading offerings, particularly after its recent foray into perpetual futures trading via Hyperliquid. Solsniper specializes in advanced tools for memecoin traders, a sector that has proven highly lucrative on Solana.

Solana's memecoin frenzy has created significant revenue opportunities for analytics platforms. DEX Screener recently generated $2.9 million in monthly fees simply by charging projects to update token information. Other trading venues like Jupiter and pump.fun have already integrated similar terminal services.

Solana Price Prediction: Golden Cross and Liquidation Squeeze Set Stage for Next Rally

Solana shows signs of a bullish reversal after bouncing off key support at $155. The token's technical structure suggests a confirmed bottom formation, with a breakout from a multi-month downtrend and an ascending support line pointing to potential targets up to $250.

Institutional adoption gains momentum as Artelo Biosciences becomes the first publicly traded biotech firm to integrate SOL into its financial reserves. The $9.475M treasury allocation signals growing corporate confidence in Solana's long-term value proposition.