ARK Invest Unlocks Solana Staking Through 3iQ’s Canadian ETF

ARK Invest’s $5.2 million acquisition of 3iQ’s Solana Staking ETF (SOLQ) marks a calculated move toward blockchain-native income streams. The allocation embeds SOL staking returns into ARK’s tech-forward ETFs—ARKW and ARKF—reflecting a broader institutional pivot toward Web3 yield generation.

The transaction, completed on the Toronto Stock Exchange, marks a first in financial history—U.S. exchange-traded funds have, for the first time, tapped directly into Solana staking yields. This isn’t ARK Invest’s first foray into this terrain: the firm had previously entered Ethereum staking through Canada’s 3iQ Ether Staking ETF, sidestepping barriers still in place for American investors.

With SOLQ in the mix, ARK’s funds—ARKW and ARKF—can now reinvest SOL staking rewards seamlessly, bypassing the limitations of traditional custody services. Beyond that, they’re helping strengthen the very foundation of the Solana ecosystem.

The ETF crafted by 3iQ brings together two worlds: the liquidity of public markets and the high-tech intricacy of staking delegation, offering investors exposure to both yield and infrastructure.

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SOLQ's inclusion is part of a growing institutional mindset—one that sees staking not as a fringe feature, but as a core driver of long-term returns in crypto portfolios.

Meanwhile, American investors must rely on futures-based instruments for Solana exposure. The Volatility Shares ETF (SOLZ) and its leveraged sibling SOLT, both launched in March 2025, remain the only regulated paths available—lacking the yield component embedded in staking-native products like SOLQ.

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With no green light yet from the SEC on spot Solana ETFs, American markets remain stuck in limbo—deprived of instruments that align with evolving investor appetite. North of the border, Canadian exchanges have filled the gap, offering a full spectrum of options: from risk-managed, income-driven strategies to bold plays riding the wave of Solana’s potential.

Seen in a broader light, ARK Invest’s move may well inspire other American institutions to reconsider their asset allocation strategies—especially those eyeing staking-enabled ETFs as a new vehicle for long-term yield.

According to Brian Rudick, Head of Research at GSR, the Solana appeal lies in its promise of trustworthy, transparent exposure to top-tier digital assets—delivered through the framework of regulated financial markets.

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With ARK Invest and other issuers steadily broadening their product portfolios and investing in ecosystem maturity, staking is poised to move from niche to mainstream in the institutional world. Meanwhile, Solana’s core contributors are doubling down on scalability—developing a Layer 2 blockchain to future-proof performance.