The SEC has officially acknowledged spot Solana ETF filings from 21Shares, Bitwise, VanEck, and Canary Capital, marking a significant step in the regulatory process. This development signals potential progress in the approval of altcoin-based ETFs under the agency’s new leadership.
Historically, the SEC has been hesitant to engage with spot Solana ETFs, previously rejecting similar filings under former Chairman Gary Gensler. However, under the current administration, the SEC appears more open to reviewing these applications, reflecting a broader shift toward a crypto-friendly regulatory stance.
Bloomberg ETF analyst James Seyffart described the acknowledgment of Grayscale’s amended Solana ETF filing on Feb. 6 as a “notable” milestone, given the SEC’s prior refusals. Fellow analyst Eric Balchunas echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that the agency’s recognition of these applications represents a “baby step” toward approval and a direct result of leadership changes at the SEC.
UPDATE: SEC just acknowledged the @Grayscale Solana 19b-4. This is actually newsworthy because the SEC had refused to do this in recent filing attempts for SOL pic.twitter.com/m2D88GKG5i
— James Seyffart (@JSeyff) February 6, 2025
Cboe BZX Exchange Leads the Charge
The Cboe BZX Exchange has been at the forefront of listing spot crypto ETFs, filing 19b-4 forms to facilitate the trading of Solana ETFs from 21Shares, Bitwise, VanEck, and Canary. The filing mirrors the process used for Bitcoin ETFs, which successfully launched in early 2024.
This move comes amid a wave of crypto ETF applications, as issuers test the SEC’s willingness to expand the ETF market beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum. Notably, Franklin Templeton has also joined the SOL ETF race, filing documents to register the Franklin Solana Trust in Delaware.
Chances of Approving a Solana ETF
The acknowledgment of Solana ETF applications suggests a growing acceptance of altcoin-based ETFs, particularly as institutional demand for diversified crypto exposure increases. Financial services giant JPMorgan estimates that a spot Solana ETF could attract between $3 billion and $6 billion in net assets within its first year of trading.
Meanwhile, predictions market Polymarket places the probability of a Solana ETF approval before July 31 at 39%, with Bloomberg analysts projecting a 70% chance of approval under the new SEC leadership. However, regulatory hurdles remain, particularly around Solana’s classification as a security or commodity.
