Solana News Today: Institutional Confidence Drives 250M USDC Expansion on Solana's Scalable Network

Circle has minted an additional 250 million USDC on the Solana blockchain, signaling growing institutional and mainstream confidence in the network's scalability and utility. The move aligns with broader trends of rising on-chain activity, strategic partnerships, and regulatory approvals that are reshaping Solana's ecosystem.

Solana's Total Value Locked (TVL) has surged to $11.83 billion, reflecting increased user participation in decentralized finance (DeFi) and tokenized asset protocols, according to an FXStreet report. This growth is supported by robust technical indicators, including a long-to-short ratio of 1.07 on Coinglass — a 30-day high that underscores bullish sentiment, the report adds. Analysts attribute this momentum to a confluence of factors, including Fidelity's recent approval of a Solana spot ETF in the U.S. and Hong Kong, which have opened new avenues for institutional capital, according to a CryptoNews report.

The blockchain's institutional adoption is further bolstered by infrastructure developments. Gemini's launch of a credit card offering 4% instant rewards in SOL, coupled with Fidelity's retail access to Solana, highlights the network's appeal to both institutional and retail investors, the FXStreet report notes. Meanwhile, the introduction of cross-chain versions of Tether's USDt and XAUT on Solana has enhanced liquidity and attracted real-world asset (RWA) integrations, which analysts argue reduce volatility and strengthen long-term growth prospects, according to a BeInCrypto article.

Price forecasts for Solana (SOL) suggest continued upward momentum. The asset recently traded above $204, supported by an ascending trendline and a Relative Strength Index (RSI) of 52, indicating bullish momentum, the FXStreet report states. Technical analysts project a potential rally to $230 if the price closes above the 50-day EMA at $202.88. More ambitious targets, such as $320–$500, are tied to an ascending triangle pattern on weekly charts and Fidelity's $16 trillion in assets potentially injecting liquidity into the network, analysts told BeInCrypto.

The approval of Solana ETFs in major markets has also accelerated adoption. The 21Shares Solana Spot ETF in the U.S. and Hong Kong's first Solana ETF have positioned the blockchain as a regulated digital asset hub, reinforcing its credibility among global investors, the CryptoNews report adds. These developments, combined with Solana's low transaction costs and high throughput, make it an attractive platform for RWA trading and DeFi innovation.