Lightspeed Predicts Key Developments for Solana in 2025
I’m putting my crystal ball abilities to the test this year.
As we turn the page on 2024, here are five Solana predictions for 2025:
1. Elon Musk’s X will debut a native Solana token
When Elon Musk acquired Twitter in 2022, speculation arose about integrating crypto into the platform. With anticipated regulatory changes under the incoming Trump administration, the introduction of an X token seems likely. “Crypto Twitter” remains active, indicating demand for such a token. Musk’s companies hold crypto assets, and X Premium users could use the token for subscriptions, facilitated by low transaction fees on Solana. Additionally, Solana Blinks may enable seamless ecommerce within X.
2. Solana’s stablecoin market cap will quadruple
Solana's on-chain volume increased significantly in 2024, yet stablecoins remained relatively stagnant, totaling approximately $5 billion. Initiatives from startups like Perena and Lulo, alongside major issuers such as PayPal and Sky launching stablecoins on Solana, suggest potential growth. Predictions indicate the stablecoin market cap could reach $20 billion by year-end, still trailing Ethereum’s $110 billion.
3. Solana ETFs will be approved but will underperform ETH
While approval for Solana ETFs is expected due to a more lenient SEC, demand may be limited compared to Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs. Solana primarily attracts investors through platforms like Phantom or Coinbase rather than retirement accounts. Other cryptocurrencies may also have ETFs by the time Solana ETFs are approved, potentially overshadowing them. Historical data shows that Ether ETFs have seen significant inflows, while Solana ETFs may not replicate this success.
4. Pump.fun won’t collect the most fees among memecoin platforms
Pump.fun has emerged as a leading memecoin launchpad with over $330 million in revenue since its inception. However, speculative platforms often have short lifespans in crypto. It is predicted that another platform, potentially AI-related, will surpass pump.fun in fee collection this year, despite memecoins continuing to contribute significantly to Solana’s on-chain volumes.
5. Solana will not experience a major outage
Despite past outages, it is predicted that Solana will remain operational without major issues in 2025. The rollout of Firedancer, a unique client designed to enhance throughput, poses new risks but also reflects improvements in network management. The establishment of an invalidator team by Anza aims to stress test the network further, suggesting confidence in maintaining stability.