Following the launch of the first Solana (SOL) Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) in the US, Bybit analysts believe that the cryptocurrency could enter a multi-quarter rally fueled by institutional demand. Related Reading: Cathie Wood Trims Her 2030 Bitcoin Price Prediction To $1.2 Million – Here’s Why Solana ETF Era To ‘Reshape’ Price Trajectory On Friday, crypto exchange Bybit discussed the potential impact of the recently launched Bitwise Solana Staking ETF (BSOL) and Grayscale Solana Trust ETF (GSOL) on the altcoin’s long-term narrative and performance. In its Crypto Insights Report, the exchange noted that the altcoin joined Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) as one of the digital assets with regulated brokerage access in the US, marking a key milestone that could reshape “its price trajectory and market structure for years to come.” The report highlighted that SOL’s performance will likely benefit from the global expansion of SOL-focused products. Notably, Hong Kong also approved and launched the first Solana Spot ETF by China Asset Management in late October. Meanwhile, Brazil and Canada also host Solana ETFs, which create “a multi-jurisdictional framework that enhances global liquidity and price discovery.” Nonetheless, the crypto exchange considers that the most significant impact is “the narrative shift they catalyze,” as the cryptocurrency “is no longer just a high-beta altcoin favored by retail traders — it’s now a regulated, yield-bearing asset with institutional access and global distribution.” This rebranding aligns with Solana’s technical evolution, as its role in powering tokenized treasuries, real-world assets and permissioned stablecoin issuance makes it a foundational layer for the next generation of financial infrastructure. The exchange argued that Solana may transition from a speculative asset to providing a strategic allocation in diversified portfolios as macro conditions stabilize and ETF inflows build. SOL ‘On The Cusp Of Multi-Quarter Rally’ According to Farside Investors’ data, the SOL-based investment products have recorded over $300 million in inflows since launching last week, signaling strong institutional demand for the Solana ETFs. However, the altcoin’s price retraced around 8% during the ETF’s first trading week. Additionally, SOL’s price has fallen nearly 20% on the weekly timeframe, reaching a four-month low of $144 earlier this week. Despite the short-term volatility, Bybit affirmed that the ETF listings “represent a structural shift in how SOL is accessed, traded and perceived,” dramatically expanding SOL’s investor base. The report emphasized that the subdued response echoes the “sell-the-news” dynamic seen in BTC and ETH’s ETF approvals. Both cryptocurrencies experienced short-term corrections after their respective spot ETF launches before recovering on sustained inflows. “Solana may be following a similar pattern, with early profit-taking and whale rotation — such as Jump Crypto’s large on-chain transfer — temporarily suppressing upside momentum,” Bybit affirmed. Related Reading: Web3 Verifiable Settlement Protocol To Bring ‘Internet-Speed’ Payments With New Upgrade The report pointed out Bitwise’s estimate that every $1 billion in ETF inflows could lead to a 30%-50% increase in SOL’s market capitalization. As a result, if inflows reach $2-3 billion in the next year, the cryptocurrency could revisit its all-time high (ATH) levels, and even rally toward $300–$350. “If historical patterns hold, Solana could be on the cusp of a multi-quarter rally that redefines its position in the crypto hierarchy,” the exchange concluded. As of this writing, Solana is trading at $154, a 1% decline in the daily timeframe. Featured Image from Unsplash.com, Chart from TradingView.com
In a staggering breach that rocked the crypto world, crypto exchange Bybit has reported significant developments following a major hack attributed to alleged North Korean hackers. The incident, part of a record-breaking $1.5 billion crypto heist, has seen hackers convert at least $300 million into unrecoverable funds. CEO Ben Zhou provided a detailed update on the situation through a post on social media platform X (formerly Twitter). Bybit CEO Details Movement Of Stolen Assets Zhou’s “4.21.25 Executive Summary on Hacked Funds” revealed that the total amount stolen amounts to approximately $1.4 billion, primarily comprising around 500,000 Ethereum (ETH). The breakdown of the hacked funds indicates that 68.57% remain traceable, suggesting that a significant portion of the stolen crypto can still be tracked through the blockchain. Conversely, 27.59% have gone dark, meaning these funds are no longer traceable and may be lost. Additionally, 3.84% of the funds have been frozen, potentially due to interventions from law enforcement or regulatory bodies. Related Reading: Analyst’s Bitcoin Price Prediction From March Plays Out, Here’s The Rest Of It The untraceable funds largely flowed into mixers—services that obscure the origin of cryptocurrencies—before being moved through bridges to peer-to-peer (P2P) and over-the-counter (OTC) platforms. One of the mixers identified in the laundering of the stolen funds is Wasabi, linked to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). According to Zhou, after a specific amount of Bitcoin (BTC) was processed through Wasabi, it subsequently entered other mixing services such as CryptoMixer, Tornado Cash, and Railgun. The hackers reportedly utilized various cross-chain and swap services, including Thorchain, eXch, Lombard, LiFi, Stargate, and SunSwap, to facilitate the movement of assets. The ultimate destination for these funds appears to be OTC or P2P fiat currency exchange services, which allow for the conversion of cryptocurrencies into traditional currencies without the need for a centralized exchange. Stolen Crypto Breakdown The update also sheds light on the whereabouts of the stolen assets. A substantial portion of Ethereum has been transferred, with 432,748 ETH—approximately 84.45% of the total—valued at around $1.21 billion, converted from Ethereum to Bitcoin via Thorchain. Of this amount, 67.25% (342,975 ETH, valued at about $960.33 million) has been converted into 10,003 BTC, distributed across 35,772 wallets with an average of 0.28 BTC each. Related Reading: Dogecoin Stalls After 42 Days Of Flat Price Action — Is A Breakdown Coming? Meanwhile, 1.17% (5,991 ETH, approximately $16.77 million) remains on the Ethereum blockchain across 12,490 wallets, averaging 0.48 ETH each. In terms of Bitcoin, 944 BTC—about 6.34%, valued at $90.62 million—has been sent to the Wasabi Mixer, while 531 BTC (equivalent to 18,206 ETH, or 3.57%) has been transferred back from Bitcoin to Ethereum via Thorchain. In light of the ongoing investigation, Bybit has received 5,443 bounty reports related to the hack over the past 60 days, with 70 of those deemed valid. Zhou emphasized the need for more community involvement, inviting bounty hunters to help decode mixers and assist in tracing the remaining stolen funds. Featured image from DALL-E, chart from TradingView.com