Solana could get its first spot exchange-traded fund soon. Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Eric Balchunas said the “odds are really 100%,” adding that “the baby could come any day.”
His view follows a series of rule changes at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission that allow exchanges to use a generic process to list new crypto ETFs.
Under the new approach, issuers face stricter marketing and asset rules, but they can receive a decision in about 75 days instead of the 240 days seen before. The shift has already enabled spot ETFs tied to XRP and Dogecoin to launch in September.
Honestly the odds are really 100% now. Generic listing standards make the 19b-4s and their “clock” meaningless. That just leaves the S-1s waiting for formal green light from Corp Finance. And they just submitted amendment #4 for Solana. The baby could come any day. Be ready. https://t.co/5JtfTm82Wi
— Eric Balchunas (@EricBalchunas) September 29, 2025
Why this matters
A spot Solana ETF would bring a regulated wrapper to an asset that has seen rising institutional interest. ETF launches tend to magnify existing demand by making access simpler for brokers, advisers, and retirement platforms.
Industry participants also point to growing balance-sheet buying from digital asset treasury firms that are adding SOL to reserves.
The new SEC stance
The SEC’s leadership has signaled a change in tone toward crypto. The agency has moved from case-by-case approvals to a standardized listing path for eligible crypto ETFs. Analysts expect the rules could greenlight more than 100 products over the next 6–12 months, including funds beyond bitcoin and ether.
If an exchange files for a spot Solana ETF under the generic standards and meets the new conditions, trading could begin after the 75-day window. Issuers must still address custody, pricing sources, liquidity, and risk disclosures. The SEC keeps authority to delay or deny if filings fall short.
Network backdrop
Analysts say Solana is entering a pivotal phase. The Alpenglow upgrade, expected in December, aims to cut transaction finality from over 12 seconds to 150 milliseconds.
Supporters argue that faster finality could help high-frequency apps and advance Solana’s position among layer-1 networks. Claims about “Google search speed” are projections and depend on execution and adoption.
