Solana

Solana (SOL) is a high-performance Layer 1 blockchain built for speed and low cost, aiming at mainstream-scale adoption. Ranked seventh overall, it processes thousands of transactions per second with sub-second finality, often for a fraction of a cent, while keeping everything on a single unified ledger rather than splitting into shards or extra layers. SOL is its native token.

What is Solana?

Solana is designed so that decentralized applications can run at the throughput users expect from mainstream apps, without fragmenting liquidity across many chains. It was founded in 2017 by Anatoly Yakovenko and is supported today by the Swiss-based Solana Foundation and investors including Andreessen Horowitz and Polychain Capital. The single global state keeps trading, payments and apps interoperable.

How does Solana work?

Solana pairs Proof of Stake with an innovation called Proof of History, a cryptographic clock that timestamps transactions so validators spend less time coordinating on ordering. Its Sealevel engine runs non-conflicting smart contracts in parallel across many CPU cores, and the Gulf Stream protocol forwards transactions to validators early to cut confirmation times. Together these let the network scale on a single layer.

Solana tokenomics and supply

SOL has no fixed maximum supply; new tokens are issued as staking rewards on a schedule that declines over time, while a portion of transaction fees is burned. Around 581 million SOL are in circulation out of a total near 630 million. Holders stake SOL to secure the chain and earn rewards, which also influences net issuance.

• Circulating supply: about 581 million SOL
• No fixed maximum supply; declining issuance
• SOL pays fees, secures the network via staking and votes on governance
• All-time high near $293.31; all-time low around $0.50

What is Solana used for?

SOL pays transaction fees, secures the network through staking and participates in governance. The broader ecosystem spans DeFi, NFTs, payments and consumer apps, and it has attracted notable institutional activity, including spot Solana ETFs, Visa's 2025 USDC settlement launch on the network, and equity tokenization efforts by firms such as Galaxy Digital.

Where to buy Solana

SOL is broadly listed; our best crypto exchanges ranking compares venues by liquidity and fees. To stake SOL or interact with Solana apps directly, our best crypto wallets guide covers compatible options that let you hold your own keys.

Is Solana a good investment?

Solana offers very high performance, low fees and a fast-growing ecosystem, but its pursuit of raw speed has come with past network outages, and its validator requirements are demanding. It is highly volatile. This is not financial advice; consider reliability history and competition before deciding on any exposure.