Over a three-day streak, Solana’s decentralized exchanges (DEXs) recorded unprecedented daily trading volumes exceeding $5 billion, signaling a significant shift in market dynamics. This surge highlights Solana’s emergence as a major contender in the DeFi space, often challenging Ethereum’s dominance.
Data from DeFiLlama reveals that from November 11 to 13, Solana’s DEX trading volumes reached $5.14 billion, $6.88 billion, and $7.03 billion, respectively. This cumulative total of approximately $16 billion over three consecutive days represents an unprecedented milestone for the Solana network. During the week spanning November 10 to 16, aggregate DEX trading activity surpassed $30 billion, reflecting a significant 123% increase compared to the previous week.
Key players driving this growth include Raydium and Orca. Raydium accounted for 62% of the total trading volume, contributing over $19 billion across seven days, while Orca captured 22%, achieving a weekly trading volume of $6.42 billion. These platforms’ user-friendly interfaces and deep liquidity pools have been pivotal in fostering rapid adoption.
Memecoins have played a central role in fueling Solana’s DeFi resurgence. Platforms like Pump.fun, which launched several popular tokens such as PNUT and GOAT, have attracted significant traction. Pump.fun alone generated $348 million in annual revenue, underscoring its role as a leading app in the ecosystem.
Beyond retail speculation, institutional investment in Solana-based decentralized applications (DApps) reached $173 million in Q3 2024, marking a 54% increase from the previous quarter. This growth underscores the ecosystem’s broad appeal, with capital inflows hitting their highest level since Q2 2022.
Solana’s Edge Over Ethereum
Solana’s performance is increasingly overshadowing Ethereum in DEX trading volumes. For several consecutive days in November, Solana’s DEX ecosystem consistently outpaced Ethereum’s, with trading volumes nearly doubling on November 9. Solana’s appeal lies in its high-speed, low-cost infrastructure, attracting both retail and institutional users seeking efficient alternatives.
Source: Patrick Scott via X
Key metrics further highlight Solana’s rising prominence. In October 2024, Solana’s real economic value (REV) and total application revenue (TAR) reached 111% and 109% of Ethereum’s respective figures, marking a dramatic rise from just 1% in 2023. These metrics reflect the network’s ability to generate substantial transaction fees and application revenue, reinforcing its growing foothold in DeFi.
Solana’s impact extends beyond DeFi into decentralized physical infrastructure networks (DePIN). Projects like Hivemapper, which has mapped 28% of global roads, and Helium, supporting over 20,000 devices for U.S. carriers, demonstrate the network’s scalability and utility. Such ventures leverage on-chain settlements to optimize costs and efficiency.
Solana Nears $220 Amid Bullish Sentiment and Strong Technicals
Solana (SOL) price chart. Source: Brave New Coin
Solana’s recent price surge to $219.10, marking a 4.28% gain in 24 hours, according to the Brave New Coin data. SOL is trading near the upper Bollinger Band at $227.06, signaling strong upward momentum and heightened volatility. This aligns with a bullish MACD crossover, showcasing positive histogram values and reinforcing the likelihood of sustained gains.
Despite the technical strength, mixed sentiment indicators introduce a layer of caution. Social volume has significantly dropped, from 1,289 to 527, hinting at reduced retail engagement. However, this decline does not overshadow Solana’s bullish outlook. With a balanced long/short ratio of 1.0222, showing 50.55% long positions, traders exhibit cautious optimism about Solana’s trajectory.
