ARK Invest Expands Crypto Exposure by Adding Staked Solana (SOL) Holdings to Two ETFs

ARK Invest has expanded its cryptocurrency exposure by adding staked Solana (SOL) holdings to two of its flagship exchange-traded funds (ETFs).

Crypto asset manager 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 seen by Cointelegraph, the firm confirmed the move, noting that it leveraged Canada’s recently approved framework for crypto funds to include staked SOL.

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 that provides exposure to staked SOL assets.

This strategic allocation makes ARKW and ARKF the first U.S.-listed ETFs to gain direct exposure to Solana staking through an equity investment, ARK Invest highlighted.

Designed to offer diversified access to emerging technologies, ARKW and ARKF maintain portfolios that combine 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 assess the approval of spot Solana ETFs. In March, Volatility Shares introduced two U.S.-based ETFs offering 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) has approved several Solana-focused funds, paving the way for 3iQ’s Solana Staking ETF.

Solana retains its position as the second-largest blockchain by total value locked (TVL), with over $7 billion secured across its network, compared to Ethereum’s (ETH) approximately $45 billion, according to data from DefiLlama.

ARK Invest’s history with digital asset funds highlights its bullish stance on crypto markets. In July 2024, it partnered with 21Shares to introduce the ARK 21Shares Bitcoin ETF (ARKB), a spot Bitcoin (BTC) fund that has quickly amassed nearly $4 billion in net assets. However, a planned collaboration on an Ether (ETH) 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 underscores its commitment to offering forward-looking investment vehicles that bridge traditional finance and blockchain innovation.