Should You Buy Solana in 2025?

Why You Can Trust HelloSafe

At HelloSafe, our expert has been closely monitoring the price and development of Solana cryptocurrency for over three years. Every month, hundreds of thousands of users in the United States rely on us to analyze market trends and spot the best investment opportunities. Our insights are prepared for informational purposes only and are not intended as investment advice. In line with our ethical guidelines, HelloSafe has never purchased Solana nor received any compensation from entities within its ecosystem.

Solana in brief

How much does 1 Solana cost?

The price of Solana is up this week. As of May 15, 2025, SOL is trading at $173.30, showing a 3.5% gain over the past seven days, but down 1.98% in the last 24 hours.

With strong momentum but a high volatility profile, Solana attracts both caution and opportunity for U.S. investors seeking exposure to leading blockchain assets.

Our full review of the Solana cryptocurrency

Have the recent on-chain dynamics and market signals positioned Solana as the most intriguing Layer-1 play for the coming cycle? Over the past three years, we’ve systematically analyzed the evolution of Solana, leveraging our proprietary algorithm to synthesize trends in technicals, market data, and the rapidly shifting competitive landscape. So, why could 2025 mark Solana’s resurgence as a technically strategic entry point for anyone seeking exposure to the scalable smart contract ecosystem?

Recent Performance & Market Context

Price Evolution & Momentum

Solana (SOL) has experienced a remarkable resurgence, reflecting its structural improvements and increased market confidence. As of May 15, 2025, SOL trades at $173.30, marking a 73% rally over the past six months and a 58% increase year-over-year. While short-term volatility remains—a daily swing of almost -2% was noted most recently—the weekly trend is robustly bullish, with a 3.5% appreciation.

The trading volume is commanding, with a 3-month average daily turnover surpassing $3.5 billion, signaling heightened investor interest and deep liquidity. Solana’s current market capitalization, just above $90 billion, solidifies its status as a top-tier blockchain asset, outpaced only by the largest crypto majors.

Positive Catalytic Events

Solana’s headline achievements in 2025 include consecutive months surpassing Ethereum in DEX trading volumes—a feat previously unthinkable. Strategic partnerships with Microsoft and Google Cloud have anchored institutional trust, while the launch of projects like Agridex and continued collaborations with Visa have broadened real-world utility.

Crucially, network uptime has improved dramatically: for the past year, Solana has had no major outages, resolving an historical vulnerability and providing investors with restored confidence in platform stability.

Macro/sector Context

The broader digital asset space enjoys a tailwind from steadily warming regulatory clarity, institutional staking activity, and growing appetite for blockchain-based financial rails. Notably, the potential approval of Solana ETFs by the SEC is viewed as a game-changer, likely to unlock new capital flows and fuel valuation upside.

Technical Analysis

Crypto Technical Indicator Landscape

• RSI: Currently at 64, Solana sits in a neutral-to-bullish range. No severe overbought stress, but clear upward pressure.
• MACD: At 9.8 and above the signal line, this highlights ongoing positive price momentum.
• Moving averages: SOL is trading above both its 20- and 50-day moving averages ($157.7 and $140.3 respectively), and the 50-day moving average has recently executed a bullish ‘Golden Cross’ above the 100-day average. The price remains within an ascending channel since March.

Support levels are well defined: $148 is the major near-term floor, with further protection at $120 and $102. Upside targets revolve around the $175 immediate ceiling, $200 as a technical milestone, before the psychological $220 threshold.

• Market structure: Continued price action within an upward channel, with confirming breakout signals, supports the thesis for renewed accumulation phases should there be any technical retracement toward the $148–$157 corridor.
• Short/mid-term structure: The prevailing momentum and declining realized volatility favor bullish continuation patterns, with anticipated swings presenting tactical buy-on-dip opportunities.

Fundamental Analysis

Rapid Adoption & Ecosystem Depth

• Network Growth: With 21.5 million active addresses (up 18% quarter-on-quarter) and transaction volumes hitting $97 billion in April alone, Solana’s usage, adoption rate, and fee-generating capacity are surging.
• Ecosystem Expansion: A vibrant mix of DeFi, NFT, memecoins, and gaming projects anchors Solana as the leading engine for fast, affordable on-chain activity. The recent expansion into Southeast Asian and LatAm markets broadens both user base and transactional demand.
• Partnerships: Integrations with Microsoft, Google Cloud, and Visa extend beyond branding—these deals exemplify enterprise-grade validation and production deployment.

Relative Valuation & Metrics

• Market Cap ($90B) vs. FDV: Solana’s market cap remains attractively positioned compared to Ethereum and Avalanche, with FDV multiples still leaving upside room, especially against growing on-chain value locked (TVL).
• Transaction Revenue: Quarterly protocol revenues now touch $42 million, underscoring the real economic activity underlying token value.
• Volume & Liquidity: With some of the highest daily trading volumes in crypto, Solana’s liquidity profile makes it suitable for large allocations and sophisticated trading strategies alike.

