Solana Holds $130 Amid Growth, Legal, and Market Pressures
**Solana (SOL) Struggles Near $130 as Network Activity Booms**
Solana’s native token, SOL, is facing a tough time holding above the important $130 price mark. Even though there’s a lot of positive activity happening on the Solana blockchain, the token is feeling pressure from the overall crypto market downturn and some ecosystem-specific issues. Investors are now asking: can Solana’s strong fundamentals outshine the current selling pressure?
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**Big Institutions Still Backing Solana**
Despite SOL’s recent price dip, big-name financial players are still building on the Solana network. Western Union has announced it will launch a US dollar stablecoin (USDPT) on Solana by mid-2026. Investment giant Fidelity has also added Solana to its crypto offerings. On top of that, R3, a group of global banks, is using Solana’s tech for tokenized assets.
These moves show that while the token’s price may be down short-term, long-term belief in Solana’s technology remains strong.
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**Price Drops While Usage Soars**
SOL’s price dropped about 11% over the last week, landing around $128. This slide matches a wider pullback in crypto, especially after the U.S. introduced new tariff threats that shook markets across the board.
But here’s the twist—while prices are down, Solana’s blockchain activity is way up. According to data from January 18, Solana hit 27.1 million active addresses in just one week—a 56% jump. Over 30 days, the network handled about 2.3 billion transactions, more than any other blockchain. In DeFi (decentralized finance), Solana’s Total Value Locked (TVL) has surged to $9.2 billion, putting it close to the $10 billion milestone.
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**Stablecoin Outflows Raise Concerns**
However, not all news is good. Around $2.7 billion worth of stablecoins left the Solana ecosystem in the last 30 days—a 17% drop. In comparison, Ethereum only saw a 1% decline during the same period.
Analysts see this as a warning sign. A class-action lawsuit against the Solana Foundation and Solana Labs may be making investors nervous. Also, companies holding SOL in their reserves—like Forward Industries—are reportedly sitting on over $700 million in unrealized losses this year alone, according to NS3.AI.
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**Major Upgrades Could Change the Game**
Despite short-term issues, experts see a bright future for Solana. Research firm Delphi Digital believes 2026 could be “the year of Solana,” thanks to a lineup of powerful upgrades aimed at making the network faster and more efficient.
Here are some of the key upgrades:
– **Alpenglow Consensus**: This major change could cut transaction finality time from 12-13 seconds to just 1 second.
– **Firedancer Validator**: Developed by Jump Crypto, this upgrade has already hit over one million transactions per second in tests and is partially live on mainnet.
– **DoubleZero Infrastructure**: Aimed at making communication between validators nearly instant, this upgrade could bring speeds similar to those used by Nasdaq or CME.
Solana also has strong developer support. A recent report from Electric Capital shows that the network now has around 17,700 active developers—many working on big projects like ChainLink, Wormhole, and Pyth Network.
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**Technical Levels to Watch for SOL**
Traders are closely watching key price zones for signs of a turnaround. The $132–$135 range is seen as critical resistance—SOL needs to break above this to start recovering. On the downside, support could be found between $122 and $126. If SOL falls below $120, more losses may follow.
Looking at short-term indicators:
– The Stochastic Oscillator shows SOL is oversold, which could mean a bounce is coming.
– However, SOL is still trading below its 50-day moving average ($132).
– The Supertrend indicator continues to signal a bearish trend.
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**What’s Next for Solana?**
In the coming weeks, all eyes will be on whether Solana’s strong network activity and upcoming upgrades can help stabilize its price. If SOL can reclaim and hold above $132, it could be a signal that confidence is returning. But if legal troubles and stablecoin exits continue, the token may face more downside ahead.
For now, SOL is at a crossroads—strong tech and big plans ahead, but battling short-term market challenges.
