Galaxy Digital has rolled out Solana staking on its GalaxyOne retail platform, marking another step in the firm’s bid to bring institutional-grade crypto tools to everyday investors as competition among all-in-one trading apps intensifies.
In a Tuesday announcement, Galaxy said GalaxyOne users can now stake SOL directly in the app, earning an estimated 6.50% in variable annual rewards. The yield is not fixed and fluctuates based on network conditions, validator performance, and overall staking participation.
The service is available to eligible clients across more than 40 U.S. states and jurisdictions, though residents of California, New York, New Jersey, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and several other states are currently excluded from the offering.
To attract early adopters, Galaxy is waiving all platform commissions on staking through December 31, 2026, a temporary incentive suggesting the company is prioritizing user acquisition over near-term staking revenue.
Institutional Infrastructure Meets Retail Access
GalaxyOne’s staking feature is powered by Galaxy’s own institutional validator infrastructure, which has operated as one of the largest Solana validator operations globally for several years. Staked SOL is delegated directly to Galaxy’s validator rather than routed through third-party services.
Zac Prince, Head of GalaxyOne, framed the launch as a matter of equity between institutional and retail participants. “Individual investors deserve access to crypto tools and opportunities of the same quality that institutions have had for years, and GalaxyOne was built to close that gap,” Prince said in the announcement.
The rollout reflects a broader industry trend toward integrating yield-generating products into retail platforms, allowing users to earn passive income on idle crypto holdings rather than simply holding or trading them. It also places Galaxy in more direct competition with platforms like Coinbase and Robinhood, which already bundle trading, custody, and staking services.
Staking Demand Holds Despite SOL Price Drawdown
Galaxy’s move comes amid sustained institutional interest in Solana staking, even as SOL’s price has declined sharply from near $250 in September to around $83 at the time of writing, a drop of roughly 67%.
Staking activity has nonetheless held up, buoyed in part by the debut of Solana-focused exchange-traded funds that incorporate liquid staking strategies and offer exposure to both price movements and onchain yield.
Bohdan Opryshko, co-founder and chief operating officer of Everstake, a firm that operates validator infrastructure across multiple proof-of-stake networks, noted that both retail and institutional participants are increasingly “treating Solana as a yield-generating asset rather than a speculative trade.”
As staking becomes a standard feature across crypto apps, the competitive landscape is increasingly shifting toward fees, user experience, and regulatory accessibility, areas where Galaxy appears to be betting its retail future. Whether the commission waiver proves enough to pull users away from established rivals remains to be seen.
