SOL Strategies Inc., a publicly traded Canadian company focused on Solana infrastructure and treasury solutions, has been selected as the exclusive Solana staking provider for ARK Invest’s Digital Asset Revolutions Fund. The announcement confirms that ARK, the investment firm founded by Cathie Wood, will rely on SOL Strategies’ validator infrastructure to support its expanding digital asset portfolio.
The arrangement includes the transition of ARK’s Solana validator operations to SOL Strategies’ enterprise staking platform. The partnership leverages SOL Strategies’ integration with BitGo, one of the most widely used institutional custodians in the digital asset space. This setup allows ARK to maintain secure custody while delegating stake in a compliant and operationally sound manner.
A Vote of Confidence in Institutional Staking Infrastructure
Leah Wald, CEO of SOL Strategies, emphasized the importance of the partnership in strengthening the firm’s institutional credibility.
Framing the announcement, Wald stated, “Being selected as ARK’s exclusive Solana staking provider represents significant validation of our institutional infrastructure and market position. Cathie Wood and her team at ARK have been trailblazers in crypto and disruptive innovation investing. Their confidence in our validator capabilities reinforces our commitment to delivering best-in-class staking solutions for institutional clients.”
SOL Strategies, formerly known as Cypherpunk Holdings, has evolved into a focused platform supporting Solana’s institutional adoption through validator operations, research, and capital deployment. Its partnership with BitGo provides a custody layer designed to meet the compliance requirements of funds and asset managers operating in North America and beyond.
ARK Invest’s Continued Staking Expansion
The move marks another chapter in ARK Invest’s growing interest in crypto-native yield strategies. The firm, best known for its bold bets on emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and genomics, has also positioned itself early in blockchain infrastructure.
Speaking at Solana Accelerate, ARK Invest CEO Cathie Wood called Solana’s infrastructure “much more agile,” adding, “At ARK, one of the things we look for in new technology is falling costs and accelerating uptake and that’s certainly Solana.”
ARK has previously invested in Solana staking vehicles through products offered by 3iQ. The decision to now work directly with a Solana validator operator indicates an expansion of ARK’s hands-on participation in staking ecosystems.
The Digital Asset Revolutions Fund aims to provide investors with exposure to blockchain protocols and crypto-native infrastructure, including yield-generating components such as staking. With Solana emerging as a high-performance alternative to legacy blockchains, ARK’s partnership with SOL Strategies aligns with its broader thesis on scalable, cost-efficient public ledgers.
Institutional Adoption Continues to Deepen
The partnership arrives at a time when institutional interest in Solana is accelerating. $SSK, the first U.S. Solana staking ETF, continues to see strong inflows, reaching $131 million in Assets Under Management (AUM) in just three weeks since its launch. As asset managers such as Franklin Templeton, Grayscale, and VanEck await regulatory decisions on their Solana ETF filings and custody providers strengthen support for $SOL, firms across the financial spectrum are exploring how to integrate staking into their broader strategies.
SOL Strategies’ integration with BitGo, coupled with its public listing and dedicated Solana focus, positions it as one of the validator operators able to meet institutional risk and governance standards. ARK’s decision to designate the firm as its sole Solana staking provider adds further weight to the growing institutional validation of Solana’s staking ecosystem.
While the immediate implications are operational, the move may also signal a shift in how asset managers approach staking infrastructure. Beyond just a source of yield, it may increasingly be seen as a critical layer of network participation and alignment.
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