Solana News

Solana (SOL) was launched in 2020 by Anatoly Yakovenko as a high-performance blockchain designed to support thousands of transactions per second through its innovative Proof of History consensus mechanism combined with Proof of Stake. Built to compete directly with Ethereum, Solana offers developers fast transaction speeds and low fees, making it attractive for DeFi applications, NFT marketplaces, and Web3 gaming platforms.

The Solana ecosystem has rapidly expanded to include major DeFi protocols like Serum and Raydium, popular NFT collections, and gaming projects that leverage the network's speed and cost advantages. Despite experiencing several network outages that raised questions about decentralization and stability, Solana has maintained strong developer activity and institutional backing, with SOL serving as both a utility token for transaction fees and a staking asset for network security.

At CoinDesk, we cover comprehensive Solana news from protocol developments and network performance to the thriving NFT and DeFi ecosystems built on the platform. Our reporting tracks Solana's technical improvements, major partnerships, institutional adoption, and the ongoing efforts to address network reliability concerns while maintaining its competitive edge.

DISCLOSURE: This text was written with the assistance of AI, then reviewed by a person.

Markets

XRP and Solana funds attract inflows as bitcoin outflows hit nearly $1 billion

CoinShares data shows investors are rotating into listed products based on XRP and SOL while bitcoin and ethereum products posted heavy weekly outflows.

By Sam ReynoldsMay 19, 2026

U.S. sport XRP ETFs have recorded only inflows since their launch.

Markets

Solana is shedding its memecoin reputation as big banks move billions into its ecosystem

Wall Street and payment giants are quietly taking over Solana, moving billions onto the network for tokenized funds and global payments even as the broader crypto market cools down, according to a new report by Messari.

By Helene Braun, AI BoostMay 18, 2026

Institutions are increasingly using Solana, a new Messari report finds. (Unsplash)

Tech

Jump Crypto’s ‘Firedancer’ is taking a slow and steady approach to its long-awaited Solana infrastructure rollout

In an interview with CoinDesk, the lead engineer at Firedancer gives an update on how the new client, also known as a software, is fairing in the Solana ecosystem.

By Margaux NijkerkMay 16, 2026

Tech

The Protocol: Solana’s ‘Alpenglow’ upgrade is live for testing

Also: LayerZero apology, Ronin layer-2 transition and ‘Clear Signing’

By Margaux NijkerkMay 13, 2026

Digital screens, business & work. (Joshua Aragon/Pixabay)

Tech

The biggest consensus overhaul in Solana history is officially live for testing

The upgrade, known as Alpenglow, is live on a community test cluster, said Solana core developer Anza.

By Margaux NijkerkMay 11, 2026

Tech

The Protocol: AI Agents form their own firm

Also: Alpenglow upgrade update, Ripple on North Korea hacking threat, Cloudflare on AI agents and web economics

By Margaux NijkerkMay 6, 2026

Tech

Solana’s 'Alpenglow' upgrade could arrive next quarter, co-founder Yakovenko says

Speaking at Consensus Miami 2026, the Solana co-founder said that he is excited to see 'Alpenglow' upgrade go live later this year, which could come as early as next quarter.

By Margaux NijkerkMay 5, 2026

Solana co-founder Anatoly Yakovenko @ Consensus Miami 2026 (CoinDesk)

Finance

Western Union’s Solana-based stablecoin could reshape its payment model, analyst says

Western Union launched USDPT, a dollar-backed stablecoin on Solana, issued by Anchorage Digital Bank, for 24/7 settlement with agents and partners.

By Francisco RodriguesMay 5, 2026

Tech

Jito Labs launches self-custody trading tool as activity heats up on Solana

JTX is the company’s first product built specifically for traders. It allows users to trade tokens on Solana while maintaining self-custody.

By Margaux NijkerkMay 5, 2026

Laptop with markets monitor and charts. (Kanchanara/Unsplash)

Finance

Germany’s AllUnity expands EURAU to Solana as euro stablecoins gain traction

The firm's MiCA-compliant euro token aims to speed up euro transfers and support regulated onchain finance as the euro stablecoin market doubled since early 2025.

By Krisztian SandorApr 30, 2026