SOL Price Holds Steady Amid Rapid Expansion of Solana Network

Solana is currently testing investor confidence as the SOL price has been retreating toward essential support levels, even as the network consistently expands its reach. After briefly exceeding $147 earlier this week, the token was unable to maintain its gains and is now trading below $145. This pullback coincides with a rise in institutional interest, increased adoption of real-world assets, and user-focused initiatives, which create a contrast between short-term price declines and long-term ecosystem growth.

Key Takeaways

SOL Price Retreat: The SOL price is testing key support levels, having fallen back below $145.
Market Sentiment: Technical indicators suggest a cautious market atmosphere, with resistance at $146 and $148.
Regulatory News: The “Clarity Act” could improve institutional access to Solana if passed.
ETF Inflows Rise: Recent net inflows into Solana ETFs indicate growing investor interest.
Continued Network Growth: Despite price pressures, Solana’s trading volume and RWA ecosystem valuation continue to rise.

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SOL Price Examines Critical Support Zone

SOL has experienced a short-term correction due to its inability to surpass the $150 resistance level. The price has fallen below the $145 and $146 thresholds, moving beneath the 100-hour simple moving average. Analysts are focusing on the $141–$140 range, where a bullish trend line and Fibonacci support intersect.

If SOL price declines below $140, the next support level is around $132, with potential further declines toward $124. Conversely, resistance persists near $146 and $148. A confirmed upward move past $148 could lead to a retest of $155 and possibly $162.

Current momentum indicators reflect a cautious market sentiment. The hourly RSI remains under 50, and the MACD indicates ongoing bearish pressure. Despite a robust trading volume near $5 billion in the last 24 hours, SOL is still down about one-third from its value a year ago and is far below its previous peak around $293.

Impact of Regulatory Developments and Solana ETF Inflows

In addition to price movement, regulatory announcements in the U.S. might affect Solana’s medium-term outlook.

A draft bill called the “Clarity Act,” released by the Senate Banking Committee, proposes to reclassify certain cryptocurrencies with exchange-traded products as “non-incidental” assets starting in 2026. This change could alleviate some SEC disclosure requirements for tokens like SOL.

If this bill is enacted, it could place Solana in a similar regulatory bracket as Bitcoin and Ethereum, thereby enhancing institutional access. Preliminary signs of interest are already emerging.

On January 15, U.S. spot Solana ETFs reported $23.57 million in net inflows, marking the highest figure in four weeks. However, ETF assets currently account for only about 1.5% of SOL’s total market capitalization, limiting their immediate impact on pricing.

Even as the SOL price faces challenges, the Solana network continues to grow. In 2025, the blockchain processed $1.6 trillion in trading volume, representing about 12% of the total crypto market. Its DeFi ecosystem is anchored by established platforms such as Jupiter, Raydium, Orca, and Kamino, with total value locked (TVL) maintaining a steady level near $11.5 billion.

A significant achievement was reached when Solana's real-world asset (RWA) ecosystem hit a valuation of $1.15 billion, spurred by tokenized U.S. Treasuries, equities, and institutional investments. This development indicates an increased utilization of Solana as a settlement layer for traditional assets.

In related news, user engagement initiatives are expanding. Solana's Seeker phone is introducing a substantial SKR token airdrop for over 100,000 users, and Interactive Brokers has implemented 24/7 USDC deposits through the Solana network, thus improving accessibility for global traders.

Cover image from ChatGPT, SOLUSD chart from Tradingview.