# This Week in Crypto: U.S. data goes onchain & Solana ETF targets liquid staking

> Explore major shifts in crypto this week, focusing on U.S. data onchain and Solana's liquid staking ETF developments.

News · 2 min read

Published 29 August 2025 Updated 15 February 2026

This week brought major shifts in crypto infrastructure. Washington started publishing official U.S. economic data directly on public blockchains. The CFTC gave clarity on how offshore exchanges can legally serve American traders. VanEck filed for the first U.S. ETF tied to [Solana](/buy/sol/)’s liquid staking, and Google unveiled new details about its institutional blockchain project. Taken together, these moves show how adoption, regulation, and big tech innovation are coming together to shape the next phase of the industry.

The headline came from Washington, where the Department of Commerce selected [Chainlink](/buy/link/) and [Pyth](/buy/pyth/) to distribute Bureau of Economic Analysis data directly onchain. Initial feeds include GDP and PCE inflation figures, giving decentralised finance apps and investors tamper-proof access to critical macroeconomic statistics. While still experimental, the initiative could transform how markets react to data releases by embedding official numbers directly into smart contracts and automated trading strategies.

VanEck’s filing is significant because it is the first attempt to register a U.S. exchange-traded fund backed entirely by a liquid staking token, [JitoSOL](/buy/jto/). If approved, the fund would provide investors with regulated access to Solana staking yields, blending decentralised finance mechanics with traditional investment structures. The move is important not only as a new product category but also as a test of how U.S. regulators respond to staking exposure beyond Ethereum. Until now, most ETF discussions have centred on Bitcoin and, more recently, Ethereum, but this application forces the question of whether other major layer-1 networks such as Solana can also be recognised within regulated markets.

On the regulatory side, the CFTC clarified that offshore exchanges can legally serve U.S. clients by registering under its Foreign Board of Trade framework. This pathway could reopen access to global liquidity pools for American traders while ensuring compliance with CFTC oversight. For exchanges, the trade-off will be higher transparency and regulatory reporting, but the move signals progress in aligning global venues with U.S. rules.

Meanwhile, Google Cloud revealed new details about its Universal Ledger, a layer-1 blockchain designed for institutional finance. Built with Python-based smart contracts, the network aims to provide a neutral settlement layer that competitors like Stripe or Circle may lack. With pilot integrations already in testing, the initiative positions Google as a potential backbone for tokenised finance, payments, and digital asset infrastructure.

As the week closes, crypto finds itself at the crossroads of policy, product innovation, and infrastructure buildout. Official U.S. data feeds could spark a new generation of onchain analytics and trading. ETF acceleration may soon expand beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum. Offshore exchanges face clearer choices about serving U.S. customers. And Big Tech’s entry into institutional blockchain networks underscores that the race to digitise finance is only accelerating.

**More news stories circulating the block:**

- Bitwise files first spot [Chainlink](/buy/link/) ETF

- Gemini launches [XRP](/buy/xrp/) Mastercard

- Grayscale applies for spot [Avalanche](/buy/avax/) ETF

- Play Solana to launch handheld gaming device in October

- Sharps Technology raises $400M for [Solana](/buy/sol/) treasury

- Metaplanet raises $880M for [Bitcoin](/buy/btc/) and income strategies

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*Source: [This Week in Crypto: U.S. data goes onchain & Solana ETF targets liquid staking](/news/this-week-in-crypto-u-s-data-goes-onchain-solana-etf-targets-liquid-staking/) · Last updated: 2026-02-15*