Thomas Daniels
ARK Invest has expanded its cryptocurrency exposure by adding staked Solana (SOL) holdings to two of its flagship exchange-traded funds (ETFs). In a client communication reviewed by Cointelegraph, the asset manager confirmed the move, leveraging Canada’s recently approved staking framework for crypto funds.
Effective April 21, ARK Next Generation Internet ETF (ARKW) and ARK Fintech Innovation ETF (ARKF) now hold shares of 3iQ’s Solana Staking ETF (SOLQ), a Canadian-listed fund offering exposure to staked SOL assets. This strategic allocation positions ARKW and ARKF as the first U.S.-listed ETFs to gain direct exposure to Solana staking through an equity investment, ARK Invest noted.
Designed to offer diversified access to emerging technologies, ARKW and ARKF maintain portfolios combining technology equities—such as Coinbase, Block, and Robinhood—with direct cryptocurrency investments, according to ARK’s official disclosures.
This development comes as U.S. regulators continue to evaluate the approval of spot Solana ETFs. In contrast, in March, Volatility Shares introduced two U.S.-based ETFs providing SOL exposure through financial derivatives, highlighting the distinction between derivative-based and spot-based products.
Market observers suggest that the listing of Solana futures contracts on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) signals that U.S. approval of spot Solana ETFs could be imminent. Meanwhile, Canada’s Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) recently approved multiple Solana-focused funds, facilitating the launch of 3iQ’s Solana Staking ETF.
Solana maintains its position as the second-largest blockchain by total value locked (TVL), with over $7 billion secured across its network, compared to Ethereum’s approximately $45 billion, per data from DefiLlama.
ARK Invest’s history with digital asset funds underscores its bullish stance on crypto markets. In July 2024, it partnered with 21Shares to debut the ARK 21Shares Bitcoin ETF (ARKB), a spot Bitcoin fund that has amassed nearly $4 billion in net assets. However, a planned collaboration on an Ether ETF was terminated in June, shortly before 21Shares independently launched the offering.
As regulatory frameworks evolve and market infrastructure matures, ARK’s latest move to integrate staked Solana into its ETF lineup reinforces its commitment to offering forward-looking investment vehicles that bridge traditional finance and blockchain innovation.
