Pantera Capital’s Chief Legal Officer, Joe Santori, has highlighted the advantages of DeFi Dev Corp’s Solana-based strategy, calling it a more efficient and rewarding alternative to traditional crypto ETFs. According to Santori, staking and direct blockchain access are key features that give the strategy an edge over passive investment vehicles like ETFs.
“Staking yields and native blockchain access offer returns that ETFs simply can’t compete with,” Santori explained in a recent interview.
Why DeFi Dev Corp Chose Solana
DeFi Dev Corp, backed by Pantera and other venture players, has doubled down on Solana (SOL) as a core blockchain infrastructure due to its high throughput, low fees, and growing developer ecosystem. Their strategy enables direct interaction with the Solana network, providing exposure to DeFi applications, smart contract platforms, and staking opportunities.
“This isn’t just a price play—it’s about engaging directly with the ecosystem,” Santori noted. “Solana is built for speed and scale, which traditional ETFs cannot replicate.”
Staking: Passive Income with Protocol-Level Integration
A major feature of the strategy is staking SOL tokens, which allows investors to earn passive income by securing the network. Unlike ETFs, which generally do not offer yield generation, this approach lets participants compound returns while holding the native asset.
- Solana staking yields average 6–8% annually
- Participants maintain custodial control and governance rights
- Rewards are distributed natively without third-party intermediaries
This structure enables more transparent and direct value capture than ETF-based models, where asset management fees and lack of protocol interaction limit investor upside.
ETFs Lack Utility and On-Chain Exposure
While the launch of spot Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs has excited traditional markets, Santori argues that these financial instruments don’t offer real participation in crypto ecosystems.
“ETFs are great for exposure, but they lack utility, composability, and any real on-chain presence,” he said. “If you want to be part of the future of finance, you have to be in the protocols, not just trade the price.”
Conclusion
Pantera’s endorsement of DeFi Dev Corp’s Solana strategy signals a shift in how institutional players view digital asset exposure. By leveraging staking, on-chain governance, and direct protocol access, this strategy outpaces ETFs in both yield and utility.
As institutional interest in DeFi grows, Solana’s scalable ecosystem and staking model may prove to be a more compelling long-term investment path than traditional exchange-traded products.