Solana maintains investor support, new Bitcoin Layer-2 emerges as an investment opportunity

Strong ETF Capital Flows Push Solana Past Market Pressure

Although the Solana price chart (SOL) is currently under pressure, capital flows from exchange-traded funds tell a different story. Recent data shows that spot Solana ETFs have consistently recorded net inflows throughout December, with daily averages exceeding $10 million. Institutional investors from Bitwise, Grayscale, VanEck, and Fidelity are leading demand, bringing total net capital flows to around $120 million. This mismatch between short-term selling pressure and long-term buying by large funds indicates a clear distinction between short-term strategies and long-term confidence in the platform.

Solana is currently trading at $142.76, with a 24-hour increase of +4.76%, reflecting a gentle rebound after the recent correction. However, technical indicators suggest the coin is at a delicate position. After testing the support zone at $125–$126 in recent days, losing this level has opened a liquidity gap below it, shifting the short-term price momentum.

Global Banks Adopt Solana for Cross-Border Payments

A significant development occurred when Visa announced support for USDC payments on Solana for its banking partners. Cross River Bank and Lead Bank have begun executing payment transactions between banks on this public blockchain, instead of relying on slow traditional transfer systems.

Visa’s stablecoin payment volume on Solana has reached approximately $3.5 billion annually, a notable figure for real-world blockchain adoption. The expansion plan includes additional stablecoins and blockchain platforms, including EURC, based on the euro. JPMorgan has also issued tokenized commercial paper on Solana, demonstrating that the world’s largest financial institutions are shifting toward blockchain technology to reduce transaction costs.

Ethereum gas fees remain a barrier for large transactions, prompting companies to switch to cheaper solutions. Solana offers transaction costs of just a fraction of a cent, a clear competitive advantage over older networks.

Expansion Trend: Solana Virtual Machine Emerges on Bitcoin

The network performance conversation is evolving. While Solana is recognized as a leader in high-speed processing, the crypto community is increasingly focused on the question: how to bring that speed to Bitcoin?

The answer comes from emerging Layer 2 projects. Bitcoin Hyper (HYPER) is currently being built on this platform, utilizing the Solana Virtual Machine (SVM) to address Bitcoin’s long-term scalability limitations. This project represents a new model: combining fast transaction speeds with Bitcoin’s inherent security.

Layer 2 networks operate by processing transactions off the main chain and then submitting summaries back to the chain. This allows for higher speeds and lower fees without sacrificing security. Bitcoin has long lacked an effective Layer 2 solution, and Bitcoin Hyper positions itself as a pioneer in this field.

Solana Price Analysis: Two Possible Scenarios

On-chain data shows stable network activity but no signs of strong growth. Trading volume on decentralized exchanges fluctuates, while stablecoin market capitalization continues to rise, indicating long-term confidence despite price pressures.

Positive scenario: If upcoming inflation data comes in lower than expected, it could trigger a broader market recovery. In this case, SOL could regain the $125–$126 zone and pave the way for higher targets. This high-value buying opportunity would reshape the short-term trend.

Negative scenario: If inflation is at or above expectations, buyers may struggle to break through the $126 resistance. Bitcoin will also face pressure, and lacking momentum from Bitcoin, Solana could drop to around $115, a major support level from last year’s lows.

Solana’s total market capitalization is currently at $80.60 billion, reflecting its position as one of the leading blockchains. However, short-term price performance is mainly influenced by overall market conditions and Bitcoin’s momentum.

Conclusion: Opportunities Below, but Caution Needed

Solana is not a story that ends here. Major financial institutions continue building infrastructure, ETFs are recording strong inflows, and Layer 2 applications like Bitcoin Hyper are expanding blockchain’s technical capabilities. However, investors should wait for confirmation signals from key resistance levels before increasing long-term positions.