- Solana is rapidly gaining ground on Ethereum with faster transactions, lower fees, and major upgrades like Firedancer.
- If SOL’s spot ETF gets approved and adoption continues to rise, it could overtake Ethereum in 2025.
Once considered just another Ethereum alternative, Solana (SOL) is quickly emerging as a serious threat to the second-largest cryptocurrency by market cap. With massive gains, network upgrades, and potential regulatory green lights on the horizon, SOL could challenge — and even dethrone — Ethereum in 2025.
Back in late 2022, Solana’s future looked bleak. After the FTX collapse, SOL plummeted to under $9. However, what followed was one of the most impressive comebacks in crypto history. By January 2025, the token surged to an all-time high of $293.31 — marking a jaw-dropping 3,000% increase.
Also read: Bitcoin, Dogecoin Slip While Ethereum Gains: Analysts See All-Time High If BTC Holds Key Level
Ethereum, by comparison, has struggled to generate the same momentum. Despite announcements like the Pectra upgrade and the SEC’s approval of Ethereum-based ETFs, ETH’s price movement has been relatively modest. It hasn’t kept pace with Solana’s explosive growth, either in adoption or innovation.
One of the biggest game-changers for Solana is the upcoming Firedancer upgrade. This upgrade could enable the network to handle over one million transactions per second, compared to Ethereum’s 15. That kind of speed is more than just a number — it could be the key to attracting developers, DApp creators, and users en masse.
In addition, Firedancer aims to reduce operational taxes on the network, making it cheaper and more attractive for users and enterprises alike. If the upgrade delivers on its promises, a significant portion of the Web3 ecosystem could migrate from Ethereum to Solana.
To top it off, Solana has filed for a spot ETF with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Should it gain approval, institutional investors would likely pour billions into SOL, driving its market cap higher and giving it even more credibility in mainstream finance.
While Ethereum still holds the lead in areas like developer tools and network maturity, Solana’s momentum cannot be ignored. With technical advantages, regulatory tailwinds, and growing investor interest, 2025 could very well be the year Solana flips Ethereum.
