Key Takeaways:
- Galaxy Digital launches SOL staking on GalaxyOne for eligible US clients
- Commission-free rewards through 2026 with $1,000 incentive for stakers
- Galaxy operates one of the largest Solana validators on the network
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Galaxy launches Solana staking with zero fees through 2026
Galaxy Digital launched Solana staking on its GalaxyOne platform, offering zero-fee rewards through 2026 as it operates one of the network's largest validators.
"Galaxy operates one of the largest Solana validators, and we're passing that value directly to clients," Mike Novogratz, founder and chief executive officer of Galaxy Digital, said.
The firm is waiving all staking commissions through the end of 2026 and offering $1,000 to eligible users who stake SOL through the platform. GalaxyOne, Galaxy Digital's retail investment platform, now supports Solana staking alongside its existing crypto trading and custody services.
The move intensifies competition among crypto platforms for staking market share as Solana's proof-of-stake network processes over 32 percent of global stablecoin transfers and handles $36.87 billion in monthly DEX volume, according to DefiLlama data. Solana's stablecoin supply has grown to roughly $13 billion, making the network a significant settlement layer for real payment activity.
Galaxy's staking launch follows a period of strong institutional demand for Solana exposure. US spot SOL ETFs recorded $115.34 million in net inflows during May with zero outflow days, pushing cumulative flows past $1.06 billion, Sosovalue data shows. The Bitwise Solana Staking ETF led several sessions, including a single-day inflow of $20.77 million on May 6.
The network's upcoming Alpenglow upgrade, targeting mainnet as early as the third quarter of 2026, would cut transaction finality from roughly 12.8 seconds to around 150 milliseconds. The upgrade received 98.27 percent validator approval in September 2025 and went live on a community validator test cluster on May 11.
Solana traded at $82.00 as of June 1, about 72 percent below its all-time high of $294. Open interest in SOL futures fell 30 percent during May to $1.90 billion, Coinglass data shows, as leveraged traders reduced exposure even as spot buyers remained active through ETF channels.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.
