Posted on April 16, 2025, by Niftynews
Solana Staking ETF has become a buzzword in the digital asset investment world with the historic launch of 3iQ Solana Staking ETF (TSX: SOLQ) on the Toronto Stock Exchange. This marks a pivotal moment—not just for Canadian investors—but for the broader North American crypto ETF market.
With the Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) greenlighting the fund and Figment onboard as the primary staking provider, the ETF opens doors to institutional-grade Solana staking exposure without the need for technical know-how or self-custody risk.
Let’s dive into why this launch is such a milestone and how it benefits both retail and institutional investors.
1. Solana Staking ETF Brings Passive Income to Traditional Finance
For the first time in North America, a Solana Staking ETF integrates Proof-of-Stake (PoS) rewards directly into a regulated exchange-traded product. This allows investors to passively earn staking rewards—a feature once limited to crypto-native users—within the safety of a traditional brokerage account.
“Our goal is to merge traditional finance with decentralized innovation,” said Pascal St-Jean, President and CEO of 3iQ. “This product redefines what’s possible for ETF investing.”
2. Powered by Figment—A Solana Genesis Validator
Figment, one of Solana’s original validators and a trusted staking infrastructure provider, has been selected to deliver the back-end staking mechanics of the ETF. They currently manage over $15 billion in staked assets and serve over 700 institutional clients, including exchanges, custodians, and asset managers.
“As a genesis validator, we’re excited to provide the staking backbone for this pioneering ETF,” said Figment CEO Lorien Gabel.
Figment’s infrastructure ensures high validator uptime, secure delegation, and optimized yield generation, giving investors peace of mind and steady returns.
3. First-Mover Advantage in North America
The Solana Staking ETF from 3iQ is the first of its kind in North America. While the U.S. SEC is still undecided on permitting staking within ETFs, Canada is moving ahead—joining markets like Europe and Hong Kong in embracing Proof-of-Stake innovations.
This first-mover position gives 3iQ a competitive edge and reinforces Canada’s role as a global leader in digital asset regulation and innovation.
4. Regulatory Clarity and Institutional Trust
The ETF was approved by the Ontario Securities Commission on April 14, 2025, and began trading on April 16. With other asset managers like Purpose, CI, and Evolve also receiving approvals, a clear regulatory path has been established for staking-based funds in Canada.
Additionally, institutions like TD Bank are reportedly set to participate in SOL staking, reinforcing the ecosystem’s credibility and maturity.
“This ETF demonstrates the maturation of staking as a financial instrument,” said one industry analyst. “It’s no longer just for crypto-native users.”
5. Expanding Access to Solana’s Performance and Yield
Solana has seen robust network performance, with a growing developer ecosystem and increasing transaction throughput. Despite recent market volatility, it remains one of the top blockchain platforms by adoption and performance.
The Solana Staking ETF allows exposure to both SOL’s price movements and staking yields, offering a dual-income opportunity for investors. This is particularly important as staking offers a hedge against price stagnation, generating rewards regardless of short-term price action.
At launch, SOL is trading at $124, down 5% on the day but up 16% for the week. Its all-time high of $293 in January 2025 shows its long-term growth potential.
What This Means for the Future of Solana and Staking ETFs
The Solana Staking ETF represents more than just a new investment product—it’s a signal of what’s to come. With traditional finance embracing on-chain yield through regulated structures, we’re witnessing the mainstreaming of blockchain infrastructure.
This ETF sets a precedent for future products tied to staking rewards, especially for other major PoS networks like Ethereum, Avalanche, and Cosmos.
Final Thoughts on the Solana Staking ETF
3iQ’s launch of North America’s first Solana Staking ETF is a bold move that reflects both innovation and timing. Backed by a leading infrastructure provider in Figment and approved by Canadian regulators, this product delivers the staking yield experience through a structure that traditional investors understand and trust.
As institutional and retail investors alike look for ways to generate passive income in a volatile market, ETFs like SOLQ could become a cornerstone in diversified crypto portfolios.
