If you want Solana exposure, but you don’t want to set up a wallet, guard a seed phrase like it’s a family secret, or stress about sending SOL to the wrong address, a Solana ETF could be the right choice for you.
A Solana ETF is a fund you can buy in a regular brokerage account that aims to track Solana’s performance (either by holding SOL directly or by using futures contracts).
In this guide, I’ll compare the main Solana ETF contenders trading in December 2025, including spot and futures products. I’ll keep it practical:
- What the fund actually holds
- What fees really cost you
- How staking changes the math
- What “tracking” means in plain English
And we’ll also go over a few tax basics to flag.
Let’s get started!
Before you pick a Solana ETF, know what you’re buying
A Solana ETF sounds like one simple product. It’s not.
Two funds can have nearly the same name and still behave differently because of how they get Solana exposure, what they do with staking, and how much friction sits between you and SOL’s price.
Here’s the mental model that helps: buying a Solana ETF is like ordering coffee. You can get:
- The plain drip (simple spot exposure)
- A fancy drink with extras (staking, cash holdings, derivatives)
- Something that tastes like coffee but isn’t exactly coffee (futures)
Spot Solana ETFs vs futures Solana ETFs
Spot Solana ETFs generally hold SOL (or aim to) and try to track SOL’s price more directly. If SOL goes up 10% and the fund is run well, you’d expect something close to that, minus fees and normal fund frictions.
Examples of spot tickers trading now include SOEZ, BSOL, TSOL, QSOL, FSOL, VSOL, GSOL, SOLC, SSK.
Futures Solana ETFs don’t hold SOL. They hold futures contracts tied to Solana. That sounds close enough until you meet the hidden costs:
- Roll cost: futures expire, so the fund has to replace contracts over and over.
- Drift: over time, the fund can lag spot SOL, even if the manager does everything “right.”
- Potential distributions: futures funds may distribute gains in ways spot funds don’t.
A futures example trading now is SOLZ (Volatility Shares Solana ETF).
What about leveraged Solana ETFs?
Products like SOLT (2x) and SLON (ultra) get talked about a lot, but they are not approved for trading as of the time of writing this article. If they will become available for trading in the future, you should treat them with a lot of caution.
Leveraged ETFs are not suitable for most holders, and they should never be viewed as a long-term investment. Daily resets can punish buy and hold investors, even when you guess the direction correctly over longer periods.
The big decision points: fees, staking, tracking, liquidity, and taxes
- Fees (expense ratio): The expense ratio is the annual “rent” you pay to own the ETF. A 0.20% fee is $20 per year per $10,000 invested (before compounding effects). Fee waivers can make the first months cheaper, but the long-term fee still matters if you plan to hold for years.
- Staking: Many spot Solana ETFs launched with staking language in filings, aiming to pass staking rewards through to shareholders (after costs). That sounds great, but it’s not free money. Staking involves validators, operational rules, and policy constraints. Funds can also adjust staking practices over time.
- Tracking (how close it follows SOL): Even spot ETFs can trail SOL because of fees, trading costs, and operational drag. Futures ETFs can deviate more because of roll costs and how futures markets behave.
- Liquidity (how easy it is to trade without getting clipped): Liquidity shows up in two places you can actually feel. One is bid-ask spread, i.e. the gap between what buyers pay and sellers accept. The other is trading volume. More activity often means tighter spreads.
- Custody (who holds the SOL): Spot ETFs use a crypto custodian. That’s a real risk surface, so it’s worth checking. For example, SOEZ lists Coinbase Custody. Other funds list their custody arrangements in their prospectus or fund page, and you should verify it before buying.
- Taxes (basic reality check): ETFs in brokerage accounts usually come with familiar tax paperwork (often a 1099). Futures-based funds can have different tax treatment than spot holdings, and crypto tax rules keep changing. If taxes matter for your decision, confirm the details with a tax professional.
Comparing the best Solana ETFs in 2026
The cleanest way to compare the best Solana ETFs is to line up what you pay, what you hold, and what extra “features” might quietly change performance.
