TL;DR
- Bitwise CIO Matt Hougan predicts a strong rally for Solana by the end of 2025, driven by expected spot Solana ETF approvals and increasing corporate treasury purchases.
- Solana’s smaller market capitalization compared to Bitcoin and Ethereum means relatively modest flows could significantly move its price.
- Forward Industries’ $1.65 billion SOL acquisition and staking strategy may create a supply-demand imbalance, potentially fueling Solana’s next major upward trend in the crypto market.
Investors are turning their attention to Solana as Bitwise signals a possible “Solana season” similar to previous rallies seen in Bitcoin and Ethereum. Matt Hougan, Bitwise’s Chief Investment Officer, highlights a combination of exchange-traded product (ETP) inflows and corporate treasury buys as the catalyst for a potential surge in SOL prices.
According to Hougan, the mechanisms that drove Bitcoin from $40,000 to $125,000 in 2024, and Ethereum from $1,600 to nearly $5,000 in 2025, could repeat for Solana. These factors, combined with growing institutional interest and improved blockchain infrastructure, make the environment particularly favorable for a strong end-of-year rally.
Solana ETF Approvals Set To Drive New Demand
Several financial institutions, including Grayscale, VanEck, Franklin Templeton, Fidelity, and Invesco/Galaxy, have filed for U.S. spot Solana ETFs, with SEC decisions expected soon. The introduction of these ETFs could provide investors direct access to SOL with staking benefits, much like existing Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs have created strong inflows. While the first U.S. ETF offering SOL exposure launched by REX-Osprey has seen modest $195.1 million inflows, more traditional ETFs could significantly amplify Solana demand and attract both retail and institutional investors eager for exposure.
Corporate Treasury Purchases Add Further Fuel
Beyond ETFs, major industry players are positioning Solana as a corporate treasury asset. Forward Industries recently received $1.65 billion in commitments from Galaxy Digital, Jump Crypto, and Multicoin Capital to acquire and stake SOL. This approach mirrors previous strategies employed by Michael Saylor for Bitcoin and Tom Lee for Ethereum, placing prominent advocates at the forefront of the blockchain’s growth.
Solana’s low transaction costs and fast finality make it attractive for stablecoins, DeFi, and tokenized assets, differentiating it from Ethereum’s reliance on Layer 2 solutions. The network’s scalability improvements, combined with ongoing ecosystem development, could further strengthen its adoption and market appeal.
Despite its smaller market capitalization of $119 billion, Solana’s size means relatively modest inflows could produce outsized price movements. Hougan notes that the planned Forward Industries purchases could have a price impact similar to a $33 billion Bitcoin acquisition.
