The race for the third cryptocurrency exchange-traded fund (ETF) in the United States is heating up, with Solana (SOL) emerging as the frontrunner. This comes amidst growing anticipation surrounding the potential approval of a spot ETF for Ethereum (ETH).
Industry leaders believe Solana’s strong market presence and growing popularity position it favorably for an ETF following Ethereum.
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Solana’s Advantages and Timeline
In a recent CNBC interview before all Ethereum spot ETFs were approved by the SEC, Brian Kelly, founder of BKCM, a digital currency investment firm, expressed confidence in SEC approval. He turned his focus to the next contender, highlighting Solana’s potential due to its established position as a major competitor to Ethereum in the crypto market.
Further into the interview, Kelly listed some cryptocurrencies he believes to be the top three for this cycle, in his words “Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana are probably the big three for this cycle”.
Echoing Kelly’s sentiment is James Seyffart, a respected ETF analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence. Seyffart acknowledged that regulatory hurdles exist, such as the requirement for a CFTC-regulated futures market for Solana.
This, he suggests, could push back the launch of a Solana ETF to at least 2026. However, he tempers this prediction by acknowledging the potential for a faster timeline if recently passed pro-crypto legislation accelerates the process.
Looking beyond regulatory hurdles, Seyffart predicts that a Solana spot ETF would likely attract significant investor interest, potentially exceeding that of other altcoin ETFs (alternative cryptocurrencies to Bitcoin and Ethereum). This further strengthens the case for Solana being the next cryptocurrency to receive an ETF approval.
XRP Faces Additional Challenges
While XRP boasts a seemingly clearer regulatory status compared to Solana, Seyffart believes it faces a longer road to an ETF.
The ongoing legal battle between Ripple Labs, the company behind XRP, and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) remains a significant obstacle. Additionally, the absence of a CFTC-regulated futures market for XRP presents another hurdle.
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Seyffart suggests that overcoming these challenges wouldn’t guarantee an XRP ETF soon. A potential shift in leadership at the SEC could also be a factor, as the current commission’s stance on XRP’s classification as a security could significantly impact the approval process.
The cryptocurrency landscape is constantly evolving, and regulatory frameworks are still under development. While the path for a Solana spot ETF is not without its challenges, experts believe it has a strong chance of being the next cryptocurrency to gain this coveted approval.
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