Meme Fading, Narrative Cooling: Falling Below $80, Has Solana's Cycle Dividend Ended?
Solana (SOL) has experienced a significant downturn, with its token price dropping to a low of $67 in early February 2026, down over 71% from its October 2025 peak of $295. Currently trading around $80, SOL has been declining for five consecutive months. The NFT market on Solana, exemplified by Mad Lads, has also suffered, with floor prices collapsing from over $40,000 to around $1,760.
The decline is largely attributed to the cooling of the Meme coin frenzy that previously drove Solana's growth. Platforms like Pump.fun saw weekly trading volumes plummet from over $3 billion to around $500 million. Meanwhile, competitors like BNB Chain gained traction with meme platforms such as Four.Meme, diverting attention and capital away from Solana.
Broader narratives around high-throughput blockchains have also weakened. Ethereum's Fusaka and upcoming Glamsterdam upgrades have significantly improved its scalability and reduced fees, diminishing Solana's technical advantages. Additionally, Real-World Asset (RWA) tokenization, dominated by Ethereum with $149 billion in assets compared to Solana's $17 billion, has further marginalized Solana's ecosystem.
Despite earlier support from corporate Digital Asset Treasuries (DATs) that purchased SOL, the ongoing bear market has overwhelmed this buy-side pressure. Companies like Forward Industries face massive unrealized losses on their SOL holdings. With declining user engagement beyond meme culture and intensified competition, Solana confronts significant challenges in regaining its momentum.
marsbit02/13 04:12