Solana is an open-source project initiated in 2017 and launched in 2020 in Geneva, Switzerland. As with any blockchain-based project, it performs its monetary functions through blockchain technology. It provides decentralized finance (DeFi) solutions as it does not need permissions. The Solana protocol allows the easy creation of decentralized apps (DApp). The blockchain system provides much better scalability through the perfect combination of proof-of-history (PoH) consensus and underlying proof-of-stake (PoS) consensus. Anatoly Yakovenko developed this proof-of-history (PoH) consensus to increase usability and scalability. The amalgam of the consensus model appeals to both the short-term and institutional traders towards the blockchain.
The Solana protocol aimed to serve enterprise customers and small-time users. Another privilege of the protocol to the customers is that there would not be any sudden increase in fees and taxes. While designing the protocol, the developers kept in mind that it would be able to provide low transaction fees and fast processing while ensuring scalability and fast processing.
Solana (SOL) Fundamental Analysis
A swiss non-profit organization called The Solana Foundation owns Solana’s IP and facilities for much of the developments, along with Solana Labs. The Labs also play the main role in proposing and supporting the network updates. The protocol’s open-source code allows the community developers to give input on proposed protocol updates. The network architecture was specially designed for scaling with bandwidth and hardware that uses GPU cores for easy execution and a shorter verification time.
Solana has proven outstanding due to the blockchain’s instant processing among all the cryptocurrencies. Its hybrid protocol also improves the smart contract execution and transactions by highly minimizing their validation time. The system also allows a healthy interaction between various projects in the ecosystem, as they maintain a single global state with scaling of the network. So investors never need to work with sharded chains and fragmented Layer-2 systems. All of these traits let them successfully attract a large number of investors.
How Solana Works
Solana’s unique hybrid model depends on consensus mechanisms of proof-of-history (PoH) and proof-of-stake (PoS). Proof-of-history performs high processing of transactions and is the fundamental component of the protocol. Along with recording the prosperous operations, it determines the time spent between them to ensure the trustworthiness of this blockchain. Solana’s blockchain is divided into slots or periods of time. A validator or node is the leader of a slot through a proof of stake mechanism, spending on the number of tokens it has. A validator saves time and produces a block. He also has to proceed with a count of the time period (called a proof-of-history sequence) and the upcoming block of transactions for the slot. Anyone on the network can become a validator to secure the protocol without a minimum requirement for staking. However, the leader is selected based on the staking amount.
The proof-of-history mechanism works as a validator A assigned to the first slot spends five seconds to find the next block. Then, validator B spends five more seconds to find the next block, equal to the passage of ten seconds. After that, validator C, assigned to the third slot, also takes five seconds to find a block, making a total of fifteen seconds taken collectively by three validators. Each validator takes equal time, so slot two cannot begin before five seconds, and slot three cannot start before ten seconds. On the other hand, the proof-of-stake (PoS) consensus acts as an instrument to monitor the processes in PoH. So, it validates the sequence of produced blocks. The combination of mechanisms makes this blockchain unmatchable.
Solana Rewards
Solana distributes a standard amount of rewards based on high prices among its dedicated validators as they secure the Solana network. Every staking reward depends on the number of staked tokens, and revenue produced is directly proportional to the number of tokens staked measured with respect to the total token supply. There are two basic uses of SOL tokens. Basically, it is used for staking so that the token holders can stake their SOL to earn rewards. Secondly, it can be used to pay for fees related to the proper working of smart contracts or other transactions.
Tokenomics
At the launch of Solana tokens, the team distributed tokens in five different funding rounds, out of which four were private sales. The initial distribution of SOL tokens was such that 38% was allocated to community reserve funds, about 15.8% was given to seed round investors, 2.63% to founding sale investors, 12.5% to team members and Solana foundation each, 5.07% to validator sale investors and 1.84 to Strategic Sale investors. The remaining 1.6% was for Public Auction Sale investors. Additionally, the remaining tokens from the initial supply went to the Solana Foundation for funding development and balancing validator voting power, Solana Labs team members, and a community reserve for funding community initiatives and application developers.
Funding
The sales started in the first quarter of 2019 and reached the highest level of $20 million in Series A. It was announced in July 2019 and was led by Multicoin Capital. Some other firms earned SOL tokens by investing in the protocol. These partners included Distributed Global, Foundation Capital, Slow Ventures, BlockTower Capital, Blockchain VC, Rockway ventures, NEO Global Capital, and Passport Capital.
The number of tokens given to each investor remains confidential. After that, Solana announced that the new capital would be utilized in engineering and project management. During the fourth private sale or Strategic Sale of Solana in 2020, CoinList held a public auction sale, which yielded another $4 million overall.
Solana Future Plans
Solana has many developments plans that are recently announced online and are already exciting the stakeholders. One of them is Solana Pay, which will let the traders use Solana’s high speed and low cost to accept US dollars and other tokens. The new product came from Solana’s partnership with FTX, Checkout.com, Phantom, and Citcon has given birth to these new products. One of the internationally famous music festivals, Coachella, is taking place in the second quarter of 2022. it has also declared building an NFT collection using Solana. Some of these NFTs have worth in the real world, such as passes for lifetime festivals, guests, VIPs, and many other special unannounced perks.
