How Memecoin craze fuels Solana price rally

The recent Solana rally driven by the surge in memecoin activity is sparking discussions around SOL's potential to reach $180. Explore the factors behind this upward trend.

Solana Rally Driven by Memecoin Craze Sparks Speculation of $180 Target
The recent surge in the price of Solana (SOL) has caught the attention of the cryptocurrency market, with the Solana rally becoming a focal point for traders and analysts. From October 11 to October 18, Solana's native token, SOL, gained over 12%, trading around $154.15. This momentum has been partially attributed to an increased demand for memecoins on the Solana network, leading to higher transaction volumes, network fees, and a boost in total value locked (TVL).

Solana TVL in SOL terms. Source: DefiLlama

Memecoin Craze Boosts Network Activity

The demand for various memecoins has played a significant role in Solana's recent performance. For instance, the memecoin Goatseus Maximus (GOAT) witnessed a rapid climb to a market value of $400 million within a week, fueled by rumors surrounding an artificial intelligence bot launch. While the bot mainly served as a promotion tool for the GOAT token, the excitement drew considerable attention from traders.

This was evident on social media platforms, where influential accounts directed users toward the token. According to data from Cryptorank.io, several other Solana-based memecoins saw substantial gains during this period. SPX6900 (SPX) surged by 379%, Apu Apustaja (APU) rose 170%, and FWOG recorded a 134% gain. These sharp increases in token value created a feedback loop, where the rise in prices attracted more interest, driving up trading volumes even further.

In a broader market context, traders are now weighing whether the Solana rally fueled by the memecoin craze is sustainable, or if the hype will eventually taper off. Despite the skepticism about the fundamental value of these tokens, the surge has had tangible effects on Solana's ecosystem.

Solana's TVL Growth and Competitive Edge

One of the key metrics supporting Solana's growth has been its total value locked (TVL). In recent months, Solana’s TVL reached a two-year high, nearing 41 million SOL, reflecting a 13% increase month-over-month. This stands in contrast to other networks, such as Ethereum, whose TVL has remained relatively flat at around 17.7 million ETH. Similarly, the BNB Chain’s TVL also stagnated, holding steady at 7.9 million BNB.

Beyond the raw numbers, specific platforms on the Solana network have seen notable increases. Raydium, a decentralized exchange, recorded a 70% jump in deposits over the past 30 days, while Sanctum saw a 32% rise. These improvements in TVL signal that more capital is being allocated to decentralized applications (dApps) on Solana, enhancing its attractiveness to developers and investors alike.

Blockchains ranked by weekly DEX volumes. Source: DefiLlama


Additionally, the recent surge in activity on Solana has led to impressive growth in decentralized exchange (DEX) volumes. Solana’s DEX volumes grew by 43% over the past week, surpassing Ethereum, including its layer-2 scaling solutions like Arbitrum. Solana recorded $11.16 billion in weekly volume, far outpacing Arbitrum’s $3.74 billion.

The network’s ability to outperform competitors in this aspect is a positive sign for SOL's price trajectory. The high validator capacity of Solana enables faster transaction processing and lower fees, a combination that has drawn more users and trading activity to its ecosystem.

Is $180 in Sight for SOL?

Given the recent momentum, many in the crypto community are speculating whether Solana’s price could continue its upward trend and hit the $180 mark. While predicting the future of such a volatile asset remains challenging, the data suggests that Solana is well-positioned to maintain its growth. The increased demand for memecoins may not be fundamentally driven, but it has undoubtedly catalyzed the rise in network activity and liquidity.

Moreover, Solana’s strong position in areas such as artificial intelligence, Web3 applications, and gaming gives it additional avenues for future growth. The network's ability to capture opportunities in these expanding sectors could further bolster its competitive edge and potentially support a higher price target for SOL.

However, the sustainability of the memecoin-driven rally remains uncertain. As market trends often shift quickly, traders and investors will need to monitor changes in trading volumes and user engagement closely. While the memecoin craze has fueled much of the recent enthusiasm, shifts in sentiment or market dynamics could impact SOL’s price trajectory.

As of now, though, Solana's robust network activity, high TVL growth, and competitive performance against other blockchains provide a solid foundation for its price movement. Whether the rally continues or stabilizes, the focus remains on the ability of Solana to sustain its recent gains and capitalize on emerging trends in the blockchain space.