How High Can Solana Go in 2026 After a 48% Quarter?
Solana just posted its best quarter in over a year, but two factors arriving in late October could either launch it toward a new milestone or wipe out everything it gained.
This post may contain links from our sponsors and affiliates, and Flywheel Publishing may receive compensation for actions taken through them.
Solana (CRYPTO:SOL) saw a remarkable gain of 48% during the third quarter of 2026, rising from around $80 in early July to $118 by September 30. This performance outpaced Bitcoin’s (CRYPTO:BTC) 36% and XRP’s (CRYPTO:XRP) 37% increases over the same period. Only Ethereum (CRYPTO:ETH), which climbed 57%, performed better among the major cryptocurrencies.
As of October 2, Solana is priced at about $122, still 58% below its all-time high of $293, reached on January 19, 2025. So, how high can Solana realistically go before the year concludes on December 31?
Solana Needs a 141% Increase to Reach Its $293 High
Right now, Solana’s market value—calculated by multiplying its price by the approximately 588 million coins in circulation—stands at around $72 billion. To reach the previous record of $293 billion, its market value would need to jump to about $172 billion, meaning Solana must more than double its value and add around $100 billion in just three months.
Solana’s token supply also continues to grow. Solana rewards validators—who maintain the network and process transactions—with new coins, meaning more coins will need to share any potential price increases. This makes hitting the previous record harder than the percentage gain alone suggests.
If Solana were to replicate its third-quarter performance and gain another 48% by December 31, it could end 2026 around $180. That would still be a strong showing but would be about 39% short of its previous record. Additionally, Solana began the year at roughly $124, so a positive close is just a 2% increase from its current level.
Solana ETFs Have Taken In Money for 11 Straight Weeks
U.S. spot Solana exchange-traded funds (ETFs), which hold the coin and trade like stocks, indicate solid demand for Solana. These funds attracted $188 million in the week ending September 27, marking their best week in 10 months and extending inflows to 11 consecutive weeks.
Since July 13, these funds have accumulated approximately 4.37 million SOL and now hold about $1.93 billion in total—roughly 2.8% of Solana’s market value. However, demand for these ETFs can fluctuate. For instance, in early September, Solana ETF inflows dropped by 96% in just one week, but buying picked back up thereafter.
The consistent influx of funds supports the possibility of Solana reaching $180, but it doesn’t guarantee it. A week of net outflows could signal that the momentum behind the third-quarter rally is fading.
The Fed’s October 27-28 Meeting Could Slow Solana’s Climb
The Federal Reserve raised interest rates to a range of 3.75% to 4% on September 16. Traders are now watching the Fed’s meeting on October 27-28, where it may discuss another rate increase. Following a cooler inflation report on September 30, the chance of an October hike fell from about 71% to below 50%.
Investors are also weighing bond returns. As of September 25, the 10-year Treasury yield was 5.17%, a return backed by the U.S. government, while Solana pays no interest unless staked. Higher interest rates could make bonds more appealing compared to cryptocurrencies like Solana.
How High Can Solana Go Before 2026 Ends?
Realistically, Solana could aim for a ceiling close to $180 in 2026 if it repeats its impressive 48% performance from the third quarter. While a return to its previous $293 record is unlikely by December 31, a positive close is just about 2% higher than the current value. However, Solana still trades 58% below its peak, and any negative quarter could erase much of the gains made.
Two key indicators will likely determine Solana’s trajectory. If the Fed holds rates at its October meeting and ETF inflows continue into November, a push toward $180 seems achievable. On the other hand, if the Fed raises rates and funds see a week of outflows, Solana could give back part of its 48% gain and finish 2026 lower than where it started.
Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.
Sam Daodu is a crypto analyst who's spent nearly a decade making blockchain understandable—no easy task when most whitepapers read like fever dreams. He writes for 24/7 Wall St., covering Bitcoin, altcoins, and crypto market analysis for investors. Before crypto, he was a tech writer (back when explaining "the cloud" was peak innovation). Since 2018, he's written for CoinTelegraph, Yahoo Finance, The Block, Cryptonews, Zypto, Rain, and more—basically anywhere people want crypto news without the headache. Sam runs MacLabs Marketing, a content agency for crypto brands tired of sounding like AI wrote their website. He also publishes free crypto education on his site for Web3 enthusiasts who think "gas fees" is a typo. When he's not writing or staring at charts, Sam's either: - Watching anime (currently convinced One Piece has better tokenomics than most altcoins) - At the gym sculpting himself into a Greek god - Listening to the music your mum warned you only bad boys listen to Connect: LinkedIn | Email | MacLabs Marketing
