In a dramatic start to the year, exchange-traded funds tied to Ethereum and Solana have exploded in trading volume, signaling a fresh wave of institutional interest beyond Bitcoin.
At a Glance
- Ethereum ETFs notched their highest daily volumes since August 21 on January 2 and 5
- Solana ETFs shattered their own record, hitting $220 million in daily turnover
- Bitcoin ETFs, by contrast, saw their first 2026 net outflow on January 6
- Why it matters: The sustained surge suggests diversified crypto exposure is moving mainstream
Crypto ETFs are entering 2026 on a tear. While Bitcoin funds briefly celebrated new-year inflows, the real spotlight is on products tracking the two largest alt-coins.
Ethereum ETFs: Sustained Surge, Not One-Day Wonder
Santiment data show Ethereum ETF volume climbing for weeks, a pattern that diverges from the brief spikes usually tied to single-news events. The analytics firm notes that January 2 and 5 now rank as the busiest trading days outside of an isolated August anomaly.
Unlike short-lived bursts, this uptick has persisted, hinting at growing comfort among institutions to gain ETH exposure via regulated wrappers. Still, Santiment cautions that ETH price action remains tightly correlated with Bitcoin’s broader moves.
Solana ETFs: New Kid, New Record
Barely on the market, Solana ETFs have already eclipsed their launch-day enthusiasm. Daily turnover rocketed to:
- $220 million on the latest record day
- Previous peak of $122 million set just two sessions after trading began
- The rally aligned with SOL reclaiming $140 for the first time in four weeks
Because Solana ETFs lack a long data history, Santiment argues that late-stage volume surges carry extra weight, often pointing to widening liquidity and broader adoption.
Bitcoin ETFs: First Outflow of 2026
Spot Bitcoin ETFs lost $243.24 million on January 6, reversing two days of hefty inflows totaling roughly $471 million and $700 million respectively. The pullback came after BTC slipped back from a brief rally toward $95,000.
Key Takeaways
- Ethereum ETFs are posting multi-week growth, a trend distinct from momentary spikes
- Solana ETF volumes continue setting records, reflecting rising alt-coin appetite
- Bitcoin ETFs swung to outflows, underscoring the divergence across crypto products
- Institutional filings like Morgan Stanley’s first Solana ETF application add momentum
As investors diversify beyond Bitcoin, the sustained boom in ETH and SOL ETFs signals that crypto’s regulated product suite is expanding-and finding fresh demand.
