Solana Faces Uphill Battle to Reach $250 Year-End Target

Solana (SOL) is currently trading near $121, leaving a significant gap to Standard Chartered’s year-end target of $250. This target, set in February 2026, would require a 107% gain in under three months. Despite a recent 18% increase, SOL remains 59% below its all-time high of $293, reached in January 2025. The token’s circulating supply stands at 588 million coins, with no maximum supply, meaning new coins continue to be issued.

Standard Chartered’s analyst Geoff Kendrick based his target on Solana’s network value and economic activity. He highlighted the shift in decentralized exchange trading toward SOL and stablecoin pairs as a key driver. Kendrick also expects automated AI software to utilize Solana for small payments due to its low transaction fees. However, he cautioned that Solana may lag behind Ethereum until payment volume increases sufficiently.

Recent on-chain activity shows positive signs. Validators doubled Solana’s disinflation rate on September 26, slowing new coin issuance. Solana ETFs saw a 40% jump in net inflows in September, reaching $271 million. App fees on Solana topped $100 million for the second straight week, the highest since August 2025. Analyst Sweep noted that SOL is currently in an accumulation phase, with a potential drop below $110 before the next upward move begins.

Traders are watching key resistance levels. If SOL breaks above $125, it could target $150. A pullback toward $110, $115 remains a possibility if buying pressure fails to clear resistance. Daily active addresses on the Solana network have shown steady increases, with a bullish crossover between the 30-day and 50-day moving averages.