Recent research by CoinShares reveals a surge in institutional interest in Solana (SOL). A study involving 64 investors, who manage a staggering $600 billion collectively, shows that 15% now hold Solana in their portfolios—a sharp increase from earlier this year when none had reported investments in the cryptocurrency.
Why Solana is Catching Investors’ Eyes
James Butterfill, the head of research at CoinShares, highlighted the growing optimism towards Solana, which is now considered the third most promising cryptocurrency in terms of growth potential by the investors surveyed. This optimism contrasts sharply with the declining interest in XRP, which saw no new investments from the survey’s participants, despite minor inflows into XRP investment products.
Read More: The Rapid Decline of Solana’s Memecoin Market
Despite the rising interest in Solana, Bitcoin remains the top pick for institutional investors, with 41% seeing it as the cryptocurrency with the best growth potential. Ethereum holds the second spot, although its appeal has slightly declined since the start of the year. Overall, the allocation to cryptocurrencies in institutional portfolios has increased to 3% from just 1.3% in January, reaching the highest level since the survey began in 2021.
The Allure of Distributed Ledger Technology
The primary draw for investing in digital assets, as indicated by the survey, is the exposure to distributed ledger technology. Notably, despite the increase in cryptocurrency prices since January, the perceived value of these investments has also risen, with over 20% of respondents now viewing them as “good value.”
Persistent Challenges and Concerns
While the interest in cryptocurrencies is growing, significant barriers still exist for institutional investors, particularly around regulatory issues. These concerns remain the top obstacles preventing further investment in the crypto market. Furthermore, while concerns about volatility and custody have lessened, regulatory and political risks are now the primary concerns for those invested in the sector.
