Galaxy Digital has introduced Solana (SOL) staking within its GalaxyOne retail app, broadening its consumer crypto services as competition among all-in-one trading platforms heats up. The company says users can stake SOL directly in the app and earn up to 6.5% variable annual rewards. That rate is not guaranteed and will fluctuate with network conditions, validator performance and overall staking participation.
The addition of staking reflects a broader industry move to embed yield-generating features into retail platforms, allowing users to earn passive returns on idle crypto balances instead of only buying, holding or trading. To spur adoption, Galaxy is waiving staking commissions through the end of the year — a temporary promotion that prioritizes user acquisition over near-term fee income.
Galaxy already operates institutional-grade Solana validators that validate blocks and process transactions. In Solana’s proof-of-stake model, token holders delegate to validators, which then distribute a portion of the earned rewards. By integrating staking into GalaxyOne, Galaxy is extending its validator infrastructure and services directly to retail customers.
The launch puts Galaxy in closer competition with platforms such as Coinbase and Robinhood, which already offer combinations of trading, custody and staking. As staking becomes a standard retail feature, rivalry is shifting to areas like fee structures, user experience and regulatory access.
Institutional interest helps sustain the staking narrative even as SOL’s price has weakened. Solana traded near $250 in September but has since fallen roughly 67%; nonetheless, staking activity has held up, suggesting continued demand for yield-oriented exposure.
Institutional flows and new products, including Solana-focused exchange-traded funds and strategies tied to liquid staking, have increased avenues for investors to capture both price exposure and on-chain yield. Bohdan Opryshko, co-founder and COO of Everstake, which runs validator infrastructure across multiple proof-of-stake networks, noted that both retail and institutional participants increasingly view Solana as a yield-generating asset rather than purely a speculative bet.
As retail platforms add staking, users should remember that yields vary and are affected by network health and validator performance. Promotions and waived fees can lower costs early on, but long-term returns depend on market and protocol dynamics. Readers are encouraged to verify details independently before staking.