Could Solana Really Hit $500 by 2029? Standard Chartered Thinks So

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The cryptocurrency world is buzzing with speculation as a major financial institution throws its weight behind a bold price prediction for Solana (SOL). In a recently published research report, Standard Chartered forecasts that Solana could reach $500 by the end of 2029, despite expecting it to underperform Ethereum (ETH) in the near term. This projection has sparked renewed interest in Solana’s long-term potential, especially among investors looking beyond short-term market volatility.

Solana vs. Ethereum: A Shifting Ratio Over Time

Standard Chartered's analysis centers on the evolving relationship between Solana and Ethereum, particularly through the lens of the ether-to-solana ratio. According to Geoff Kendrick, head of digital assets research at the bank, the current ETH/SOL ratio of approximately 14 is expected to rise to 17 by the end of 2027 before beginning to decline.

This anticipated shift implies that while Ethereum may outpace Solana in value appreciation over the next few years, Solana is positioned for stronger relative growth in the latter part of the decade. The report suggests that Solana’s technological advantages—such as high throughput, low transaction fees, and fast confirmation times—will become increasingly valuable as decentralized applications scale.

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Price Forecast: From $175 to $500

At the time of the report, Solana was trading around $175**. Standard Chartered projects a rise to **$275 by the end of 2025, representing significant near-term upside. More strikingly, the bank envisions Solana reaching $500 by 2029, assuming successful adoption in key application areas beyond speculative trading.

This long-range forecast hinges not on memecoins or short-lived trends, but on Solana’s ability to capture real-world use cases in decentralized finance (DeFi), consumer applications, and institutional financial infrastructure. While memecoin activity has driven much of Solana’s recent popularity, the bank cautions that this trend may be past its peak.

The Memecoin Paradox: Popularity Without Premium Valuation

One of the most intriguing insights from the report is the observation that Solana has become the blockchain of choice for memecoin trading. Its low fees and rapid transaction speeds make it ideal for high-frequency, speculative activity. However, this very association has contributed to Solana being undervalued relative to its actual application revenue.

“Declining usage and trading ‘cheap’ are not a good mix,” the report warns. As memecoin trading volumes show signs of cooling, there’s a risk that investor enthusiasm could wane unless Solana demonstrates sustainable utility in more stable sectors.

This creates both a challenge and an opportunity: Solana must transition from being seen primarily as a playground for retail speculation to a serious platform for scalable, real-world applications.

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Beyond Memecoins: The Road to Mainstream Adoption

For Solana to achieve its $500 target, it must dominate emerging sectors that demand high-volume transactions, low latency, and affordable costs. These include:

The report acknowledges that building scale in these areas will likely take years. Success depends on continued improvements in network reliability, developer engagement, and regulatory clarity.

Still, Solana’s architecture gives it a structural edge. With throughput capabilities exceeding 65,000 transactions per second and average fees under $0.001, it remains one of the most efficient smart contract platforms available today.

Core Keywords Driving Solana’s Narrative

To align with search intent and enhance SEO performance, the following core keywords have been naturally integrated throughout this analysis:

These terms reflect both investor curiosity and broader market trends shaping public interest in Solana’s trajectory.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is Standard Chartered’s Solana price forecast?

Standard Chartered predicts Solana will reach $275 by the end of 2025 and $500 by the end of 2029, despite expecting it to underperform Ethereum in the interim.

Why does Solana trade “cheap” relative to its revenue?

Despite strong application revenue, Solana is associated heavily with volatile memecoin trading, which discourages premium valuation from institutional investors.

Is memecoin activity still growing on Solana?

The report suggests memecoin activity on Solana has likely peaked. Declining usage combined with low valuation multiples presents a challenge for sustained price growth.

How does Solana compare to Ethereum in scalability?

Solana offers significantly faster transaction speeds and lower fees than Ethereum, making it better suited for high-volume applications—though Ethereum leads in security and decentralization.

Can Solana really hit $500?

Reaching $500 depends on widespread adoption in non-speculative sectors like DeFi, payments, and consumer apps. If Solana scales successfully, the target is plausible within the 2029 timeframe.

What factors could prevent Solana from reaching $500?

Network outages, regulatory hurdles, competition from other Layer 1 blockchains, and failure to attract enterprise-grade applications could all hinder progress toward the $500 goal.

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Final Thoughts: A Long-Term Bet on Utility

Standard Chartered’s outlook underscores a critical truth in cryptocurrency investing: long-term value stems from utility, not hype. While memecoins brought attention to Solana, lasting growth will come from its integration into financial systems and consumer technologies.

The path to $500 isn’t guaranteed—it requires sustained execution, improved reliability, and broader adoption. But if Solana can leverage its technical strengths to build meaningful applications at scale, it may well justify even higher valuations in the years ahead.

For investors willing to look beyond quarterly price swings, Solana represents a compelling bet on the future of fast, affordable, and scalable blockchain infrastructure.