Bitwise Chief Investment Officer Matt Hougan has expressed strong confidence in Solana (SOL), calling it one of the most promising layer-1 blockchains in today’s crypto market. Hougan believes Solana’s potential lies in what he describes as “two ways to win” — the network’s ability to capture a growing share of the stablecoin and tokenization infrastructure market, both of which he expects to expand more than tenfold in the coming years.
Praising Solana’s speed, ease of use, and thriving developer community, Hougan said the blockchain has carved out a niche for itself by embracing rapid innovation. He noted that Solana’s technology delivers a seamless user experience, positioning it as a leading platform for scalable, real-world blockchain applications.
Institutional Interest in Solana Is Accelerating
According to Hougan, institutional adoption of Solana is gaining momentum, with major players beginning to integrate the blockchain into their operations. He cited Western Union’s recent adoption of Solana for stablecoin settlements as a major sign of growing corporate trust in the network’s efficiency and reliability.
While Ethereum remains the dominant force in the stablecoin space with over $163 billion in market capitalization, Hougan highlighted Solana, Tron, and BNB Chain as the top contenders challenging Ethereum’s leadership. Solana’s combination of performance, cost-effectiveness, and innovation, he said, makes it a strong candidate to capture a significant share of the expanding stablecoin and tokenization ecosystem.
Bitwise Expands Solana Exposure with New Staking ETF
Bitwise’s confidence in Solana goes beyond words. The firm recently launched a Solana Staking ETF, offering investors direct exposure to Solana’s ecosystem while earning staking rewards. Hougan compared Solana’s potential upside to that of Bitcoin, suggesting both assets could benefit from a “two-way win” scenario — where investors gain not only from overall crypto market growth but also from each network’s rising market share.
With institutional adoption increasing and infrastructure maturing, Hougan believes Solana is positioned to become a central pillar of the next generation of blockchain technology — a network that combines speed, accessibility, and innovation to power the future of decentralized finance and digital assets.