Structural Strengths

• Performance: No other major L1 currently delivers 65,000 tps blended with sub-second finality at negligible costs.
• Technical Resilience: One year without major outages marks a turning point—investor confidence hinges on reliability.
• Energy Efficiency: With PoS at its core, Solana achieves transaction efficiency measured at only two Google searches per tx, presenting a narrative aligned with ESG preferences.
• Institutional Footprint: A solid proportion of Float (55%) and major backers (Andreessen Horowitz, Polychain, Multicoin, Jump Crypto) further cement credibility.

Ecosystem Dominance: Volume and Liquidity

• Solana’s $3.55 billion daily trading average underscores both robust demand and very deep liquidity—key for institutions and active traders.
• Its position in the top 5 crypto assets by volume and market cap reflects ongoing and broad-based accumulation.
• The surge in DEX volumes, surpassing Ethereum in several consecutive months, illustrates increasing dominance across core DeFi metrics.

Catalysts & Positive Outlook

• Imminent ETF approvals: Should the SEC greenlight Solana ETFs (pending from Grayscale and 21Shares), the resultant inflow of new capital could represent a watershed moment for pricing.
• Continued DeFi/NFT Expansion: Solana’s low fee environment offers a distinct competitive moat, drawing in NFT/gaming creators and new protocols.
• Protocol Upgrades: Ongoing validator improvements, the rollout of Solana Mobile Stack/Saga, and partnerships extending on-chain payment use cases.
• Institutionalization: Microsoft, Google Cloud, and Visa agreements are not only validation events but also commercialization triggers, potentially accelerating real-world adoption.
• Regulatory momentum: Greater legal clarity in the US and EU continues to derisk institutional allocation, with sentiment data (85% of users bullish, CoinMarketCap poll) reflecting this tailwind.

Investment Strategies Depending on Time Horizon

• Short-term (weeks to a few months):
• Target entries on retracements toward $148–$157, leveraging price dislocations around resistance ($175).
• Capitalize on volatility surges around protocol upgrades, ETF vote news, or ecosystem launches.
• Medium-term (quarters):
• Build exposure ahead of confirmed ETF approvals, or in anticipation of new DeFi/NFT verticals launching on Solana.
• Rebalance positions on moves toward $200–$220 resistance with a view to capitalizing on ecosystem-driven repricing.
• Long-term (multi-year):
• Solana’s leadership in throughput, developer activity, and real-world partnerships positions it as a structural winner of the next crypto cycle.
• DCA (dollar-cost averaging) on technical pullbacks or following macro-driven corrections can optimize carry; network consensus and institutional adoption underpin the multi-year thesis.

Is This the Right Moment to Consider Solana?

Solana is distinguished by a blend of technical prowess, fierce ecosystem momentum, and fast-rising institutional visibility. Recent upgrades confirm platform resilience, while record user growth, stunning transaction speeds, and strategic blue-chip partnerships enhance the chain’s investment narrative.

Eagerly-watched catalysts—most notably looming ETF approvals and sustained DeFi/NFT sector inflows—suggest that Solana could be poised for a renewed price discovery phase. With its proven ability to outperform expectations and maintain both liquidity and developer mindshare, Solana seems to represent an excellent opportunity for those seeking dynamic crypto exposure.

Overall, the fundamentals justify a fresh look: as regulatory and technical conditions align, Solana could well be starting a new bullish phase. Investors seeking assets with high upside potential, robust on-chain growth, and a maturing ecosystem have solid reasons to consider Solana as part of a forward-looking portfolio.

Solana remains a highly volatile cryptocurrency, offering excellent opportunities for dynamic investment, but requiring disciplined risk management. The latest price acceleration demonstrates Solana’s capacity for rapid, powerful moves, but the macroeconomic context still calls for selectivity. Key technical levels to monitor include $148 as immediate support and $200 as primary resistance. The next protocol upgrade, scheduled for Q2 2025, could be a critical catalyst for Solana’s future trajectory.

How to buy Solana?

There are now more ways than ever to buy Solana online, and the process is both simple and secure when using a regulated platform. U.S. investors can choose between two main approaches: a spot purchase, where you own real SOL coins in your crypto wallet, or trading via CFDs (Contracts for Difference), which lets you speculate on Solana’s price without owning the asset. Both methods offer unique advantages and risks. Not sure which method is best for you? See our platform comparison further down the page for the tools and fees of each approach.

Spot Purchase

Buying Solana "on the spot" (spot trading) means you directly own SOL tokens in your crypto wallet. This is the preferred method for those seeking long-term exposure or wanting to use Solana on its blockchain. You generally pay a fixed commission per transaction, typically around $2 to $5 depending on the platform, in U.S. dollars.