Husky Inu AI Rises in Pre-Launch as Crypto Market Dips
**Husky Inu AI (HINU) Price Rises Again in Pre-Launch Phase**
Husky Inu AI (HINU), a new crypto project, just recorded another price increase during its pre-launch phase. The token rose slightly from $0.00025441 to $0.00025539. This price bump is part of the project’s ongoing pre-launch, which started on April 1, 2025.
This pre-launch phase is a critical time for Husky Inu AI. It allows the team to raise more funds, grow its community, and improve the platform before the official launch. The developers use this phase to build momentum, test strategies, and expand the ecosystem. With less than three months until the planned launch, the team is staying flexible. They’ve already held two review meetings (in July and October 2025) and plan another one on January 1, 2026. These meetings will help decide if they stick to the current timeline or adjust based on market conditions.
So far, Husky Inu AI has raised $922,212 and could hit the $1 million mark before launching. Fundraising has picked up again after a brief slowdown, showing renewed interest from investors.
**Crypto Market Drops as Tariff Tensions and Global Uncertainty Shake Traders**
While Husky Inu AI continues to grow, the broader crypto market took a big hit this week. Market values fell nearly 4% as fears over new tariffs and global political tensions caused panic selling.
Bitcoin (BTC), the largest cryptocurrency, dropped from over $91,000 to a low of $87,828 before bouncing back to $89,628. That’s a loss of over 2%. Ethereum (ETH) had an even steeper fall, dipping below the key $3,000 level to $2,927 before recovering slightly to $2,988.
Other major cryptocurrencies also saw red:
– Ripple (XRP): Down over 2% at $1.91
– Solana (SOL): Down over 3% at $128
– Cardano (ADA): Trading at $0.360
– Dogecoin (DOGE): Dropped nearly 2% to $0.125
– Chainlink (LINK): Down almost 3% at $12.40
Coins like Stellar (XLM), Litecoin (LTC), Toncoin (TON), and Polkadot (DOT) also suffered losses. One exception was Hedera (HBAR), which went up nearly 1% to $0.110 despite the market turmoil.
According to CoinGlass data, more than 180,000 traders were liquidated in the last 24 hours. Total liquidations hit $1.07 billion. Long positions made up most of that—$998 million—while short positions accounted for around $71 million. Bitcoin and Ethereum led the way with the largest liquidation amounts: $440 million in BTC and $392 million in ETH.
**Bitcoin Loses 2026 Gains After Sharp Drop**
Bitcoin’s price crash wiped out most of its gains for 2026. After falling below a key support level—the 50-day exponential moving average—it lost nearly 10% from its peak of just under $98,000 earlier this year.
This recent dip shows how sensitive the crypto market is to global news and economic uncertainty. With investors becoming more cautious, Bitcoin’s future short-term moves will likely depend on how these issues develop.
**Stay Connected With Husky Inu AI**
Want more info about Husky Inu AI? Follow their official channels:
– Website: Husky Inu Official Website
– Twitter: Husky Inu Twitter
– Telegram: Husky Inu Telegram
**Disclaimer**: This article is for informational purposes only and does not provide financial or investment advice.
Grayscale Plans NEAR Spot ETF Listing on NYSE Arca
**Grayscale Aims to Turn Its NEAR Trust into a Spot ETF on NYSE Arca**
Grayscale, one of the biggest players in the crypto asset management space, is planning to turn its current NEAR Trust (GSNR) into a spot ETF that would trade on the NYSE Arca. This move could give investors more regulated access to NEAR Protocol, a layer-one blockchain project. Right now, the trust is already active, trading over-the-counter with about $900,000 in assets and a net asset value (NAV) of $2.19 per share.
**What’s Changing with the Grayscale NEAR Trust ETF Plan**
The Grayscale NEAR Trust currently trades on the OTCQB market, which is less accessible for many investors. Grayscale wants to shift this product onto NYSE Arca as a fully regulated spot ETF. If approved, the ETF will continue under the GSNR ticker. Importantly, it will directly hold NEAR tokens—no futures, no leverage, and no derivatives—keeping it simple and closely tied to the real market price of NEAR.
