Yigit Taha OZTURK 
As crypto wallets gain popularity, the question arises: will exchange-traded funds (ETFs) become obsolete? ARK Invest CEO Cathie Wood doesn’t think so. At the Solana Accelerate event in New York, she explained why crypto ETFs will continue to hold their ground—even as wallet adoption grows over the next decade.
“For many people, wallets feel complex. There’s still friction. They just want to push a button,” Wood said. According to her, ETFs offer convenience and remain a solid choice for those new to crypto or hesitant to manage private keys.
ETFs as an On-Ramp to Wallets
While ETFs provide a user-friendly entry point, Wood emphasized that they could serve as a bridge to wallet-based investing. She described wallets as a form of “insurance policy” in a world where traditional finance can falter.
You Might Be Interested In: Elon Musk Talks About the Name of a New Memecoin!
Data from Bitbo estimates that there are currently around 200 million active Bitcoin wallets worldwide. Meanwhile, spot Bitcoin (BTC) ETFs saw $2.75 billion in inflows during the week ending May 23, coinciding with Bitcoin reaching an all-time high of $111,970.
Ethereum, Solana, and Regulatory Hurdles
Wood also touched on Ethereum (ETH) ETFs, which have underperformed due to the SEC’s ban on staking features. The commission recently delayed its decision on Bitwise’s request to add staking to its Ether ETF. Despite this, Wood sees Ethereum as a starting point for investors exploring smart contracts before branching out to projects like Solana (SOL).
Still, she acknowledged that some investors, especially older institutions, may have been discouraged by the launch of the Trump memecoin on the Solana network. The coin dropped around 50% shortly after its debut, causing skepticism.
Looking ahead, Wood revealed that her team is finalizing a Solana price target, while ARK has already increased its Bitcoin bull case projection to $2.4 million by 2030, citing growing institutional demand and Bitcoin’s role as “digital gold.”
You can also freely share your thoughts and comments about the topic in the comment section. Additionally, don’t forget to follow us on our Telegram, YouTube, and Twitter channels for the latest news and updates.