Solana News Today: Solana Surges Past $204 Amid ETF Hopes and Institutional Buying Spree

Solana has surged above the $204 mark in August 2025, driven by growing institutional interest and optimism around potential ETF approvals. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has moved Invesco Galaxy’s Solana ETF application into formal review, following a similar filing by VanEck in May [1]. This regulatory progress, combined with significant institutional purchases, including 2 million SOL acquired by Upexi and nearly 1 million SOL by DeFi Dev Corp., has reinforced market confidence in Solana’s long-term viability [1]. These developments are shifting the narrative from hype-driven speculation to utility-backed growth, positioning Solana as a top contender for bullish altcoins in 2025.

In contrast, XRP faces mounting concerns over its disconnect between market valuation and real-world usage. Despite a market capitalization of $190 billion, key metrics such as transaction volume have declined by 38% in the past month, and processed payments have nearly halved, from 1.5 million to 835,000 [1]. Total value locked in XRP-related protocols remains at a relatively low $90 million, leading to a cap-to-TVL ratio exceeding 2,200 times—among the largest gaps for major cryptos [1]. This suggests that XRP’s valuation is increasingly driven by speculation rather than organic adoption, prompting investors to reassess its long-term sustainability.

Cold Wallet, on the other hand, has demonstrated tangible real-world utility through its fully operational app. The platform rewards users with immediate USDT payouts for activities such as token bridging, asset swapping, and referrals, without relying on future token swaps or speculative promises [1]. This utility-first model has already attracted $6.3 million in funding during Stage 17 of its presale, with tokens priced at $0.00998 and a projected listing price of $0.3517 [1]. By converting traditional transaction costs into cashback, Cold Wallet is addressing one of the most common pain points in crypto—users losing money to participate—while simultaneously building a community based on active usage and immediate returns.

The distinction between these three projects highlights broader trends in the crypto market. While Solana benefits from institutional momentum and regulatory progress, and XRP struggles to justify its valuation with actual usage, Cold Wallet is proving that real-world functionality can drive both adoption and investor interest. With its cashback system and live rewards, Cold Wallet is not only differentiating itself from typical presale-stage projects but also demonstrating a sustainable business model that aligns with user behavior [1].

For investors seeking altcoins with real adoption and clear ROI in 2025, Cold Wallet’s approach—delivering immediate value through usage—offers a compelling alternative to projects that rely on speculative roadmaps or regulatory optimism. As the crypto market continues to evolve, projects that can bridge the gap between narrative and utility are likely to emerge as the strongest performers.

[1] Source: 36Crypto. (URL: https://coinmarketcap.com/community/articles/68a682494b03e574f343573c/)