To make this transition happen smoothly, Grayscale is working with some well-known partners. Coinbase Custody will safely store the NEAR tokens. Coinbase will also act as the prime broker, helping with buying and selling. The Bank of New York Mellon will handle admin tasks like share transfers and fund accounting. This setup is designed to bring traditional financial structure to crypto investing.
**Grayscale Expands Its Crypto ETF Portfolio**
This NEAR ETF push is part of a larger strategy by Grayscale. The company already runs nine crypto ETFs and has turned several of its older products into exchange-traded funds. These include ETFs for Bitcoin, Ethereum, Chainlink, and XRP. The NEAR ETF shows that Grayscale sees long-term value in offering regulated access to more blockchains.
Grayscale isn’t stopping at NEAR. It has also created trusts for BNB and Hyperliquid and is preparing to launch ETFs for Hedera, Avalanche, and Bittensor. These are still in early stages but signal the company’s plan to offer a wide range of crypto ETFs as the market and regulations evolve.
**NEAR Token Price Struggles Despite ETF News**
Despite this big news from Grayscale, NEAR’s price hasn’t jumped. In fact, it dropped around 1.76% in the last 24 hours to $1.54 and has fallen over 14% in the past week. This matches a broader decline across the crypto market.
This kind of price action shows that investors are becoming more cautious. Simply filing for an ETF isn’t enough to drive prices up anymore—people want to see actual approvals and listings before reacting.
Still, if the ETF is approved and starts trading on NYSE Arca, it could open up NEAR to a whole new group of investors, including financial advisors, retirement funds, and institutions that don’t want to deal with direct crypto custody.
**Understanding the ETF Approval Process and Risks**
To launch this ETF, Grayscale has filed Form S-1 with the SEC. This kicks off a two-part process: first, getting the registration approved so they can legally issue shares; second, getting NYSE Arca’s rule change approved so the ETF can list and trade on the exchange.
One of the most important things in the filing is that this ETF will directly hold NEAR tokens—no synthetic products or derivatives. That reduces risk for investors and keeps performance closely tied to real market prices.
However, like all crypto investments, this ETF comes with risks:
– **Price Volatility**: NEAR’s price can swing wildly based on market trends or news.
– **Regulatory Changes**: If laws change around crypto or how NEAR is classified, that could impact the fund.
– **Custody & Security Risks**: Even with Coinbase Custody handling storage, there’s always some risk of hacks or operational issues.
– **Liquidity Issues**: In times of market stress, it might be harder for the ETF to create or redeem shares without affecting prices.
– **No Yield**: This ETF won’t participate in staking or lending NEAR tokens, so investors won’t earn rewards even though they face price risk.
This product is aimed at people who want easy access to NEAR through their brokerage accounts without managing wallets or private keys. But they’ll pay management fees for that convenience—and those fees could eat into returns if NEAR’s performance is slow.
**Facing Off with Bitwise and Other Competitors**
Grayscale isn’t alone in chasing a NEAR-based ETF. Bitwise filed for its own NEAR ETF back in May 2025, setting up direct competition if both get approved. Investors will likely compare them based on things like fees, trading volume, and how closely they track NEAR’s price.
Grayscale does have an edge: it’s a well-known name with existing ETFs and experience converting trust products into exchange-traded funds. However, newer competitors like Bitwise sometimes offer lower fees to attract early interest.
For NEAR Protocol itself, having a major ETF listed could raise its profile among mainstream investors and analysts. It might also bring in more passive investment from funds that track crypto indices or allocate small amounts to digital assets.
On the flip side, ETFs can reduce direct user engagement with the network—fewer people might stake tokens or use decentralized apps if they just hold shares through traditional brokerages.
