Volatility Shares is set to introduce two Solana futures ETFs, the Volatility Shares Solana ETF (SOLZ) and the Volatility Shares 2X Solana ETF (SOLT), which signals a significant move of Solana into conventional financial products. These ETFs are anticipated to drive institutional interest in the Solana (SOL) token, but there are doubts about their ability to attract substantial investments.
The rollout of Solana futures ETFs is viewed as a pivotal achievement by experts in the industry, as it could enhance SOL's liquidity and demand. Ryan Lee, the chief analyst at Bitget Research, believes that these ETFs might raise Solana's market position and even narrow the gap with Ethereum in terms of market capitalization. Lee also pointed out that offering a regulated investment option could draw in institutional investors. Nonetheless, Bloomberg’s senior ETF analyst Eric Balchunas is more cautious, noting that the spot Ether ETF has not seen significant inflows, which could be replicated with Solana futures ETFs.
Even so, the anticipated approval of a Solana spot ETF is considered the next likely step. Anmol Singh, the co-founder of Bullet, a Solana-focused exchange, sees the increased exposure from the futures ETFs as setting the stage for a potential spot Solana ETF in the future. A JPMorgan report suggests that a spot Solana ETF could attract between $3 billion to $6 billion in net assets in the first half-year, potentially surpassing the adoption of Ether ETFs.
The introduction of the spot ETF, though pending approval, is seen as a key indicator of Solana's rising influence in the cryptocurrency realm. A Solana spot ETF could provide investors with direct SOL exposure, bypassing the complexities of futures markets once it goes live. While the futures ETFs might see moderate investments, the real game-changer will be the release of the spot product.
Solana's growing prominence is also validated by its inclusion in the U.S. strategic crypto reserve, as declared by President Donald Trump, alongside tokens like Cardano and XRP. The launch of the futures ETFs is a significant move forward in Solana's adoption, although the journey to a spot ETF could be lengthy, as the SEC review process for new products typically extends to 2026.
In essence, while initial investments in the futures ETFs could be restricted, their launch is seen as a crucial stride towards wider acceptance of Solana in the institutional investment sector.