SEC Fast-Tracks Altcoin ETFs: Solana and XRP Lead the Charge in Landmark Crypto Approval
The regulatory gates are swinging open—and digital assets are charging through.
Wall Street's watchdog just hit the accelerator on crypto diversification, greenlighting the first major altcoin exchange-traded funds after years of Bitcoin-only dominance. Solana and XRP ETFs are now racing toward public markets, potentially reshaping institutional portfolios by early 2026.
Why These Coins Broke Through First
Regulators didn't pick random names from a crypto hat. Solana's blistering transaction speeds and XRP's settlement-focused design gave them regulatory distinction—plus enough trading volume to avoid market manipulation fears that sidelined smaller assets.
The Institutional Floodgates Crank Open
Traditional finance firms can now bypass direct crypto custody nightmares while gaining exposure to projects beyond Bitcoin. Expect pension funds and wealth managers to allocate percentages previously reserved for precious metals or emerging-market debt.
Market Impact: More Than Just Price Pumps
This isn't just about chasing new all-time highs. ETF structures force unprecedented transparency into blockchain projects' tokenomics and development activity—something even crypto natives sometimes ignore during bull markets.
A cynical take? The same regulators who spent years warning about crypto dangers just created a fee-generating machine for BlackRock and friends. But for investors, it's finally a legitimate path to bet on blockchain innovation without navigating unregulated exchanges.
Welcome to the era of regulated decentralization—where Wall Street profits from cutting out Wall Street intermediaries.
Firms scramble to update their ETF filings
The final wave of updated filings could arrive by this week, with managing firms highlighting new regulatory changes. According to Teddy Fusaro, president of Bitwise, the filings are already far along in the review process.
Still, to qualify for the expedited process, an ETF has to meet certain criteria. For one, the underlying asset must already be traded on a regulated market or have regulated futures contracts for at least six months.
“Not all of our existing filings qualify,” said Kyle DaCruz, director of digital assets product at asset manager VanEck. “The next step is to talk to our lawyers to see which products can MOVE forward and how rapidly will they get onto the market.”
