Solana has overtaken Ethereum as the leading blockchain for stablecoin transfers, according to a new report by AllianceBernstein analysts. This shift signifies Solana’s growing adoption for cross-border transactions and challenges Ethereum’s dominance in the stablecoin space.

Solana Surges in Stablecoin Transactions

• Solana Captures Market Share: Data from Artemis reveals Solana holds a commanding 43% market share in the value of stablecoins transferred, surpassing Ethereum’s 26.6%. On-chain data further emphasizes this lead, with Solana boasting a $1.4 trillion market share compared to Ethereum’s $635 billion.
• Circle Integrates USDC with Solana: Capitalizing on this trend, Circle announced extending its Web3 services to Solana. This integration aims to simplify USDC integration for businesses, potentially further propelling Solana’s stablecoin usage.

Solana’s Scalability Concerns

While Solana’s growth in stablecoins is impressive, analysts caution about its scalability limitations. Ethereum, despite a lower market share in transfers, holds a larger market cap of stablecoins on its blockchain, suggesting a significant portion remains unused. To handle the demands of consumer payments, Solana would require substantial improvements to its capacity.

Solana Seeks to Address Network Congestion

Solana validators recently approved a proposal aimed at reducing transaction latency. This “Timely Vote Credits” mechanism incentivizes validators to submit faster votes, potentially expediting transactions. Additionally, a bug fix for QUIC, a data transfer protocol causing network congestion, is slated for April 15th.

Solana Price Prediction: Bullish or Bearish?

Analysts hold mixed views on Solana’s future price movement.

• Bullish Outlook: Pseudonymous analyst Bluntz predicts a potential local bottom for Solana against Bitcoin (SOL/BTC), followed by a rally above 0.003 BTC ($215). He also expects SOL to reach a new 2024 high of $230 against the US dollar.
• Bearish Signals: On-chain metrics and technical indicators suggest a possible double-top pattern for SOL, potentially leading to a price drop of 17.27% to around $142.