Staking Solana: the move by ARK Invest and SOL Strategies revolutionizes institutional investments

ARK Invest, one of the most well-known names in innovative finance led by Cathie Wood, has announced a collaboration with SOL Strategies, a Canadian player specialized in staking services

A partnership that marks a leap in quality in institutional investments in cryptocurrencies and rewrites the rules of the game for global asset managers. But what does it really mean to stake on Solana, and what challenges and opportunities does this strategy present?

Staking Solana: how it works and why interest is growing

Staking on Solana means putting your SOL – the native tokens of the blockchain – to yield by temporarily locking them to contribute to the security and operation of the network. In return, users receive periodic rewards, usually every two or three days, depending on the delegated amount and the performance of the validators.

According to updated data from Solana Compass, over 403 million SOL are engaged in staking operations with a total value of approximately 73.5 billion dollars, with a network of over 5,300 registered validators (as of July 2025) demonstrating the growing confidence of investors and the expansion of the ecosystem, which attracts not only crypto enthusiasts but also large funds and investment companies.

The ARK Invest-SOL Strategies partnership: why it is disruptive

A new standard for crypto investments?

The agreement between ARK Digital Assets Revolution Fund – a fund led by the innovator Cathie Wood – and SOL Strategies introduces a unique collaborative model. ARK has chosen the Canadian partner to exclusively manage all its staking activities on Solana, entrusting them with resources amounting to over 3.5 million SOL (equivalent to approximately 888 million Canadian dollars) and more than 5,700 institutional wallets.

SOL Strategies, which operates with five active validators on Solana, manages 88% of the assets from external delegations, safeguarding transparency and operational continuity. The involvement of operators of the caliber of ARK indicates that staking is no longer a game for a few, but fertile ground for traditional finance.

Staking cryptocurrency: the real risks and the levers of return

Behind the potential for returns lie various risks, often underestimated. In particular:

Slashing: If a validator behaves incorrectly (technical errors, attacks, or bad faith), the delegated tokens can be partially slashed as a penalty, creating losses for the staker.

Volatility: The value of SOL remains highly volatile, with fluctuations that can erode any staking gains if the price suddenly crashes.

Yield: The interest paid varies based on the amount of tokens staked, network performance, and incentive policies. Currently, the cumulative value of assets in staking on Solana stands at around 73.5 billion dollars globally.

Before delegating your funds, it is essential to assess the level of reliability of operators and your own risk tolerance.

Validator on Solana: the beating heart of security

The validators represent the backbone of the Solana blockchain and staking systems. Through the technical management of the nodes, operators like SOL Strategies ensure the distribution of rewards and the stability of the network, minimizing the risk of attacks and ensuring that transactions remain fast and secure.

The correct functioning of the validators not only supports the decentralization of the protocol but also strengthens the trust of institutional investors. It is the technical detail that makes the difference between a simple crypto project and a solid infrastructure, ready to scale in global markets.

Crypto ETFs and Solana: the launch pad for traditional investors?

The ETFs on cryptocurrencies, like those managed by ARK Digital Assets Revolution Fund which includes exposure to Solana through dedicated ETFs (for example the 3iQ Solana Staking ETF), are changing the rules of accessibility to the sector. They offer investors:

Regulated and transparent exposure, with the security of processes monitored by market authorities.

Potential profitability through the flows generated by staking.

Ease of access to advanced tools, reducing entry barriers related to technical or fiscal issues.

The interest in institutional crypto funds is not limited to Solana: assets like Ethereum (ETH) are also experiencing a boom in demand from traditional operators, witnessing a transition underway in the world of investments.

Institutional interest in Solana staking is growing: trends and motivations

The staking race on Solana increasingly involves more macro investors: companies like DeFi Development Corp. and Upexi have strengthened their holdings, relying on professional validators. Behind this trend lie at least three key motivations:

The possibility of improving returns by reducing the typical volatility of trading.

The regulatory reliability offered by partnerships with institutional operators and instruments such as ETFs.

The innovazione tecnologica and transparency guaranteed by platforms like SOL Strategies.

And the questions are not lacking: can the growing institutional presence really change the balance of DeFi? To what extent will “traditional finance” be able to adopt – or dictate – the rules of the new decentralized finance?

Future of Solana Staking: What Scenarios After ARK and SOL Strategies?

Despite SOL Strategies reporting a quarterly loss of about 3.5 million dollars in the second quarter of 2025, the staking sector shows a growing revenue dynamic thanks to the expansion of managed flows and the consolidation of institutional partnerships. The evolution of the protocol – and the entry of new giants in asset management – push Solana to levels never seen before.

The synergy between ARK Invest and SOL Strategies is not just a commercial agreement but an example of competitive integration between the fintech world and classical finance. However, caution: the rapid evolution of the market requires constant monitoring of both operational risks and regulatory updates that could influence the medium-term sustainability of such strategies.

Conclusions: staking Solana, towards a new era of finance?

Solana staking is redefining the boundaries between crypto innovation and institutional finance. The ARK Invest-SOL Strategies partnership demonstrates that the adoption of blockchain tools is already a tangible reality for funds, asset managers, and professional operators. At the same time, pressure is increasing on authorities and the regulatory system to provide a more stable framework and protect investors of all levels.

For those involved in investments or wishing to understand the current trends of cryptocurrencies, following these evolutions means anticipating the challenges and opportunities of a transformation that is now underway even among global financial institutions.