SOL (Solana) Price Analysis & Market Outlook: Despite Modest Gains, Onchain and Derivatives Data Suggest SOL Still Holds Significant Upside Potential

Solana's native token, SOL $243.91 , has surged 8% since falling to $222 on Nov. 26. Despite this recovery, some investors remain skeptical

Solana's ( SOL ) native token has largely remained stagnant over the past week, surging 8% compared to a 12% gain in the broader altcoin market capitalization. However, onchain and derivatives data suggest that SOL still holds significant upside potential.

Despite the recent price appreciation, some investors have expressed skepticism due to SOL's modest gain and the sharp correction from its all-time high of $263.80 on Nov. 23.

However, zooming out to a broader time frame reveals that Solana has solidified its position as the second-largest programmable blockchain by developer activity and user engagement, a remarkable feat considering the competitive nature of the Web3 landscape.

Further bolstering this growth, Solana's total value locked soared by an impressive 48% in the 30 days leading up to Nov. 27.

To put this into perspective, deposits on the BNB Chain increased by a more modest 14% over the same 30-day period, while Tron network's total value locked grew by a relatively smaller 13%.

Solana's standout performers include the Jito liquid staking solution at $3.4 billion (+44%), the Jupiter decentralized exchange at $2.4 billion (+50%), and Raydium at $2.2 billion (+58%). This surge in deposits is largely attributed to the growing demand for SOL, spurred by Solana's expanding decentralized application ecosystem.

While some analysts suggest that SOL competes with Ether ( ETH ), data indicates that both networks can grow independently. Onchain activity on Ethereum increased by 47% in the last 30 days, according to DappRadar. Uniswap volumes on Ethereum surged by 62% during the period, while CoW Swap recorded a gain of 71% over the same duration.

While Solana dominates memecoin launches and trading, Ethereum maintains its edge as the network of choice for decentralized finance opportunities. Notably, three of the top five highest-grossing DApps belong to Solana — Raydium, Jito, and Pump.fun — outperforming Lido, Unispec, and Aave in this metric.

Solana and Ethereum can grow independently without directly competing for the same user base. However, Solana's greater reliance on memecoins introduces more risk, as the speculative frenzy surrounding tokens like BONK, POPCAT, MEW, and SPX6900 — some of which surged over 100% in three months — may not be sustainable in the long term.

To assess whether traders have shifted sentiment on SOL following the 10% decline between Nov. 23 and Nov. 27, the futures premium provides valuable insight. In stable markets, monthly futures typically trade at a 5% to 10% annualized premium over spot prices to account for the time value of money and the cost of carry. This premium usually turns negative in bear markets or during periods of extreme fear.

Currently, SOL futures indicate traders are paying an annualized 23% premium to maintain long (buy) positions, marking the highest level in seven months. While this suggests optimism, excessive bullishness can push this metric above 40%, increasing the risk of cascading liquidations during unexpected price corrections.

Based on Solana's onchain activity and derivatives market data, further price appreciation appears likely. At its current $113.7 billion market capitalization, SOL trades at a hefty 73% discount compared to Ethereum's $429.4 billion, indicating significant room for growth.