Example with $1,000:

If Solana is trading at $173.30 per coin, with $1,000 (minus a $5 fee), you can purchase approximately 5.74 SOL for $995.
Profit scenario:
If SOL’s price rises by 10%, your holding is now worth $1,100.
Result: You gain $100 gross, representing a +10% increase on your initial investment.

Trading via CFD

Trading Solana via CFDs allows you to speculate on price movements without holding physical SOL coins. With CFDs, you can go “long” (betting on a rise) or “short” (betting on a decline), and typically apply leverage that multiplies your exposure. Fees include a spread (the difference between buy and sell price) and, if you hold the position overnight, a financing cost.

Example with $1,000 and 5x leverage:

You open a CFD position on Solana with 5:1 leverage.
This gives you a $5,000 market exposure for only $1,000 invested (excluding fees).
Profit scenario:
If Solana rises by 8%, your CFD position gains 8% × 5 = 40%.
Result: That's a $400 profit—on just a $1,000 initial investment (fees not included).

Final Tips

Always compare the fees, security features, and trading conditions of different platforms before investing. Your choice between spot buying and CFD trading should depend on your investment goals, risk appetite, and experience level. For a detailed comparison of popular U.S. platforms, see the dedicated section just below.

Our 7 tips for buying Solana

The latest news from Solana

Solana has significantly outperformed expectations, surpassing Ethereum in DEX transaction volume for the third month. For the U.S. market, this positions Solana as not only a key competitor in the decentralized finance (DeFi) landscape, but also as a viable alternative for institutional and retail investors seeking performance and innovation. Over the last week, Solana’s network processed an impressive $97 billion in transactions, and the number of active addresses grew by 18% quarter-over-quarter, illustrating robust user adoption and network effects often sought by U.S. analysts. This surge reflects a maturing ecosystem drawing increased liquidity and developer activity, outperforming analyst forecasts and marking a shift in DeFi dominance that is highly relevant to U.S. investors increasingly seeking alternatives to Ethereum amid gas fees and scalability concerns.

Indicators are pointing positive: Solana trades 3.5% higher on the week, with technicals showing bullish signals. The asset’s price, now at $173.30, has outpaced the broader market with a one-week gain, while technical metrics are strengthening the bullish outlook. The 50-day moving average crossing above the 100-day in April (“Golden Cross”) and a positive RSI divergence suggest upward momentum. The MACD remains above its signal line, confirming trend strength, and current price action remains in an ascending channel. Immediate resistance lies just above, at $175; breaking through this could facilitate a move toward the next major resistance at $200, levels of considerable interest to U.S.-based swing traders and short-term speculators.

Major U.S.-relevant partnerships with Microsoft, Google Cloud, and Visa bolster Solana’s institutional credibility. Recent strategic alliances have placed Solana in a strong position to capture U.S. enterprise and fintech interest. Collaborations with Microsoft and Google Cloud reinforce Solana’s position as a reliable, scalable blockchain infrastructure for large-scale applications, while the Visa partnership underpins its relevance in digital payments. These institutional relationships improve the perception of Solana among U.S. customers, regulators, and potential large-scale adopters. Moreover, continued stability—with the network now recording over a year without a major outage—addresses past reliability concerns and enhances its suitability for mission-critical financial use cases.

Solana could soon benefit from a U.S. ETF approval, as both 21Shares and Grayscale filed applications with the SEC. Such ETF approvals would represent a watershed moment for Solana in the United States, potentially enabling access for a broad array of institutional investors and increasing liquidity. Analyst consensus in the U.S. currently projects a price target of $225.29 (+30%), with the ETF narrative acting as a key catalyst. This development mirrors the intense institutional engagement previously observed following Bitcoin ETF launches and is anticipated to generate similar inflows, thereby reinforcing Solana’s visibility and acceptance in regulated investment portfolios.

Optimism among U.S. investors is high, driven by rapid ecosystem growth in DeFi, NFTs, and gaming on Solana. Rising sentiment is reflected in recent surveys (e.g., CoinMarketCap), where 85% of participants indicate a bullish outlook. The primary factors include low transaction costs, network speed, and a flourishing environment for DeFi and NFT innovation—sectors where U.S. developers, creators, and users have considerable stake. The expansion into blockchain gaming and ongoing tech upgrades, such as the Solana Mobile Stack, further broaden the network’s appeal and signal sustained momentum. These positive indicators suggest continued capital and talent inflow, reinforcing the long-term strategic importance of Solana within the U.S. digital asset landscape.

FAQ

P. Laurore

Finance expert

Co-founder of HelloSafe and holder of a Master's degree in finance, Pauline has recognised expertise in personal finance, which she uses to help users better understand and optimise their financial choices. At HelloSafe, Pauline plays a key role in designing clear, educational content on savings, investments and personal finance. Passionate about financial education, Pauline strives, with every piece of content she oversees, to provide reliable, transparent and unbiased information for independent and informed financial management. To this end, she has tested over 100 trading platforms to help internet users make the right choices.