Best SOLANA ETFs comparison table
| Ticker | Issuer | Type | Expense ratio | Fee waiver (as disclosed) | Staking angle |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SOEZ | Franklin Templeton | Spot | 0.19% | Waived until May 31, 2026 or first $5B AUM | Tracks a staked return index (staking included) |
| BSOL | Bitwise | Spot | 0.20% | Waived first 3 months or first $1B AUM | Staking in filings |
| TSOL | 21Shares | Spot | 0.21% | None listed | Staking in filings |
| QSOL | Invesco Galaxy | Spot | 0.25% | None listed | Staking integrated per filings |
| FSOL | Fidelity | Spot | 0.25% | Waived first 6 months | Staking referenced (partial holdings) |
| VSOL | VanEck | Spot | 0.30% | Waived until Feb 17, 2026 or first $1B AUM | Staking in filings |
| GSOL | Grayscale | Spot | 0.35% | Waived first 3 months or first $1B AUM | Product details vary (converted trust structure) |
| SOLC | Canary Marinade | Spot | 0.50% | Waived until July 1, 2026 (or if a disclosed rate condition is met) | Staking-forward positioning |
| SSK | REX-Osprey | Spot + derivatives | 0.75% | None listed | SOL exposure plus staking approach, also uses T-bills/derivatives |
| SOLZ | Volatility Shares | Futures | 1.15% (reduced to 0.95%) | Reduced to 0.95% until Mar 20, 2026 | No (futures-based) |
Low-fee spot Solana ETFs for long-term holders
If you’re thinking “I just want Solana exposure without drama,” start here.
- Franklin Solana ETF (SOEZ, 0.19%): The lowest listed fee among the main spot options, with a waiver through May 31, 2026 or until the first $5B in AUM (whichever comes first). It also references a staked return index. Early December 2025 reporting showed tight spreads for its size, but always check live quotes.
- Bitwise Solana ETF (BSOL, 0.20%): Also low cost, with a waiver for the first 3 months or until $1B AUM. If you’re buying soon after launch, waivers can meaningfully reduce early drag.
- 21Shares Solana ETF (TSOL, 0.21%): A close competitor on fee, with no waiver listed in the available disclosures.
- Invesco Galaxy Solana ETF (QSOL, 0.25%) and Fidelity Solana Fund (FSOL, 0.25%): Same headline fee, with FSOL disclosing a 6-month waiver.
I want to make a quick note on fee waivers: a waiver is like an intro rate. It can lower costs now, but it does not erase the long-run expense ratio. If you hold for five years, the post-waiver fee matters more than the first few months.
Solana staking ETFs & higher-fee spot choices
Staking is the part of Solana that feels like “getting paid to hold.”
Sometimes that’s true. Sometimes it’s more like getting a rebate that comes with strings.
Here are the pros and cons of Solana staking ETFs:
Pros
- You want SOL exposure plus a potential yield component.
- You prefer staking inside an ETF wrapper instead of running your own validator setup.
Cons
- Staking rules can change, including how rewards are handled.
- Validators and operations introduce new risks and costs.
- Higher fees can eat much of the reward.
Two staking-forward names stand out:
- Canary Marinade Solana ETF (SOLC, 0.50%): Higher fee, with a waiver disclosed through July 1, 2026 (and a rate-based condition also disclosed). This is the type of fund you pick because staking is the point, not a side bonus.
- REX-Osprey SOL Staking ETF (SSK, 0.75%): The priciest of the spot group, and it’s also structurally different. It mixes SOL exposure with derivatives and T-bills, which can change how it behaves versus plain spot. That can be useful, but it’s not “pure SOL.”
These are good for investors who want staking exposure inside a brokerage account and accept higher fees and added moving parts.
Grayscale and other big-brand options
Some investors care about the issuer almost as much as the fee. And that’s not irrational. When markets get choppy, familiarity can keep you from panic-selling.
- Grayscale (GSOL, 0.35%): A converted trust-style product with a higher fee than the low-cost leaders, plus a waiver for the first 3 months or first $1B AUM. Some buyers still prefer it for brand comfort or brokerage availability.
- VanEck (VSOL, 0.30%): Mid-pack fee, with a waiver until Feb 17, 2026 or first $1B AUM.
