Solana News Today: Coinbase's Vector Acquisition Accelerates Solana's DeFi Dominance, Boosts Monad

The Monad (MON) token surged 46% following an early dip, driven by allocations from Coinbase's recent acquisition of Vector, a Solana-based decentralized exchange (DEX). The price rebound reflects growing optimism around the airdrop of 100 billion MON tokens, which has drawn significant market attention. Hyperliquid, a decentralized perpetuals exchange, listed MON-USD perpetuals ahead of the anticipated airdrop, with the token's fully diluted valuation (FDV) reaching approximately $13 billion based on trading activity near $0.13 per token.

Coinbase's acquisition of Vector, part of its 2025 strategy to expand Solana ecosystem integration, has further fueled interest. The exchange, which has acquired nine companies this year-including Deribit and Echo-aims to enhance onchain trading capabilities by incorporating Vector's technology. This move aligns with Solana's record-breaking DEX volume exceeding $1 trillion in 2025, positioning the network as a key player in decentralized finance (DeFi). Coinbase's CEO emphasized the acquisition as a step toward becoming an "everything exchange," offering faster, cheaper, and more accessible trading across Solana's fast-moving markets.

The Monad mainnet launch, which allocated 50.6% of its total supply to team, investors, and treasury over a four-year vesting period, has also influenced market dynamics. Despite initial volatility, with MON trading near $0.024 at launch, the token's price stabilized as airdrop expectations grew. Critics noted concerns over the team's 27% allocation, but proponents highlighted the project's EVM compatibility and potential for mainstream adoption.

Market conditions remain mixed, with Bitcoin's recent decline to $80,554 pressuring broader crypto sentiment. However, Coinbase's acquisition spree and Solana's ecosystem growth have provided counterbalancing momentum. Analysts suggest that improved DEX liquidity and institutional-grade infrastructure, such as GSR's upgraded trading platform, could further bolster confidence in onchain markets.