Volatility Shares launching Solana futures ETFs March 20
Volatility Shares is set to introduce two exchange-traded funds (ETFs) focused on Solana (SOL), marking a significant development in the U.S. cryptocurrency investment landscape. The Volatility Shares Solana ETF (SOLZ) and the Volatility Shares 2X Solana ETF (SOLT) are expected to launch on March 20. According to a recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the SOLZ will have a management fee of 0.95% until June 30, 2026, after which it will rise to 1.15%. The SOLT, on the other hand, offers investors double the leverage with a management fee of 1.85%.
This launch is notable as these are the first Solana-centric ETFs in the United States, following the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) Group’s successful introduction of SOL futures contracts. This is viewed as a pivotal moment in the maturation of the Solana asset class, aligning it with traditional investing mechanisms.
The wave of ETF applications to the SEC coincides with significant political shifts, including a leadership change at the SEC and the reelection of Donald Trump. This restructuring has catalyzed increased interest from asset managers and ETF firms eager to gain regulatory approval for new investment products.
On March 17, the CME launched SOL futures, which logged a trading volume of around $12.1 million on its first day. For comparison, Bitcoin and Ether futures debuted with volumes exceeding $102 million and $30 million, respectively. Despite the modest debut volume, analysts suggest that SOL futures could pave the way for greater institutional interest in Solana, facilitating a more robust price discovery process.
Chris Chung, founder of Titan—a Solana-based decentralized trading platform—points out that the launch of futures contracts indicates the asset’s maturity and potential for attracting institutional investors. Furthermore, the introduction of these ETFs is anticipated to enhance Solana’s use case in real-world applications like payments, moving beyond its prior reputation linked to speculative trading.
ETFs are expected to channel significant investment into SOL, potentially kicking off a sustained rally. This could contrast sharply with the impact of Bitcoin ETFs that have isolated institutional investment patterns, stifling capital flow into alternative cryptocurrencies during critical market phases.
The interplay between these emerging financial instruments and Solana’s growing recognition symbolizes a pivotal point for the network, reinforcing its position amid a market ripe for innovation and expansion. As such, Solana could be on the brink of a substantial transformation, positioning itself not merely as a speculative play but as a credible investment asset in the evolving cryptocurrency ecosystem.
