JULY ARCHIVE

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The Solana blockchain, a high-performance, open-source platform launched in 2020, is known for its ability to process approximately 65,000 transactions per second at an average cost of $0.00025, making it one of the most scalable blockchain platforms. As of July 1, 2025, Solana is the sixth largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, at around $77.99 billion, with a significant share in the overall crypto market of $3.28 trillion. This report explores the biggest news today related to Solana, focusing on a historic financial milestone: the launch of the first U.S. Solana staking exchange-traded fund (ETF), set for July 2, 2025. The analysis aims to provide a detailed understanding of this development, its implications, and its relevance to Solana’s ecosystem, as of 09:43 PM EDT on July 1, 2025.

The most significant news today is the imminent launch of the REX-Osprey SOL + Staking ETF, with the ticker SSK, scheduled to debut on July 2, 2025. This ETF, a collaboration between REX Shares and Osprey Funds, is the first U.S.-listed exchange-traded fund to provide direct exposure to Solana’s native token (SOL) while also offering access to staking rewards. Unlike traditional crypto ETFs that only track the price of the underlying asset, this fund enables holders to passively benefit from Solana’s proof-of-stake reward system, marking a novel feature in the U.S. market.

The ETF is structured under the Investment Company Act of 1940, which allows it to bypass the lengthy 19b-4 approval process typically required for crypto ETFs. This regulatory framework not only accelerates the launch timeline but also positions the fund within a more traditional and regulated investment landscape, potentially attracting conservative institutional investors. As of today, Solana’s price showed strong bullish momentum earlier, trading at $155.88, but later dropped 7.84% over the past 24 hours to $145.08 as of 20:03 UTC, according to CoinDesk Research’s technical analysis model.

The REX-Osprey SOL + Staking ETF allocates approximately 80% of its assets to SOL, with roughly 50% of those tokens actively staked, allowing investors to earn staking yields in addition to potential price appreciation. This structure is seen as a major step for Solana’s credibility among U.S. financial institutions, potentially serving as a catalyst for long-term adoption. The ETF’s launch comes amid a broader push for altcoin ETFs, with firms like Grayscale, VanEck, and Bitwise also pursuing similar applications, as noted in recent reports.Technical indicators support a bullish outlook for Solana, with the MACD turning bullish and the RSI at 55.75, suggesting room for further gains if momentum continues. However, the sharp price drop today, against a broader crypto market decline of only 0.24% (as indexed by the CoinDesk 20), indicates mixed market sentiment ahead of the ETF launch.

Solana has been a focal point in the crypto space, with a year-to-date gain of more than 200% in 2025, reclaiming its spot as a top-tier smart contract platform. Recent developments include increased trading activity following the launch of U.S. President Donald Trump’s memecoin, $TRUMP, on Solana in January 2025, and major TradFi institutions pursuing tokenization efforts on the network, as announced in May 2025. The ecosystem is also buzzing with activity across DeFi, gaming, and meme coin sectors, with projects like Zeus Network leveraging Solana’s infrastructure for Bitcoin tokenization and yield farming.

The ETF launch is expected to have several implications for Solana’s ecosystem:

• Increased Institutional Interest: By offering a regulated investment vehicle, the ETF could attract more institutional capital, potentially boosting liquidity and adoption.
• DeFi and Staking Growth: Projects like Zeus Network, which operates on Solana and offers dApps like Apollo for yield maximization, could benefit from increased staking activity and Bitcoin liquidity integration.
• Broader Altcoin ETF Trend: This could pave the way for other altcoin ETFs, such as those for Dogecoin, XRP, ADA, and LTC, as mentioned in recent reports, potentially sparking an “altcoin summer.”

Other news today included DeFi Development announcing plans to raise $100M to buy more Solana, as reported by TradingView, and general price movements, such as Solana testing $140 support, as noted by CoinCentral. While these are significant, they do not match the historical and regulatory importance of the ETF launch, which is a first-of-its-kind event in the U.S. crypto market.

The launch of the REX-Osprey SOL + Staking ETF on July 2, 2025, is the biggest news today featuring the Solana blockchain, marking a historic milestone for U.S. crypto investment. It offers direct exposure to SOL with staking rewards, potentially boosting institutional adoption and ecosystem growth. While Solana’s price dropped 7.84% today, the long-term impact is expected to be positive, aligning with Solana’s trajectory as a leading Layer 1 blockchain. This development underscores Solana’s growing prominence and could have ripple effects for related projects, as of 09:43 PM EDT on July 1, 2025.