Solana’s Institutional Momentum Builds Toward $250 Target Despite Mixed On-Chain Signals

Solana (SOL) is making headlines again, rallying past the psychologically significant $200 mark and trading at around $207, a 5% gain in the

Solana's Institutional Momentum Builds Toward $250 Target Despite Mixed On-Chain Signals

Quick overview

  • Solana (SOL) is currently trading at $207, maintaining its position above the $200 mark, with a 5% increase in the last 24 hours.
  • Institutional adoption is rising, with companies like Upexi and DeFi Development Corp significantly increasing their SOL holdings, indicating strong demand.
  • The potential approval of Solana ETFs could further boost institutional interest, as the SEC reviews numerous crypto ETF applications.
  • Despite positive institutional trends, on-chain metrics show mixed signals, particularly with declining DEX activity, which traders should monitor closely.

Solana SOL/USD has stayed above the important $200 psychological mark. It is now trading at $207, up 5% in the last 24 hours. The sustained breakout comes at a time when institutional adoption, tokenization advancements, and increased speculation about possible ETF approvals are all happening at the same time. This puts SOL in a good position to make a run toward the $250 goal that traders have been watching.

Solana's Institutional Momentum Builds Toward $250 Target Despite Mixed On-Chain Signals
Solana price analysis

Solana Corporate Treasury Strategies Drive Institutional Demand

A lot of companies have started using SOL, which has been a big reason for its recent pricing changes. Upexi, which is listed on the Nasdaq, has greatly increased its Solana exposure by naming well-known crypto personality Arthur Hayes as the first member of its new advisory group. The corporation now has more over 2 million SOL in its treasury, which is worth hundreds of millions of dollars. It uses staking techniques to make money from its holdings.

DeFi Development Corp (DDC) has also made a name for itself as a big institutional participant, collecting over 1.3 million SOL, which is worth around $250 million. The company’s aggressive treasury approach earns $63,000 a day in staking rewards from its validator activities, which gives it a 10% Annualized Organic Yield (AOY). In August alone, DDC added 4,500 SOL to its reserves. This was largely paid for by a $122.5 million convertible debt issuance that Cantor Fitzgerald handled.

In the meantime, BIT Mining, a crypto miner, has revealed that it has bought 27,190 SOL and wants to convert its other crypto assets to focus on SOL while starting validator operations. These business decisions show that there is predictable demand on the balance sheet, which could make it harder for retail traders and exchanges to get the supplies they need.

Solana ETF Approval Could Unlock Institutional Floodgates

The possible approval of Solana ETFs in the next two months is a big event that could change the game. Experts in the field say that the SEC is looking at more than 75 applications for crypto ETFs. A faster approval process might help assets like Solana. This year, crypto ETFs have already brought in $26 billion, showing that institutions are quite interested.

Since its debut in July, the REX-Osprey Solana staking ETF has grown to $161 million in assets under management. However, this is nothing compared to the $2.33 billion in net inflows that Ethereum ETFs have seen since August 5th.

Mixed On-Chain Fundamentals Paint Complex Picture

Even though institutions are getting behind Solana, its on-chain stats show a more complicated picture. The network has grown a lot, with the number of transactions going up 48% in the last 30 days. This is a big difference from BNB Chain, which saw a 41% drop in transactions during the same time. Network fees have gone up by 43%, which means that more people using the network is good for the economy for tokenholders.

But decentralized exchange (DEX) activity paints a different story. DefiLlama data shows that Solana’s weekly DEX volumes have dropped for three weeks in a row, at $20.6 billion. In the last 30 days, Solana’s DEX volumes of $113.7 billion were a little less than Ethereum’s $116.2 billion. This disparity gets bigger when you factor in Ethereum’s layer-2 ecosystem, which added another $91.7 billion in volume.

SOL/USD Technical Analysis Points to $250 Potential

SOL/USD

 

From a technical point of view, SOL has effectively broken through important resistance levels at $185, $190, and $195. The next big problems are between $202 and $205. If the price stays over $205 for a long time, it might quickly rise above $220. If the price breaks through $222, it could move into the $244-$250 target range.

The MACD is still in positive area, the RSI is going up without going overbought, and the Chaikin Money Flow has turned positive, which means there is a lot of purchasing pressure. The primary support levels are still $194 and $186. If the price goes below $175, the current bullish position will no longer be applicable.

Derivatives Markets Show Cautious Optimism

Perpetual futures data shows that traders are still cautious, even if the market has been going up recently. The annualized financing rate for SOL is currently 12%, which is right at the line between neutral and bullish emotions. This means that traders are still not sure, especially as SOL only traded above $200 for less than 24 hours in July.

The relatively low financing rate could actually help the rise last longer because it shows that there isn’t too much leverage, which is generally a sign of a fast drop. But it also means that derivatives traders don’t have a lot of immediate bullish momentum.

Solana Price Prediction and Outlook

Solana’s path to $250 is not easy because DEX activity is going down and derivatives sentiment is neutral. However, the combination of institutional adoption, real-world asset tokenization, and the possibility of ETF certification makes a strong case for an optimistic outlook. Without too much leverage, the rally could last longer. However, for it to really work, more ordinary investors and institutional investors will need to get involved.

Watch for DEX volume to go back up, the financing rate to go above 12%, and real progress on getting ETFs approved. With SOL staying far above $200 and institutional demand growing, it looks like the stage is prepared for a possible huge rise. However, traders should keep a careful eye on onchain indicators to see if momentum stays strong.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR See More
Arslan Butt
Lead Markets Analyst – Multi-Asset (FX, Commodities, Crypto)
Arslan Butt serves as the Lead Commodities and Indices Analyst, bringing a wealth of expertise to the field. With an MBA in Behavioral Finance and active progress towards a Ph.D., Arslan possesses a deep understanding of market dynamics. His professional journey includes a significant role as a senior analyst at a leading brokerage firm, complementing his extensive experience as a market analyst and day trader. Adept in educating others, Arslan has a commendable track record as an instructor and public speaker. His incisive analyses, particularly within the realms of cryptocurrency and forex markets, are showcased across esteemed financial publications such as ForexCrunch, InsideBitcoins, and EconomyWatch, solidifying his reputation in the financial community.

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