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VanEck Launches Fee-Free Solana ETF as Competition Heats Up in Altcoin Funds
- VanEck launched the VSOL ETF, offering SOL exposure with staking rewards and an initial management fee waiver until 17 February 2026.
- The launch coincides with a surge of Solana ETFs from other issuers, including Canary Capital, Fidelity, Bitwise, and Grayscale.
- Analysts note the concentrated rollout and suggest staking-enabled ETFs provide insights into altcoin risk appetite and the growing Solana ecosystem.
VanEck has broadened its digital asset range with the debut of its Solana-focused ETF, VSOL, entering a rapidly expanding market for altcoin funds. The product began trading on Monday, offering investors access to SOL alongside any staking rewards generated through network participation.
At launch, VanEck removed the management fee for the first US$1 billion (AU$1.53 billion) in assets until 17 February 2026, mirroring a similar waiver on fees from the ETF’s third-party staking provider. Once assets exceed that amount before the deadline, the fund will apply a 0.30% sponsor fee only to the portion above the threshold, with all assets charged 0.30% after the cut-off date.
Surge of Solana ETFs Hits US Markets
The introduction of VSOL coincides with a wave of new Solana ETFs arriving on US exchanges this week. Canary Capital released its own staking-enabled SOLC product on Tuesday, developed in collaboration with Marinade Finance. Fidelity followed shortly afterwards with FSOL, applying a 0.25% annual fee to its Solana fund. Bitwise and Grayscale also rolled out their respective BSOL and GSOL ETFs in late October.
Fidelity’s entry became official on Tuesday after it finalised its regulatory filings. The firm described staking as a core component of Solana’s design, explaining that including it within the fund transformed the product from one offering only price exposure to one capable of generating yield. Fidelity has temporarily dropped both its management and staking fees until May 2026 to attract early inflows, with costs rising to a 0.25% expense ratio and 0.15% staking fee thereafter.
The increasing number of Solana ETFs arrives as issuers attempt to serve demand for assets outside Bitcoin. Bloomberg ETF analysts noted the unusually concentrated rollout when highlighting the products earlier in the week. Some analysts also argue that earlier altcoin ETF applications were submitted under more optimistic market sentiment than today. Even so, the arrival of staking-enabled structures may offer insight into how investors assess the risk-reward characteristics of Solana and the wider staking economy.
Related: Play Solana Handheld Web3 Gaming Console Announced Following Solana Seeker Smartphone
Author
Rachel Lourdesamy
Rachel is a freelance writer based in Sydney with experience within financial services, marketing, and corporate communications in the APAC region. An avid reader and a graduate of the University of Sydney, she covers topics including business, finance and human interest.
