Solana Price Forecast: SOL Recovery Eyes $180 as Risk of Temporary Recovery Looms
Solana (SOL), once hailed as the “Ethereum killer,” has shown remarkable resilience amid the volatile cryptocurrency landscape. With a focus on high throughput, low fees, and rapid transaction speeds, Solana quickly earned a place among the top blockchain networks. After suffering setbacks from the broader market crash and its association with the now-defunct FTX exchange, SOL is mounting a significant recovery. As its price edges toward $180, analysts warn that this recovery might be temporary unless key fundamentals and market conditions hold firm.
In this article, we delve into the current state of Solana, expert price forecasts, and the risks and opportunities that could define SOL’s path to $180 and beyond.
Solana’s Journey: From Collapse to Comeback
Solana’s price suffered greatly during the crypto winter of 2022, exacerbated by the collapse of FTX—a major backer of the ecosystem. From an all-time high of around $260 in late 2021, SOL fell to under $10 in late 2022. However, in 2023 and 2024, the network experienced a renaissance driven by strong developer activity, rapid adoption of its DeFi and NFT ecosystems, and new partnerships.
In 2025, Solana is now trading in the $150–$165 range, showing strength after a dip earlier this year. With renewed investor confidence, many market watchers are asking: Can Solana reclaim $180—and hold it?
Technical Overview: SOL Eyes $180
SOL’s recent price movement suggests an upward trajectory, driven by several technical indicators:
- 50-day and 200-day Moving Averages: SOL has reclaimed both moving averages, signaling medium-term bullish momentum.
- Relative Strength Index (RSI): The RSI hovers near 60, showing growing buying pressure without being overbought.
- Volume Trends: Trading volume has steadily increased, especially on decentralized exchanges (DEXs) built on Solana.
Analysts argue that if SOL can break above the $170 resistance level with strong volume, $180 becomes a plausible short-term target. However, if momentum weakens or broader crypto sentiment turns bearish, a pullback to $140–$145 is likely.
Expert Forecasts: Can Solana Sustain the Recovery?
1. CoinCodex Projection
CoinCodex uses algorithmic models to forecast short- and long-term prices. Their outlook suggests:
- June 2025 High: $178–$182
- 2025 Year-End: $200+ if bullish momentum continues
They caution, however, that if macroeconomic headwinds—such as interest rate hikes or regulatory crackdowns—intensify, SOL could drop back below $130 before any long-term rally resumes.
2. Finder.com Panel
The Finder panel, composed of crypto researchers and fintech executives, maintains a cautious optimism:
- Short-term target: $180–$185
- 2025 Year-End Average Forecast: $210
- 2026 Forecast: $250–$280
Experts highlight Solana’s high-speed performance and growing stablecoin and tokenized asset use cases. Yet, some panelists warn that Solana’s reputation for downtime and centralized validator concerns could limit upside.
3. CryptoQuant Insights
According to data analytics firm CryptoQuant, on-chain activity in Solana is rising rapidly. Daily active addresses, DeFi total value locked (TVL), and new wallet creation are all trending upward.
These metrics support a short-term rally to $180–$200. However, their analysts note that large holders (whales) are starting to realize profits, which may put downward pressure on SOL in the coming weeks.
The Case for $180 and Beyond
A number of fundamental factors support the bullish case for SOL:
1. Developer Ecosystem
According to Electric Capital’s 2025 Developer Report, Solana now ranks second behind Ethereum in terms of active developers. Key innovations such as Firedancer (a high-performance validator client by Jump Crypto) promise to dramatically boost throughput and reliability.
This technical advancement addresses the network outages that plagued Solana in its early years—removing one of the largest obstacles to institutional adoption.
2. DeFi and NFT Momentum
Solana has become a leading hub for decentralized finance, particularly with the rise of protocols like Jupiter, Drift, and MarginFi. It’s also a top choice for NFT projects, competing with Ethereum and newer blockchains like Blast and Base.
As TVL grows and users engage with new dApps, demand for SOL (as gas and collateral) increases, reinforcing price appreciation.
3. Institutional Attention
Several institutional funds and ETF managers are beginning to take notice. While Solana is not yet included in any U.S.-based spot ETF, it has been added to various crypto indexes and international structured products.
Analysts believe that a potential Solana ETF or structured fund could further legitimize SOL as an asset class, attracting long-term capital inflows.
Risks: Is the Recovery Temporary?
Despite the momentum, experts are careful to label the recovery as potentially temporary unless several risks are addressed:
1. Market-Wide Uncertainty
Bitcoin’s price direction continues to heavily influence altcoins. If BTC faces a sharp correction, even a strong Solana recovery could be derailed. Correlation remains high between SOL and the broader crypto market.
2. Regulatory Threats
Solana was previously named in SEC lawsuits as a potential security. Although these cases are still unfolding, an unfavorable regulatory ruling could suppress U.S.-based trading and investment.
Until there’s clarity from regulatory bodies like the SEC or CFTC, SOL remains at risk of compliance-based selloffs.
3. Validator Centralization
Solana’s architecture prioritizes performance, which has led to criticism that too much power is concentrated in a few validators. Though solutions like stake decentralization are underway, centralization concerns may deter security-focused investors.
4. Profit-Taking Pressure
After a nearly 500% gain from its lows in late 2022, many early investors and whales are in profit. Profit-taking, especially near psychological resistance levels like $180, could trigger short-term corrections.
Long-Term Outlook: Will SOL Reclaim ATH?
While the focus is currently on $180, many analysts believe SOL has the potential to revisit and even exceed its all-time high of $260:
- 2026 Target (Finder Panel): $250–$280
- 2030 Forecast (Bitwise Research): $400+ in a high-adoption scenario
- Raoul Pal’s Estimate: Could follow a similar network effect trajectory as Ethereum if TVL and developer activity keep rising
Much depends on Solana’s ability to continue improving uptime, expanding its use cases, and avoiding regulatory pitfalls. If these conditions are met, the long-term outlook remains bullish.
Conclusion
Solana’s climb toward $180 marks a pivotal moment in its recovery narrative. Technical indicators suggest momentum is on its side, and experts are cautiously optimistic about its ability to break resistance. However, the possibility of a temporary pullback cannot be ruled out given macro risks, profit-taking, and regulatory uncertainty.
For investors, the key will be watching volume trends, ecosystem health, and how SOL responds to broader market movements. Whether Solana can turn a temporary recovery into a sustained uptrend will determine if $180 is a stepping stone—or a ceiling.
As always, those investing in cryptocurrencies should do so with careful risk management, an understanding of market cycles, and a long-term view.
