Ethereum was again on the wave, and Solana, despite technological advantages, seems to lose breath in this competition! For the first time since September 2023, Ethereum surpassed Solana in terms of trade volumes on decentralized stock exchanges (DEX), reaching $ 64.6 billion in March against $ 52.6 billion.
This is a considerable twist, especially since until recently Solana sparled thanks to speed and low fees, driven, among others Memcoin madness. The latter, however, clearly lose their strength – daily trade volumes on salt fell from the $ 12 billion impressive in January to just $ 720 million in March. Meanwhile, Ether, despite the higher costs of the transaction, maintains the leader’s position thanks to maturity and an extensive ecosystem. It is worth recalling that in 2024 Ethereum processed transactions worth over $ 1.2 trillion, while Solana, although dynamically growing, reached about USD 800 billion in the same period.
Both networks have their unique stories. Ethereum, launched in 2015 by Vitalik Buterin, revolutionized blockchain, introducing intelligent contracts and becoming a foundation for DEFI. Solana, five years younger, debuted in 2020 with the ambitious to speed up the transaction to a level comparable to traditional internet. Do the current data indicate a permanent change in this game? Let’s take a closer look at what stands behind these numbers and how both platforms are doing in 2025.
Solana – speed versus stability
Solana, which started in 2020, from the beginning focused on breaking the scalability barriers that traditional blockchains face. Thanks to the unique Proof of History (POH) mechanism, in combination with Proof of Stake (POS), the network offers instant transactions and ultra low fees – on average, only 0.01 USD for a transaction against $ 10 on Ethereum. This is a real breakthrough for users who value speed and low costs, especially in the world of DEFI or NFT. At peak moments, Solana reaches up to 1222 transactions per second (TPS), while Ethereum still oscillates around the modest 13.4 TPS. These numbers are impressive and show that in terms of technology Solana has a huge advantage.
However, numbers are not everything. In the first quarter of 2025, Solana scored a painful decline-her market value decreased by $ 100 billion, which means a 34 % recourse compared to previous months. The market is brutal, and variability does not save even the fastest players. What’s more, the activity in the DEFI ecosystem on Solanie, especially on the Raydium platform, clearly weakened. This may be a signal that users are starting to look for more stable alternatives, Solana, despite the technological advantage, has to face the challenges related to adoption and trust.
On the other hand, Solana attracts new developers at a dizzying pace – an increase of 83% year -on -year is a result that must not be ignored. For comparison, Ethereum records “only” 25% increase in this category. This shows that Solana still has the potential to become a magnet for innovators looking for a fast and cheap experiments platform. The question is: will she be able to turn it into a long -term success?
Ethereum – maturity and ecosystem
Ethereum, a pioneer of intelligent contracts since 2015, is a completely different story. His transition to Proof of Stake in recent years has been a step towards greater energy efficiency and scalability, although he still does not match soothing in terms of speed or cost. However, what loses raw performance makes up for a powerful ecosystem and stability. With 74.4 million contracts written by 1.1 million, Ethereum creators remain unrivaled in terms of activity on blockchain. Solana, with 28.3 thousand programs and 12.6 thousand developers, is still far behind in this matter.
March 2025 showed that Ethereum is not going to give the field without a fight. The DEX volume at the level of $ 63 billion compared to 51 billion Solana is a clear sign that users still trust this platform. This may be the result of greater maturity of the ecosystem – Ethereum has years of development, hundreds of tested applications and a community that knows what to expect. For many people, stability and versatility are more important than record TPS or penny fees.
Strengths and differences
Solana shines where the speed and efficiency related to costs counts. Her timing of block closing is almost imperceptible, and the capacity allows you to handle a huge number of transactions without shortness of breath. This is an ideal platform for projects that require high performance, such as blockchain games or high -turn NFT markets. In turn, Ethereum focuses on the depth and variety – thanks to Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) offers programmers almost unlimited possibilities of creating DAPPS. It is also a network with history that survived ups and downs, which gives her an advantage in the eyes of investors and large players.
In my opinion, the key difference between these two networks lies in their philosophy. Solana is such a sprinter – fast, agile, but sometimes he lacks stability over a long distance. Ethereum resembles a marathon runner – maybe it is not the fastest, but he has endurance and experience to survive difficult conditions. For the end user, the choice between them depends on the priorities: if you care about cheap and instant transactions, Solana wins. However, if you focus on a proven infrastructure and a rich ecosystem, Ethereum still holds the palm of priority.
What next?
The current situation indicates a certain change in Momentum – Ether regains the ground, and Solana is struggling with bear moods. However, I would not call it the end of Solana, but rather the natural diversification of the market. Both networks have their place in the world of blockchain – Solana attracts those who are looking for innovation and speed, and Ethereum remains a refuge for those who prefer stability and proven solutions. Personally, I think that the future belongs to both – after all, blockchain is not a game of zero. The question is: which of them will adapt better to the changing needs of users in 2025 and later? For now, Ethereum seems to have a slight advantage, but Solana certainly has not yet said the last word.
Summary
Ethereum and Solana are two pillars of the world of blockchain, each of which brings something unique and necessary for the development of cryptocurrencies. Ethereum, as a pioneer of intelligent contracts, has created foundations for DEFs, NFT and tokenization, building an ecosystem that is synonymous with stability and versatility. His role in shaping the industry cannot be overestimated – it is a platform that proved that blockchain can be more than just a digital currency, becoming a global computer for decentralized applications. Even in the face of the current crash, his ability to attract capital and maintain trust shows that he remains the spine of the cryptocurrency world.
In turn, Solana, with revolutionary speed and low costs, shifts the limits of what blockchain can achieve in real time. Its impact on mass adoption – especially in sectors such as games or memecoins – shows that the future of crypto requires not only stability but also performance. The current crisis is a test for both networks, but their meaning goes beyond short -term fluctuations. Ethereum ensures continuity and reliability, Solana – innovation and scalability. Together, they drive blockchain’s evolution, offering a variety that allows the market to adapt to the changing needs of users. In the world of cryptocurrencies, where the competition is fierce, both platforms are indispensable – one as a rock on which the industry is based, the other as a rocket that pushes it into the future.
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