Key Insights
- •December trends and current signals shape the race to the $250 resistance for Solana price.
- •New Solana (SOL) upgrades strengthen network activity and developer interest.
- •Alpenglow marks a major step in Solana’s technical direction.
Solana (SOL) price could reach $250 by year’s end as new upgrades move forward, network activity rises, and technical readings show steady strength. Industry voices highlight recent progress, stronger research work, and a December trend that often brings higher trading interest.
Network Catalysts Put Solana Price Back Into Focus
The Solana (SOL) price has attracted new attention after several strong updates across the network. A long list of planned upgrades sits at the centre of this renewed interest. These include Alpenglow, MCP, BAM, Harmonic, XDP, and p-token. As noted, each upgrade aims to solve issues that have affected the chain over time. The progress signals steady work on the network’s core design.
Similarly, new products also play a major role. Solana teams have released tools such as Dflow, Meridian, Humidifi, Nous, MetaDAO, Ore, FlashTrade, Orb, and Dupe. The presence of these projects shows that developers remain active across many categories. Strong leaders within the ecosystem continue to lead much of this work.
Meanwhile, the user base has shifted as well. Many short-term participants left after the free memecoin phase ended. The remaining users now focus more on real applications. Solana has also picked up stronger industry and retail attention over the last three quarters. For example, several data points show that the network’s visibility has risen across major sectors. Again, other signals point to firm progress with a Neobank that now provides broader retail access. A new three-year game places SOL price in a strong position within the growing gaming segment.
The network has lost ground in a few areas, but these gaps remain small and might close soon. Core metrics are lower than in January, but the overall base is higher than in the previous cycle. Solana also holds leading or second positions in advanced markets such as prediction tools, x402, and AI-linked projects. The ecosystem is now preparing for its largest Breakpoint event, which is expected to draw wide attention.
Alpenglow Upgrade Marks a Change in Technical Direction
The Alpenglow upgrade has become a key point in current discussions. Developers view it as an important fix for several old issues for the network. As noted, the upgrade reduces on-chain vote activity, adjusts consensus steps, and resolves a problem where a small stake could halt the chain.
For context, a paper from ETH Zurich in 2024 played a major role in this shift. The research, led by Professor Roger Wattenhofer, explained a consensus weakness. The discovery pushed the team to rethink some parts of the system. Professor Wattenhofer later joined Anza, which strengthened the group behind the upgrade.
Meanwhile, Cardano researchers noted that this approach reflects a model they have used for years. Their teams often release formal papers before large changes. The comparison shows that Solana is moving toward a more research-based path. Observers believe this could improve trust in future updates and support long-term strength. The change in method does not remove competition between networks. It does show that technical work on Solana is moving in a more structured direction.
December Trends Shape Solana (SOL) Price Year-End Outlook
Historical December returns are helping to frame expectations for the rest of the year for SOL price. Solana price gained 71.4% in December 2023 and is currently up by 7.28% in December 2025. Losses in 2021, 2022, and 2024 show that the coin can swing sharply. Traders often watch this month because it tends to bring higher volume across the market.
Current technical readings give a mixed but steady picture. As of writing, SOL price traded at $139, down by 2% in the past day. The level sits above the 7-day and 20-day moving averages. The next major line is the 50-day simple moving average at $160.38. The MACD histogram stands at 2.6915, which shows rising strength. Daily Binance volume sits at $486.6 million, giving enough activity for a large move if momentum stays firm.
Market watchers say steady upgrades and trading volume will help show if the Solana price can move toward the $250 target before the year ends.