Standard Chartered Predicts Solana Could Hit $250 by Year End
Standard Chartered has set an ambitious price target for Solana (CRYPTO: SOL), predicting the cryptocurrency will reach $250 by December 2026. As of October 5, 2026, Solana is trading at around $121, meaning it needs to more than double its value to meet the bank's forecast. This target is significantly lower than the previous prediction of $310, which was revised down by Geoff Kendrick from Standard Chartered in February. Despite the adjustment, Solana has yet to make substantial progress, rising only about 18% in the past month and remaining 59% below its record high of $293, reached in January 2025.
Kendrick's analysis focuses on the economic activity within the Solana network, particularly the shift in trading activity towards stablecoin pairings. He also anticipates that automated AI software will drive tiny payments on Solana due to its low fees. However, he cautions that Solana may lag behind Ethereum (CRYPTO: ETH) in the near term until payment volumes increase sufficiently to boost its price. The bank's long-term forecast extends to $2,000 by 2030, a target that would require an over 1,560% gain from its current value.
To hit the $250 target, Solana needs a 107% increase in under three months, which would raise its market cap from roughly $71 billion to around $147 billion. The network's validators recently decided to double the disinflation rate, slowing the issuance of new coins. However, this measure alone may not generate the demand necessary for such a significant price rally. Traders have observed Solana struggling to stay above the $120 mark, suggesting the price has not reflected the optimistic trend Kendrick's forecast expects.
Kendrick highlighted two key metrics to watch: the dollar value of stablecoins transacted on Solana and the speed at which these stablecoins trade. In February, Standard Chartered reported that stablecoins on Solana transacted two to three times faster than those on Ethereum, indicating their use for payments rather than mere value holding. Another crucial factor is demand from funds, with U.S. Solana ETFs experiencing 12 consecutive weeks of inflows by mid-September. Despite these inflows, they have not been enough to push the price above the February level.