The REX-Osprey Solana Staking ETF, the first U.S.-listed exchange-traded fund to offer staking rewards for Solana, is set to launch on July 2 under the ticker SSK. The innovative fund will enable investors to earn staking yield by indirectly validating Solana blockchain transactions — marking a milestone for crypto integration into traditional finance.
According to a Bloomberg report citing a source familiar with the matter, the ETF has cleared regulatory hurdles that initially stalled its debut. ETF analyst Eric Balchunas explained that REX and Osprey navigated SEC concerns by allocating at least 40% of the fund’s assets into existing Solana exchange-traded products (ETPs), most of which are domiciled outside the U.S.
The fund’s path to market was not straightforward. The SEC initially objected to the fund’s structure due to questions over whether it met the legal definition of an “investment company” under U.S. law. The resolution came through a compromise: the ETF would gain exposure to Solana staking by proxy, through foreign ETPs that already track SOL and staked SOL.
“This move to allow ETFs that offer staking yield is a further step in the marriage we are seeing between public markets and the crypto economy,” said Strahinja Savic, head of data and analytics at FRNT Financial. He added that the launch reflects how the Trump administration is “opening the door for crypto to become an integrated part of the U.S. economy via public markets,” rather than treating it as a fringe asset class.
The SSK launch follows recent offerings like the Volatility Shares Solana ETF (SOLZ) and its leveraged counterpart SOLT, both of which provide exposure to Solana through futures contracts. However, SSK is unique in its focus on staking yield, making it a compelling option for income-seeking crypto investors.
“Crypto ETF summer kicks off,” commented Nate Geraci, President of ETF Store, referring to the growing momentum in crypto-backed financial products.
Solana’s native token SOL reacted positively to the news. Prices surged 5.3%, spiking from an intraday low of $150 to over $158 shortly after the announcement. However, the rally was short-lived, with SOL retracing to $153 within hours.
Despite the pullback, SOL has had a strong week, posting a 7% gain as broader crypto markets show signs of recovery. Still, the asset remains down nearly 50% from its January all-time high, which was driven largely by speculative memecoin activity on the Solana blockchain.
With the launch of SSK, the fusion of DeFi rewards and traditional investing takes a notable step forward — potentially paving the way for more yield-generating crypto ETFs in the U.S. market.
July 2025, Cryptoniteuae