Solana Gets a Boost with Historic Staking ETF Launch
Solana (SOL) just scored a major win in the institutional adoption race. On July 2, the REX-Osprey Solana Staking ETF will officially begin trading, marking the first time in US history that an exchange-traded fund will distribute on-chain staking rewards directly to shareholders. The fund will trade under the ticker SSK, and its debut triggered a 4% price surge for SOL within an hour of the announcement.
The new ETF offers investors dual exposure: the spot price of Solana and the native staking yield generated from SOL participation in Solana’s proof-of-stake consensus. This blends DeFi yield with Wall Street-grade compliance - something never before seen in the US market.
Coming Soon: The First-Ever Staked Crypto ETF in the U.S.!
— REX Shares (@REXShares) June 27, 2025
Introducing the REX-Osprey™ SOL + Staking ETF, designed to track the performance of Solana while generating yield through on-chain staking.
✔️ SOL exposure
✔️ Staking rewards
A new era of yield-generating crypto… pic.twitter.com/I8yIEqiI5R
Coming Soon: The First-Ever Staked Crypto ETF in the U.S.!
— REX Shares (@REXShares) June 27, 2025
Introducing the REX-Osprey™ SOL + Staking ETF, designed to track the performance of Solana while generating yield through on-chain staking.
✔️ SOL exposure
✔️ Staking rewards
A new era of yield-generating crypto… pic.twitter.com/I8yIEqiI5R
A Clever Workaround to SEC Roadblocks
The product’s path to launch didn’t follow the typical ETF approval route. Instead of requiring the SEC’s blessing through the well-known 19b-4 process, the REX-Osprey fund is being issued under the Investment Company Act of 1940, operating through a C-corporation structure. This unique legal approach sidesteps the SEC’s current hesitation around staking in spot crypto ETFs.
REX Shares also confirmed that it received no further comments from the SEC, a quiet greenlight that let them move forward. This setup avoids legal battles that have hampered other staking-related ETF filings, making this ETF a regulatory workaround that may pave the way for similar funds.
Staking Comes to Wall Street
Traditional crypto staking often requires investors to use exchanges or DeFi protocols, which exposes them to additional risk and custodial complexity. The REX-Osprey ETF flips that model: investors can now earn yield through staking while maintaining full exposure via a regulated, publicly traded product.
Shares will be available to US investors through brokerage platforms, with 24/5 liquidity, transparent staking reward distributions, and zero commissions on select platforms. This not only opens up passive income strategies to traditional equity investors - it also brings a layer of institutional legitimacy to Solana’s ecosystem.
Looks like they believe comments have been resolved…
— Nate Geraci (@NateGeraci) June 27, 2025
Crypto ETF summer commences. https://t.co/teeBl3jSTW
Looks like they believe comments have been resolved…
— Nate Geraci (@NateGeraci) June 27, 2025
Crypto ETF summer commences. https://t.co/teeBl3jSTW
VanEck and 21Shares Left Behind?
While this ETF leads the charge, other major players like VanEck and 21Shares are still waiting for regulatory clarity. Their pending spot Solana ETF filings don’t yet include staking, as they use the more conventional exchange-traded commodity trust format.
The success of REX-Osprey’s ETF could now pressure the SEC to reconsider its stance on staking in ETFs - or motivate other issuers to replicate the workaround using the Investment Company Act structure. Either way, the game has changed.
A Big Win for Solana, and for Crypto ETFs
The launch of the REX-Osprey Solana Staking ETF sends a loud signal to both investors and regulators: staking rewards and ETF regulation can co-exist. As the first to deliver this hybrid exposure, the fund sets a powerful precedent—and cements Solana’s reputation as a serious institutional asset.
If successful, this model could extend to other PoS tokens and eventually reshape the landscape of crypto asset management in the US.
