Is Staking the Next Killer Feature for Crypto ETFs? Bitwise Says Yes

Will investors be swayed by a crypto ETF with extra yield from staking? Bitwise Asset Management, the crypto asset manager overseeing more than $15 billion in client assets, has announced the launch of the Bitwise Solana Staking ETF (NYSE: BSOL), the first U.S. exchange-traded product to provide 100% direct exposure to Solana (SOL) with built-in staking rewards. The ETF is set to begin trading on the New York Stock Exchange on October 28, 2025, under the ticker BSOL. According to Bitwise, the fund combines institutional-grade exposure to Solana’s performance with on-chain participation, allowing investors to earn network staking yields alongside price appreciation. Introducing $BSOL — the Bitwise Solana Staking ETF. Starts trading tomorrow.– First U.S. ETP to have 100% direct exposure to spot SOL– Maximizing Solana’s 7%+ average staking reward rate*– Targeting 100% of assets staked– Staking through Bitwise Onchain Solutions, powered by… pic.twitter.com/Vo8Ko0qOCn— Bitwise (@BitwiseInvest) October 27, 2025 Inside Bitwise’s strategy to bring staking to Wall Street The Bitwise Solana Staking ETF will carry a management fee of 0.20%, with the fee waived for the first three months on the first $1 billion in assets. Bitwise plans to stake all SOL held in the fund through Bitwise Onchain Solutions, powered by Helius, a Solana infrastructure provider recognized for its performance and security standards. Matt Hougan, Bitwise’s Chief Investment Officer, said the launch highlights Solana’s rising prominence in digital finance. “We believe Solana is one of the most exciting crypto investment opportunities today,” he said, noting that its efficiency and low-cost transactions position it strongly for stablecoin and tokenization markets. Hougan added that Solana’s fundamentals strengthen the investment case, noting that the blockchain generates more network revenue than any other chain and continues to attract significant developer activity. The table below shows key metrics behind Solana’s growing appeal: Solana at a Glance Solana MetricDetailComparison / ContextTransaction speedConfirms transactions in 400 milliseconds~12 seconds on Ethereum, ~10 minutes on BitcoinThroughputUp to 100,000 transactions per secondMore than all global equity exchanges combinedCost efficiencyMedian transaction fee of $0.001Among the lowest in cryptoNetwork revenueOver $2 billion in the past yearHighest among major blockchainsStaking rewards~7% annual yieldIncentivizes validator participation Mert Mumtaz, CEO and Co-founder of Helius, described the collaboration as transformative. “What Netflix did to video and what Amazon did to commerce, Solana is doing to capital markets,” he said, emphasizing that the partnership with Bitwise gives traditional investors access to this innovation. Bitwise CEO Hunter Horsley called 2025 “a turning point for crypto,” also noting that the launch of BSOL enables investors to participate in one of the fastest-growing platforms in digital finance. Solana trading volume jumps 97% as analysts weigh new ETF inflows Analysts are already forecasting strong demand for the new fund. Research from SolanaFloor estimates that Solana ETFs could attract between $3 billion and $11 billion in assets within their first year, drawing comparisons to Bitcoin and Ethereum ETF launches. Solana ETF projections: SolanaFloor  Unlike Ethereum ETFs, Solana’s product will include staking from the start, potentially offering yields between 4% and 5% annually. This combination of yield and exposure could appeal to institutions looking for diversified income opportunities. Solana price Source: TradingView  Following Bitwise’s announcement, SOL trading volume surged 97%, while its price climbed nearly 3% to $200, rebounding from $180 the day before. At the time of writing, Sol is currently trading at $198.48.