You’re paying for a mix of reputation, distribution, and what you expect liquidity to look like over time. Still, fees are a quiet tax. They show up every year, whether SOL is up or down.
Futures and leveraged Solana ETFs
The futures route is tempting if you assume it’s “basically the same.” But it often isn’t.
Volatility Shares Solana ETF (SOLZ) is the key futures product trading now, with a stated 1.15% expense ratio that’s reduced to 0.95% until March 20, 2026. That fee is high for long-term holding, and futures roll costs can add another layer of drag.
Futures funds can also throw off distributions, and they can track differently than spot during fast moves.
As for leveraged products like SOLT and SLON, they are not confirmed as live trading in December 2025. If and when leveraged Solana ETFs appear, treat them like short-term tools. Daily reset math can hurt you over weeks or months, even if Solana moves in the direction you expected.
The way I look at it is this – if you’re not watching it daily, skip futures and skip leverage.
What’s the best Solana ETF to buy? Simple Picks by Investor Type
There isn’t one best Solana ETF for everyone. There is a best match for how you plan to hold it.
Before you pick, run this quick sanity check.
- Confirm the ticker (similar names are common)
- Confirm the fund is spot or futures
- Check the expense ratio and the waiver end date
- Look at the live bid-ask spread in your brokerage app
- Check for any premium or discount signals on the fund page
- Read the holdings and staking section (it tells you what can change)
Best overall for most people: a low-fee spot Solana ETF
If you want the simplest long-term Solana exposure, a low-fee spot ETF is usually the cleanest fit.
Start with the lowest-cost group: SOEZ (0.19%), BSOL (0.20%), TSOL (0.21%).
Then use tie-breakers that matter.
- Spread and volume right now: tighter spreads mean you lose less on entry and exit
- Issuer trust: pick a sponsor you’re comfortable sticking with during a rough drawdown
- Waiver details: a waiver can help early, but don’t ignore the long-run fee
If two spot funds look nearly identical, checking recent Solana ETF inflows can help confirm which one currently has stronger liquidity and investor demand.
Best for investors who want staking exposure inside an ETF
If staking is the feature you care about, look at SOLC or SSK, and read the documents like you’re buying a car with a complicated warranty.
Here’s what you should keep in mind:
- Higher expense ratios: SOLC (0.50%) and SSK (0.75%) need staking benefits to justify the extra cost.
- How rewards are handled: are rewards reflected in NAV, paid out, or used in another way?
- Portfolio mix: SSK includes T-bills and derivatives, which can soften or change returns versus pure spot SOL.
Also keep one eye on policy. Staking rules and fund practices can change, especially when regulators or fund boards adjust risk limits.
The bottom line
If you want Solana exposure without extra moving parts, a low-fee spot Solana ETF is the cleanest long-term choice. Funds like SOEZ, BSOL, and TSOL keep it simple. Own SOL exposure, pay a modest fee, move on with your life.
If you want staking inside the ETF wrapper, SOLC and SSK can fit, but you’re paying more and accepting more complexity. Futures products like SOLZ are usually better suited to active traders than long-term holders.
Decide how much Solana risk fits your plan, and size it accordingly.
FAQ
What is the best Solana ETF in the US?
For most US investors, the best Solana ETF US option is a low-fee spot product like SOEZ, BSOL, or TSOL. These funds aim to track SOL directly, have competitive expense ratios, and avoid the extra drag seen in futures-based ETFs.
What is the best Solana ETF in Canada?
The best Solana ETFs available in Canada include:
- 3iQ Solana Staking ETF (TSX: SOLQ)
- Purpose Solana ETF (TSX: SOLL)
Are Solana ETFs safer than holding SOL directly?
Solana ETFs remove wallet and custody management for the investor, which reduces user error risk. However, you’re still exposed to Solana’s price volatility and to fund-level risks like fees, tracking error, and custodian reliance.
Do Solana ETFs pay staking rewards?
Some spot Solana ETFs include staking in their structure, but rewards are usually reflected in the fund’s NAV rather than paid out directly. Staking practices can change over time and may be offset by higher expense ratios.
Source:: What Is the Best Solana ETF to Buy? Comparing the Top Contenders