**Big Picture: What This Means for Crypto ETFs**
This filing is part of a bigger trend: asset managers are pushing beyond just Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs into more altcoins like NEAR, Hedera, Avalanche, and others. Each new application gives insight into how regulators are thinking about these newer assets and whether they’re comfortable allowing broader crypto exposure through ETFs.
If approved, the Grayscale Near Trust ETF could help validate Grayscale’s strategy of building a full shelf of crypto ETFs—not just for top-tier tokens but for a wide range of blockchain networks.
**Conclusion**
The Grayscale Near Trust ETF proposal represents another step toward making crypto investing easier for traditional investors. By converting its small but operational NEAR trust into a spot ETF on NYSE Arca—with major partners like Coinbase and BNY Mellon—Grayscale hopes to bring more legitimacy and accessibility to NEAR Protocol exposure.
While approval isn’t guaranteed, success would support broader adoption of altcoin ETFs in the U.S. If rejected, it could slow similar plans across the industry—but either way, this filing signals that crypto ETFs are expanding beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum into a more diverse market.
Galaxy Digital Launches $100M Crypto Hedge Fund
Galaxy Digital is getting ready to launch a new $100 million investment fund that aims to make money whether crypto prices go up or down. This fund is expected to start in the first quarter and reflects a shift in the market, as the days of non-stop price increases in crypto may be coming to an end.
The fund will invest in two main areas: crypto tokens like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana, and financial stocks tied to blockchain technology and digital assets. The goal is to manage risk while still benefiting from changes in technology, regulation, and market trends.
About 30% of the fund will go directly into crypto tokens. The other 70% will focus on traditional financial companies that are expected to grow due to blockchain adoption, new tech innovations, and upcoming regulations. Galaxy Digital has already secured $100 million in commitments from wealthy individuals, family offices, and select institutional investors. The company will also contribute its own money, although the exact amount hasn’t been shared.
Joe Armao, who will lead the fund, says the crypto market is entering a new phase. While he remains confident in major assets like Ethereum and Solana, he believes that the constant upward trend may be slowing down. Bitcoin is currently trading around $89,185, down about 30% from its high in October and 12% lower over the past year. Still, Armao sees Bitcoin as a key asset, especially if gold and stock markets remain stable during potential interest rate cuts by the U.S. Federal Reserve.
The Galaxy Digital hedge fund reflects how both the crypto and traditional finance worlds are evolving. For example, financial companies like Fiserv have seen their stock prices drop, partly due to new regulations and the increasing impact of blockchain and artificial intelligence.
This fund takes a different approach from typical crypto investments. Instead of only betting on prices going up, it uses a mix of long and short positions. This means it can make money whether prices rise or fall, helping to reduce risk while staying flexible in a fast-changing market.
Galaxy Digital has already shown how this strategy works. Back in September 2025, it bought around $306 million worth of Solana, contributing to a total of more than $1.5 billion in crypto purchases over time.
In addition to the new hedge fund, Galaxy Digital recently completed its first tokenized collateralized loan obligation (CLO) on the Avalanche blockchain. Known as Galaxy CLO 2025-1, this financial structure has already financed about $75 million in loans with backing from Grove, a credit protocol that contributed $50 million. The CLO could expand to $200 million.
These loans are overcollateralized and backed by digital assets like Bitcoin and Ethereum. They are issued through INX and managed by Anchorage Digital Bank, which tracks collateral in real-time. This blend of crypto lending, tokenization, and traditional finance showcases Galaxy Digital’s unique approach.
Experts see this hedge fund as a sign that the crypto industry is maturing. By combining crypto investments with traditional finance strategies, the fund helps big investors take part in digital asset opportunities while lowering risk.
The fund also highlights the growing connection between blockchain technology and traditional finance. With its ability to profit in both rising and falling markets, Galaxy Digital’s hedge fund represents a smarter, more balanced way to invest in today’s shifting financial landscape.
By mixing digital assets with financial infrastructure stocks—and taking both long and short positions—Galaxy Digital is building a flexible strategy designed for a more complex and regulated future. With strong initial funding and innovative projects already in motion, this hedge fund could become a key example of how institutions approach crypto investing going forward.
