In the current bull market frenzy focusing on Bitcoin and Ethereum, a quieter yet significant surge is happening with SOL, the primary token of the Solana blockchain.
Despite previous connections to disgraced crypto tycoon Sam Bankman-Fried, Solana has managed to thrive, reaching unprecedented levels and attracting a growing number of users to its network.
VanEck Highlights Thriving Ecosystem
The Solana blockchain positions itself as a quicker and more cost-effective option to Ethereum. However, Ethereum remains the leading choice for NFT marketplaces and decentralized financial applications.
But that could substantially change next year as asset management firm VanEck predicted that Solana would become a top three blockchain network by market capitalization, total value locked (TVL), and active users. The firm envisaged several asset managers applying for a spot Solana ETF (exchange-traded fund) by next year.
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Solana’s current ecosystem lends credence to this prediction. During the past year, Solana has forged key collaborations with traditional global financial institutions. BeInCrypto reported that the platform has secured partnerships with industry giants like Visa and Shopify, who are using its technology to fasten their payment processes.
Furthermore, VanEck highlighted the potential for Solana-based protocols, such as Pyth Network, to surpass those operating on Ethereum. Pyth Network functions as an oracle provider akin to Chainlink. Currently, Chainlink secures approximately $15 billion of assets, whereas Pyth Network manages less than $2 billion.
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However, VanEck said that could change if Solana gains more market share and sees more DeFi activity.
“As Chainlink struggles to find institutional adoption of its LINK token, we expect Pyth to gain meaningful market share on the back of several genuine innovations, including its “push” architecture and confidence interval system,” analysts at VanEck said.
Solana Draws Apple Comparison
Moreover, CEO of Real Vision Raoul Pal pointed out that Solana’s user experience makes it easier for its applications. In his view, the comparison between Solana and Ethereum is like Apple versus Android.
While Solana is more like Apple with its sleek design and closed system, Ethereum is broader and more open.
“The comparison is like Android versus Apple. It’s like Solana feels like Apple; its a closed system, but it is very slick, very good, will create great loyalty. [But] Ethereum is much broader, much more open in terms of other things that can be built on top of it,” Pal said.
Still, Pal believes Ethereum will remain dominant because developers constantly innovate. Even then, he expects Solana to grow to become a multibillion-dollar ecosystem in terms of valuation.
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