Solana is testing investor confidence as the SOL price slips back toward key support levels, even as the network continues to expand across multiple fronts. After briefly pushing above $147 earlier this week, the token failed to hold its gains and is now trading below $145. The pullback comes at a time when Solana is seeing rising institutional interest, growing real-world asset adoption, and new user-focused initiatives, creating a contrast between short-term price pressure and longer-term ecosystem growth. SOL Price Tests Critical Support Zone SOL has entered a short-term correction after failing to clear the $150 resistance area. The price dropped below the $146 and $145 levels, moving under the 100-hour simple moving average. On the downside, technical analysts are watching the $141–$140 zone, where a bullish trend line and Fibonacci support converge. If the SOL price breaks below $140, the next support sits near $132, with further downside risk toward $124. On the upside, resistance remains near $146 and $148. A confirmed move above $148 could open the door to a retest of $155 and potentially $162. Momentum indicators reflect cautious sentiment. The hourly RSI remains below 50, and the MACD continues to show bearish pressure. Despite a healthy trading volume of around $5 billion in 24 hours, SOL is still down roughly one-third from its price a year ago and well below its previous peak near $293. Regulatory Developments and Solana ETF Inflows Beyond price action, regulatory news in the U.S. may influence Solana’s medium-term outlook. The draft bill known as the “Clarity Act,” released by the Senate Banking Committee, proposes reclassifying certain cryptocurrencies with exchange-traded products as “non-incidental” assets starting in 2026. This would ease some SEC disclosure requirements for assets like SOL. If passed, the proposal could place Solana in a similar regulatory category to Bitcoin and Ethereum, potentially improving institutional access. Early signs of interest have already appeared. On January 15, U.S. spot Solana ETFs recorded $23.57 million in net inflows, the highest in four weeks. However, ETF assets still represent only about 1.5% of SOL’s market capitalization, limiting their immediate impact on price. Network Growth Outpaces Price Momentum While the SOL price struggles, Solana’s network continues to expand. In 2025, the blockchain processed $1.6 trillion in trading volume, accounting for roughly 12% of the crypto market. Its DeFi ecosystem remains anchored by platforms like Jupiter, Raydium, Orca, and Kamino, with TVL holding steady near $11.5 billion. A major milestone came as Solana’s real-world asset (RWA) ecosystem reached a record valuation of $1.15 billion, driven by tokenized U.S. Treasuries, equities, and institutional funds. This signals growing use of Solana as a settlement layer for traditional assets. Related Reading: Bitcoin Tailwind: Cathie Wood Sees ‘Reaganomics On Steroids’ Ahead User engagement initiatives are also expanding. Solana’s Seeker phone is rolling out a large SKR token airdrop to over 100,000 users, while Interactive Brokers has enabled 24/7 USDC deposits via the Solana network, improving access for global traders. Cover image from ChatGPT, SOLUSD chart from Tradingview

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