Digital asset manager Grayscale has released a research report identifying Ethereum (ETH), Solana (SOL), BNB Chain (BNB), and the Canton Network (CC) as the primary digital assets likely to attract institutional capital as regulatory clarity expands in the United States. The analysis highlights that the proposed CLARITY Act and evolving guidelines from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) could significantly accelerate growth in tokenized asset markets and decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols.
The CLARITY Act aims to establish a federal framework determining whether digital assets are commodities or securities, removing long-standing legal ambiguity. Combined with SEC guidance on custody, staking, and token offerings, the regulatory landscape could become far more predictable for banks, hedge funds, and asset managers. Grayscale’s report envisions a scenario where Ethereum thrives as the foundational layer for tokenized securities and DeFi due to its established smart contract ecosystem and ongoing upgrades. Solana and BNB Chain, known for higher throughput and lower transaction costs, may benefit from increased activity in scalable DeFi and tokenization projects. The Canton Network, a privacy-focused protocol, was also singled out for its potential in institutional-grade asset tokenization.
Secondary beneficiaries mentioned include Avalanche (AVAX), Base, Arbitrum (ARB), Hyperliquid (HYPE), and Tron (TRX), while Bitcoin (BTC) could emerge as one of the safest collateral assets in a regulated environment. If the CLARITY Act advances, the market may witness a wave of new products, including tokenized funds, regulated DeFi platforms, and crypto-backed lending services, with Ethereum and Solana serving as primary settlement layers.
