VanEck Bets on Trump’s Win with Solana ETF Filing

Matthew Sigel, VanEck’s head of digital assets research, has confirmed the firm’s recent Solana (SOL) exchange-traded fund (ETF) filing hinges on Donald Trump winning the next presidential election. Last week, VanEck made headlines as the first US company to submit an S-1 registration statement for a SOL ETF to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Speculation Around the Filing

Bloomberg ETF analyst Eric Balchunas speculated that VanEck’s filing acts as a “call option on the POTUS election.” He explained, “The knee-jerk reaction here is: ‘oh, this will never be approved because there aren’t Solana futures.’ Agree, but if [there’s a] change at POTUS (President of the United States) I think anything [is] possible. Just imagine [Commissioner on the SEC] Hester Peirce (or someone like that) running the SEC.” Sigel validated Balchunas’ theory on the social media platform X, confirming the political angle of the filing.

Trump has claimed he will serve as “the crypto president,” which has garnered support from many digital asset stakeholders. They view the Biden Administration as hostile toward the sector. Despite this recent shift, Trump hasn’t always supported crypto. In May 2018, he reportedly told then-Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin to “go after Bitcoin [for fraud].” Three years later, he called digital assets “a disaster waiting to happen” and revealed he owned zero cryptocurrencies.

VanEck’s proposed ETF, named the VanEck Solana Trust, aims to be listed on the Cboe BZX Exchange pending approval. This move aligns with VanEck’s strategy to capitalize on potential regulatory changes under a new administration. Additionally, fintech firm 21Shares has also filed for a SOL ETF, indicating growing interest in Solana among institutional investors.

By betting on a political shift, VanEck demonstrates a unique approach to navigating the uncertain regulatory landscape surrounding digital assets. If successful, this strategy could pave the way for similar financial products, reflecting a broader acceptance and integration of cryptocurrencies in traditional finance.