The Solana blockchain is witnessing a significant influx of institutional investment, marking a new phase of professionalization within its ecosystem. This trend, accelerated by the launch of the first U.S. spot ETFs in late 2025, is now broadening to include corporate treasury strategies and novel access points for European retail investors.
European Access and Market Analysis Expand Reach
German investors gained a streamlined path to digital assets in early February 2026. Through their ING bank accounts, they can now purchase Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana products that receive the same tax treatment as directly held cryptocurrencies. This development coincides with WisdomTree’s late-January expansion of access to its tokenized funds on the Solana network.
Market analysts are adjusting their outlooks in light of these developments. Geoffrey Kendrick, an analyst at Standard Chartered, revised his SOL projection upward in early February 2026. He highlighted the network’s growth potential in stablecoin micro-payments, an area distinct from the meme coin-driven activity that often dominates headlines.
Bitwise ETF and Corporate Partnerships Lead Institutional Charge
A cornerstone of institutional adoption is the Bitwise Solana Staking ETF (BSOL). Trading on the NYSE Arca since October 2025, the fund reported holdings exceeding 5.6 million SOL tokens, providing pure, direct exposure to the asset. It charges a management fee of 0.20%.
A key feature of this ETF is its utilization of Bitwise Onchain Solutions, backed by the staking provider Helius, to stake its entire SOL position. Helius itself manages over 13 million staked SOL. The net staking yield was recorded at 6.76% at the end of January 2026.
Should investors sell immediately? Or is it worth buying Solana?
In a separate move underscoring corporate interest, Sharps Technology (NASDAQ: STSS) announced a strategic partnership with BitGo on February 5, 2026. The collaboration aims to institutionalize Sharps’ Solana treasury strategy. BitGo, which recently debuted on the NYSE under the ticker BTGO, will provide qualified custody services, a Solana staking validator, and OTC trading services. This partnership exemplifies the merging of traditional financial infrastructure with cryptocurrency adoption.
Security Challenges Amid Technical Advantages
The ecosystem’s progress is not without setbacks. A security breach at the end of January 2026 impacted the DeFi platform Step Finance, resulting in a $27 million hack. The platform’s governance token subsequently collapsed by more than 80%.
Despite such incidents, Solana’s technical architecture continues to be a primary differentiator. The network processes transactions in approximately 400 milliseconds, with average fees hovering around $0.001. Upcoming protocol upgrades, including Alpenglow and Firedancer, are designed to push transaction speed and network throughput even higher.
The expansion of regulated investment products and dedicated institutional infrastructure points to a clear maturation of the Solana ecosystem. Its continued evolution will likely depend on two factors: whether institutional demand maintains its current momentum and if the promised technical enhancements are deployed as scheduled.
Ad
Solana Stock: Buy or Sell?! New Solana Analysis from February 5 delivers the answer:
The latest Solana figures speak for themselves: Urgent action needed for Solana investors. Is it worth buying or should you sell? Find out what to do now in the current free analysis from February 5.
Solana: Buy or sell? Read more here...