Cryptocurrency

Crypto ETFs Attract $10 Billion in Q3: Bitcoin Leads, But Solana’s Growth Soars

Bitcoin pulled in billions while Solana barely cracked half a billion, yet one simple calculation flips the entire story of which crypto ETF investors actually favor right now.

By Sam Daodu
Published October 3, 2026, 6:35pm ET · 3 min read

The ETF Examiner desk. Editor: Ryne Mauck.

This post may contain links from our sponsors and affiliates, and Flywheel Publishing may receive compensation for actions taken through them.

A close-up photograph featuring three wooden letter tiles stacked vertically on the left side, spelling 'ETF' in black capital letters. On the right, a circular, metallic XRP cryptocurrency coin with intricate silver and gold circuit board patterns partially covers several green and beige US twenty-dollar bills, with the portrait of Andrew Jackson visible beneath the coin.
The image visually represents the concept of an XRP ETF, showcasing a physical XRP cryptocurrency coin with traditional US dollar bills and wooden letter blocks spelling 'ETF.' This setup highlights the ongoing convergence of digital assets and established financial markets, reflecting the focus of the accompanying article on XRP ETF inflows. © TopMicrobialStock / Shutterstock.com

In the third quarter of 2026, U.S. spot crypto ETFs attracted a remarkable $10.2 billion in net new investments, according to SoSoValue. Of that total, Bitcoin (CRYPTO:BTC) funds took the largest share, raising $6.3 billion.

Despite this impressive figure, Solana (CRYPTO:SOL) funds were the real standout, posting the fastest growth among the major fund groups, even though they attracted only $480 million. This situation reveals two distinct perspectives on crypto ETF inflows: one based on total dollars and another rooted in growth rates.

Each fund group features a flagship ETF. For Bitcoin, BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (NASDAQ: IBIT) leads, while its sibling, the iShares Ethereum Trust ETF (NASDAQ: ETHA), manages assets in Ethereum (CRYPTO: ETH). The VanEck Solana ETF (NASDAQ: VSOL) is one of several spot Solana funds, while the Bitwise XRP ETF (NYSEARCA: XRP) trades under the same name as the coin it holds, XRP (CRYPTO: XRP).

So, when we see a significant dollar amount alongside rapid growth for different cryptocurrencies, which one better reflects investor interest?

Bitcoin ETFs Took In the Most Money Because They Are the Biggest

A close-up shot showing a golden Bitcoin coin, a US 100-dollar bill featuring Benjamin Franklin, and three white circular tiles with the letters 'E', 'T', and 'F' arranged horizontally. These items are placed on a red and white striped American flag with a blue field of white stars in the upper left.

MyBears / Shutterstock.com

Looking at the data, Bitcoin’s performance appears dominant in terms of dollar amounts. However, you also need to consider the size of each fund group at quarter-end. According to SoSoValue, here’s how the fund groups lined up:

Fund Group Q3 Net Inflows Net Assets at Quarter-End Inflows as a Share of Assets
Bitcoin $6.3 billion $108 billion 5.9%
Ethereum $3.1 billion $17.6 billion 17.3%
Solana $480 million $1.9 billion 25.1%
XRP $308 million $1.7 billion 18.3%

A fund group with $108 billion naturally tends to draw in more investment dollars, even during quieter times, as more investors and brokers consider it their default choice for crypto holdings. Thus, Bitcoin’s $6.3 billion inflow mainly reaffirms that its ETFs, like IBIT, remain the primary way investors get exposure to crypto.

Solana ETFs Grew Their Lifetime Inflows 42% in Q3

Cryptocurrency trading or exchange concept: Male hand index finger pressing computer key with Solana token logo.

Morrowind / Shutterstock.com

When you look at the growth rate, the picture shifts. Over the same quarter, lifetime inflows (total net deposits since each fund’s launch) rose 42% for Solana funds. This compares to 28% for Ethereum, 21% for XRP, and only 12% for Bitcoin. Solana’s total inflows jumped from $1.1 billion to $1.6 billion.

These growth percentages reflect only new deposits and do not account for price fluctuations. Because percentages depend on the size of the base, Bitcoin’s substantial $6.3 billion inflow resulted in merely a 12% increase on a lifetime total nearing $51 billion. In contrast, the $480 million added to Solana represents a much more significant percentage change on its smaller base.

Ethereum funds performed well on both metrics. They secured second place in dollar inflows with $3.1 billion and second in growth with 28%, all while managing a total of $17.6 billion—more than the combined total of both Solana and XRP funds.

XRP funds provide a useful benchmark. With assets totaling $1.7 billion, similar to Solana’s $1.9 billion, XRP only attracted $308 million, significantly less than Solana’s $480 million.

Which Crypto ETF Inflows Reflect Greater Demand?

This quarter, the growth rate offers a clearer indication of where investor interest is heading. While Bitcoin leads in dollar inflows with a substantial $108 billion head start, the contrast between Solana’s 42% growth and Bitcoin’s modest 12% highlights where new investment is flowing most rapidly. Additionally, Solana led in inflows relative to its assets, with inflows equal to 25% of its assets.

As we move into the fourth quarter, Solana’s funds start with a total of $1.6 billion. To achieve another 42% rise, it would need an additional $680 million—significantly more than the previous quarter’s $480 million. If Solana funds exceed $480 million in the upcoming quarter, it could reinforce the notion that demand for Solana continues to climb.

Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.

1INVESTMENTS ARE NOT FDIC INSURED • ARE NOT BANK GUARANTEED • MAY LOSE VALUE

Brokerage and Active investing products offered through SoFi Securities LLC, member FINRA(www.finra.org)/SIPC(www.sipc.org).2The probability of a member receiving $1,000 is 0.028%. If you don’t make a selection in 45 days, you’ll no longer qualify for the promo. Members must fund their account with a minimum of $50.00 to qualify. The probability percentage is subject to decrease. Members are only eligible for the Stock Award promotion upon opening their first brokerage account; subsequent cash brokerage accounts are ineligible for the promo, including for members with multiple accounts.

3Other fees, such as exchange fees, may apply. Please view our fee disclosure to view a full listing of fees.

4There are limitations with fractional shares to consider before investing. During market hours fractional share orders are transmitted immediately in the order received. There may be system delays from receipt of your order until execution and market conditions may adversely impact execution prices. Outside of market hours orders are received on a not held basis and will be aggregated for each security then executed in the morning trade window of the next business day at market open. Share will be delivered at an average price received for executing the securities through a single batched order. Fractional shares may not be transferred to another firm. Fractional shares will be sold when a transfer or closure request is initiated. Please consider that selling securities is a taxable event.
Sam Daodu

Sam Daodu is a crypto analyst and the editor of 24/7 Wall St.'s Crypto Desk, where he covers Bitcoin, XRP, Ethereum, Solana and the altcoins investors search for most. His work focuses on price levels, spot ETF flows, on-chain data and the regulatory decisions that move crypto markets, written so a first-time buyer and a seasoned trader can both use it.
Sam has written about crypto professionally since 2019 and has published more than 2,000 articles. Before joining 24/7 Wall St., he wrote for crypto media outlets and Web3 companies and ghostwrote for crypto founders and token launches. His analysis is syndicated on Yahoo Finance, MSN and AOL and has been cited by other crypto news sites. He also founded MacLabs Marketing, a content and personal branding agency for crypto founders and executives.
When he isn't reading charts, Sam is usually at the gym or watching One Piece, a series he maintains has better tokenomics than most altcoins.

All articles →