What Is Solana?
Solana is an open-source, highly scalable third-generation layer-1 blockchain designed for fast transaction settlement times, offering flexible infrastructure and low latency.
What Is SOL?
SOL is Solana’s native cryptocurrency, playing a critical role in:
- Paying network fees
- Staking and governance
- Executing smart contracts
- Supporting dApps, DeFi platforms, gaming, and NFT marketplaces
Launched in 2020, SOL has no fixed max supply, instead using an inflationary model (starting at 8% annually, decreasing to 1.5% long-term).
How Does Solana Differ from Other Blockchains?
Solana’s 65,000 TPS outperforms most blockchains due to its hybrid Proof of Stake (PoS) + Proof of History (PoH) consensus. Key advantages:
- Low fees: Economical for businesses and users.
- Scalability: Ideal for enterprise solutions.
"Solana aims to carry transactions as fast as news travels globally." — Anatoly Yakovenko, Solana Labs CEO
What Is Proof of History?
PoH creates a verifiable timestamp system, accelerating transaction processing without compromising security (paired with PoS).
Who Founded Solana?
Anatoly Yakovenko (ex-Qualcomm/Dropbox) co-founded Solana Labs in 2017 with Greg Fitzgerald. Officially launched in 2020 by the Solana Foundation (Geneva-based).
SOL Supply & Circulating Tokens
- Current circulation: 489 million SOL.
- Annual issuance: Dynamic, decreasing inflation rate.
2025 SOL Outlook: Key Factors
1. Network Upgrades
- Firedancer Upgrade: Enhances robustness via multi-client support.
2. Regulatory Climate
- ETF Proposals: Grayscale, 21Shares, and others seek Solana ETF approvals.
3. Institutional Capital
- CME Group Futures: Regulated, cash-settled contracts attract institutions.
4. Meme Coin & NFT Ecosystems
- Meme coins (e.g., TRUMP): Drive network activity.
- NFT Trading: High-throughput, low-cost transactions foster growth.
Why Trade Solana Futures?
CME Group’s Solana Futures offer:
- Two contract sizes: Standard (500 SOL) and Micro (25 SOL).
- Cash settlement: No custody hassles.
- 24/5 trading on Globex.
- Price discovery: Transparent, regulated benchmarks (SOLUSD_RR).
👉 Explore Solana Futures Contract Specs
FAQ Section
Q: What’s Solana’s max TPS?
A: 65,000 transactions per second.
Q: How does PoH improve efficiency?
A: It timestamps transactions without extra verification.
Q: Are Solana futures physically settled?
A: No—they’re USD cash-settled.
Q: What’s the inflation rate for SOL?
A: Starts at 8%, decreasing annually to 1.5%.
Q: Who oversees Solana’s reference rate?
A: CF Benchmarks, using aggregated exchange data.
👉 Institutional Trading with CME Group
Disclaimer: Trading cryptocurrencies involves risk. This content is for informational purposes only.