**Key Terms:**
– **Crypto Tokens**: Digital assets like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana used for investing.
– **Financial Stocks**: Shares in companies involved with blockchain or fintech.
– **Collateralized Loan Obligation (CLO)**: A group of loans bundled together and sold to investors as bonds.
– **Long and Short Positions**: Strategies used to make money when prices go up (long) or down (short).
Top 10 Leveraged ETFs That Soared Last Week
Here’s a simple and easy-to-understand version of the top-performing leveraged ETFs from last week, optimized with key terms for better search and retrieval:
**1. RIOX – 2x Leveraged Riot Platforms ETF**
RIOX aims to deliver double the daily gains of Riot Platforms, a major player in Bitcoin mining. Last week, this ETF jumped over 52%. The big news? Riot sold some of its Bitcoin to buy land in Rockdale, Texas, for $96 million. This move gives them permanent control over their main mining facility—investors liked that.
**2. AMDL – 2x Leveraged AMD ETF**
AMDL gives investors 2x daily exposure to AMD stock. It was up more than 29% last week. AMD is going all-in on artificial intelligence (AI), launching its new Helios AI platform. Analysts are excited because the company is growing fast in the data center space and becoming a strong alternative to Nvidia in the AI chip market.
**3. AGQ – 2x Leveraged Silver ETF**
AGQ tracks silver prices with double leverage. It climbed about 24% last week as silver prices surged. The jump was driven by rising global tensions and surprising political news that added uncertainty to the markets—investors turned to silver as a safe haven.
**4. MSTX – 2x Leveraged MicroStrategy ETF**
MSTX gives 2x exposure to MicroStrategy stock, which rallied last week thanks to a crypto market boost. The big headline? Vanguard, one of the largest asset managers, invested $505 million into MicroStrategy, showing growing institutional trust in crypto-heavy companies.
**5. BABX – 2x Leveraged Alibaba ETF**
BABX tracks Alibaba stock with 2x leverage and saw nearly 19% gains last week. Investors responded positively to Alibaba’s AI technology gaining popularity with developers. On top of that, new Chinese rules are easing competition in food delivery, which should help Alibaba’s profit margins.
**6. MST – Leveraged MicroStrategy Income ETF**
MST provides between 1.5x and 2x exposure to MicroStrategy’s daily stock performance. It also had a strong week with over 16% gains, riding the same wave of investor confidence in crypto and institutional support as MSTX.
**7. SMCX – 2x Leveraged Super Micro Computer ETF**
SMCX gives double daily exposure to Super Micro Computer stock, which went up sharply last week. The company benefits from booming demand for high-performance servers, especially after Taiwan’s TSMC posted strong earnings—indicating more chips mean more servers needed.
**8. GDXU – 3x Leveraged Gold Miners ETN**
GDXU offers triple leverage on an index of major gold mining stocks like GDX and GDXJ. It was up over 15% last week as gold prices rose. Global conflicts and market uncertainty pushed investors toward gold and gold-related stocks.
**9. DFEN – 3x Leveraged Aerospace & Defense ETF**
DFEN targets the defense sector with triple leverage and gained more than 14% last week. The reason? Talks of a bigger U.S. military budget due to ongoing global conflicts like those involving Venezuela have increased investor interest in defense companies.
**10. ETHU – 2x Leveraged Ethereum ETF**
ETHU offers 2x daily price movement of Ethereum (ETH). It gained over 14% last week as Ethereum saw record levels of staking and received a $200 million investment from BitMine into a related project called Beast Industries. These moves show growing institutional interest in Ethereum and its shrinking supply adds to its value.
These leveraged ETFs are showing strong momentum driven by tech innovation, crypto adoption, precious metals demand, and global geopolitical shifts. Investors looking for high-risk, high-reward plays are watching these closely.