Solana (SOL) Price Analysis
The Solana (SOL) has a present price of $120, with a trading volume of $3.3 billion. CoinMarketCap currently ranks it as #8 among cryptocurrencies and has a market cap of more than $39 billion. While its circulating supply is about 325 million SOL coins. It is in bullish trends for a long time.
Rank: 5
Crypto Academy Solana (SOL) Price Prediction
We give price predictions based on price trends and the history of the asset. It is a hypothetical idea of its future price but can be changed anytime in the future due to various circumstances.
Solana (SOL) Price Prediction 2022
By the end of 2022, Solana can have a maximum of $190 due to its new features, such as Solana Pay. However, the minimum price can be at least $70, with an average price of $125.
Solana (SOL) Price Prediction 2023
In 2023, it can have a minimum price of $135 or a maximum price level of $250. The average price can be $142. This year, it can achieve this high price due to its unique consensus mechanism.
Solana (SOL) Price Prediction 2024
This year can be a year of high progress by Solana due to the higher number of investors attracted towards it. Also, the Bitcoin halving is supposed to happen this year, further encouraging its growth. So, it can have a minimum price of $145, with an average price of $252 and the highest possible price level of $360.
Solana (SOL) Price Prediction 2025
Due to its attractive features, its ability to attract collaborations and new byproducts with other organizations, it can have a price level as high as $875 this year. While the lowest price can be $465, with an average price of $570.
Solana (SOL) Price Prediction 2026
Its high transaction speed and low expenses make it very affordable and reliable for users. This will further enhance its bullish trend, letting its price touch $1,000. However, the minimum price can be $780 under unfavorable circumstances. The average price can be $890.
Solana (SOL) Market Price Prediction
Some experts in the field of cryptocurrencies have given optimistic predictions about this asset, as mentioned below.
Wallet Investors
They consider SOL as a profitable investment with good returns in the long term. They predict that you can get 1.075 SOL using $100. This $100 investment may rise up to $728.76 in the next five years. Hence, there might be an increase of 628.76% by 2027.
Digital Coin Price
They predict the minimum price of SOL by the end of 2022 to be $112.27, with an average of $115.36 and a maximum price of $131.23. However, the minimum value of Solana can be $161.24, and the maximum value can be $214.93, with an average price of $190.11, till the end of 2025.
Priceprediction.net
Their price prediction for SOL price indicates its average price to be $126 and a maximum price of $138.19 by the end of 2022. They estimated through their five-year plan that the coin could easily hit $531. Hence, it has an excellent potential of becoming highly worthy in price. For 2030, their experts and analysts have predicted its highest possible price to be $3,783.91.
How to buy a Solana coin?
Several exchanges have listed Solana on their platforms, but You can buy Solana (SOL) on Binance, eToro, FTX, and Gate.io. Then you can exchange it with Solana on an altcoin exchange.
Step 1: Create an account
First of all, you need to make an account on a cryptocurrency exchange. Uphold.com and Coinbase are some widely used exchanges, so you can use one of them to buy bitcoin, according to your preferences and comfort.
Step 2: Select a payment method
After the registration process, you have to select a payment method. You can use a credit/debit card or a bank transfer. In some areas, both methods charge equal transaction fees with high speed. However, credit cards charge relatively higher fees in most areas but faster transactions.
Step 3: Buy Bitcoin
Once you have selected a payment method, click on the ‘Trade’ button at the top of the screen. Fill in the amount of Bitcoin you want to buy with your fiat money and confirm your transaction.
Step 4: Transfer BTC to an Altcoin exchange
As SOL is an altcoin, it would be helpful if you transfer your BTC to an altcoin exchange. Gate.io is a reliable exchange that allows the trade of both BTC and SOL. After having the KYC process on Gate.io, copy the address for transferring Bitcoin and paste it to the portfolio page of Coinbase. Select BTC from the asset list and click ‘Send.’ You will receive a confirmation after the arrival of BTC.
Step 5: Trade SOL
After the deposition of BTC in Gate.io, search for “BTC” in the right column and select SOL/BTC pair. Before buying Solana, look at the price chart of SOL/BTC. If you are satisfied with the expected outcomes, click on the “Buy SOL” button after filling out all the requirements. Confirm your transaction.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Where can I buy SOL?
You can buy Solana (SOL) on Binance, eToro, FTX, and Gate.io.
Is SOL a good investment?
Yes, Solana is a very good and profitable investment, especially in the long term, as expected by crypto experts after analyzing its fundamentals and price history.
Can SOL reach $1000?
It can reach $1000 in five to eight years, as it does not seem to happen in the near future.
Takeaways
- Solana has proven outstanding due to the blockchain’s instant processing among all the cryptocurrencies.
- Its hybrid protocol improves the smart contract execution and transactions by minimizing their validation times.
- The system allows a healthy interaction between various projects in the ecosystem.
- Solana is a very good and profitable investment.
- It can have a price level as high as $700 in 2025.
- It can reach $1000 in the next six years.
- You cannot buy Solana (SOL) with fiat money but can exchange it with another cryptocurrency.
- You can buy Solana (SOL) on Binance, eToro, FTX, and Gate.io.