- Gemini launches SOL staking for institutions, offering secure cold storage and validator choice.
- Purpose Solana ETF and DFDV lead institutional adoption, staking SOL via Gemini Custody.
- DFDV stock to be tokenized on Kraken’s xStocks, expanding Solana’s real-world asset reach.
Gemini has launched institutional staking for Solana (SOL), deepening institutional access to the fast-growing blockchain. The move allows ETFs, corporate treasuries, and high-net-worth individuals to earn staking rewards through Gemini Custody. The announcement marks another milestone for Solana adoption in 2025. This development comes as more institutional players integrate SOL into their asset allocation strategies.
Solana Staking is now live for Gemini custody clients
We’re expanding institutional access to the Solana ecosystem. ETFs, corporations, and high net worth individuals can now stake SOL directly from Gemini Custody. pic.twitter.com/yZit6ved5Z
— Gemini Institutional (@GeminiInsti) June 23, 2025
Gemini Opens Staking for Institutions
Gemini’s new custody product enables clients to stake Solana while keeping tokens in secure, segregated cold wallets. Institutions can choose their own validator or use Gemini’s. This adds flexibility for large investors with specific stakeholder needs. The service expands on Gemini’s earlier launch of Solana staking for retail users.
Institutional clients can also participate in the proof-of-stake consensus and earn staking yields. One of the first adopters is Canada’s Purpose Investments, whose SOLL ETF debuted in April 2025 on the Toronto Stock Exchange. The fund gives physical exposure to SOL and receives staking rewards, which are directly added to the fund.
Purpose partnered with Gemini to manage staking infrastructure and custody. “Partnering with Gemini to offer Solana staking reinforces our leadership,” said Vlad Tasevski, Chief Innovation Officer at Purpose Investments. The SOLL ETF is Purpose’s second staking-enabled crypto fund built on Gemini Custody. The partnership demonstrates a growing appetite for crypto yield products among traditional investment managers.
DeFi Development Corp. (DFDV), a publicly traded Solana treasury company, has also joined Gemini’s staking service. The company recently raised a $5 billion credit line to increase its SOL holdings. Parker White, CIO and COO of DFDV, highlighted the platform’s flexibility. “We can align our staking strategy with our ecosystem partners while maintaining top-tier custody,” he said.
DFDV Tokenizes Stock on Solana via Kraken
While Gemini enhances staking, DeFi Development Corp. is pushing Solana adoption further. The company will tokenize its stock through Kraken, making DFDV the first U.S.-listed crypto treasury firm with onchain equity access.
The tokenized shares will be issued via xStocks, a tokenization platform built by Backed. Kraken partnered with xStocks in May to launch tokenized trading of top public stocks, including Apple, Tesla, and Nvidia. DFDV joins the inaugural xStocks cohort and will trade under the symbol DFDVx. The tokenized stock will give global users onchain access to the company’s equity.
CEO Joseph Onorati described the move as a foundational step. “We view the tokenization of our stock as a DeFi Lego block,” he said. The company aims to enable developers and institutions to build around tokenized equity.
DFDV was formerly known as Janover and rebranded earlier this year to reflect its crypto treasury strategy. It now holds significant SOL allocations and actively stakes those assets. The company’s inclusion on Kraken’s xStocks platform marks a new phase in real-world asset tokenization. It also strengthens Solana’s position as a base layer for tokenized equities and treasury strategies.
Related: EU Crypto Market Opens as Gemini and Coinbase Near MiCA Licenses
Gemini’s staking service and DFDV’s stock tokenization come amid a broader institutional shift toward Solana. Analysts cite lower fees, high throughput, and growing developer activity as key factors driving adoption.
As more regulated firms integrate Solana, the blockchain’s role in traditional finance appears to be expanding. The combined moves by Gemini and Kraken show how the institutional use of Solana is maturing rapidly. More ETF issuers and treasury strategy companies are expected to follow. Meanwhile, Kraken’s xStocks could further bridge equities and crypto through tokenized shares built on Solana.
Together, these developments represent major milestones for Solana in 2025. Institutional-grade staking and tokenized equities may fuel further growth across both crypto and traditional markets.
