Solana's trajectory points toward significant upside potential through 2026. The recent 4.5% gain over 24 hours hints at what could unfold as institutional interest and developer activity continue reshaping the Layer-1 landscape.

Price-wise, expect a testing of the 150-220 range during Q1 2026, with year-end targets establishing a 350-500 band. Such moves aren't without precedent in SOL's history, especially when adoption metrics and network throughput improvements align.

What makes this compelling is Solana's persistent dominance in the Layer-1 race. Despite competition from alternative chains, the ecosystem's momentum—driven by robust dApp development and rising transaction volume—keeps the network relevant. Combined with favorable macro conditions, these fundamentals suggest the bullish case isn't merely speculative chatter but grounded in actual network utilization trends.

Whether the upside fully realizes depends on broader market sentiment and regulatory clarity, but the setup favors those positioned early.