Standard Chartered updates Solana forecast as payment use accelerates

Standard Chartered, a major global bank known for providing financial services across emerging and established markets, has released a revised outlook for Solana, reflecting recent shifts in blockchain usage trends. The bank now evaluates Solana’s future prospects based on its increasing role in payment activity and stablecoin movement rather than speculative trading. This strategic update adjusts Solana’s price forecasts in response to evolving user behavior and network utility.

Solana’s activity shifts toward payments

Recent analysis indicates Solana is moving away from an ecosystem dominated by meme-based tokens. Transaction data points to a significant uptick in stablecoin transfers and payment activity, establishing new patterns of network use. As a result, the blockchain’s role is expanding from trading and speculation to day-to-day utility.

Standard Chartered has noted that reduced transaction fees make frequent, low-value payments more practical on Solana. In combination with high network throughput, this economic efficiency appears to drive broader adoption among both individuals and businesses.

Standard Chartered’s report highlights, “$SOL is evolving from memecoin trading to stablecoin micropayments, with ultra-low fees enabling high-frequency use.”

Although speculative activity still remains, its share is smaller compared to the growth experienced by payment-led applications. User activity increasingly reflects a preference for stablecoins as a medium for everyday transactions and transfers.

More developers are focusing on building tools that support stablecoin movement, offering users faster and cheaper ways to move digital assets than previously possible using legacy blockchain systems.

Stablecoin turnover and bank forecasts

The report finds stablecoin activity on Solana outpaces that of Ethereum, with turnover described as roughly two to three times higher. Lower fees and faster settlement underpin this rapid transactional volume, which further supports reliability for payment scenarios.

Widespread use of stablecoins encourages sustained on-chain activity. With fast settlement and minimal fees, everyday payments like remittances and merchant settlements have become more feasible on the Solana network.

An increasing number of users are both holding and transacting stablecoins on Solana. This activity supports a range of new applications in retail and business payments, which further solidifies the network’s presence in the digital finance space.

Standard Chartered has revised its price target for Solana, setting it at $250 for the end of 2026—lower than previous estimates. However, the bank maintains a longer-term forecast of $2,000 by the year 2030, conditional on sustained growth in payment-focused activity.

“Standard Chartered just set a $250 $SOL target for end-2026 (down from $310) but eyes $2,000 by 2030 – as the network shifts from memecoins to stablecoin micropayments powered by ultra-low fees and high throughput,” according to analysis cited in the report.

Broader network adoption and improved transaction metrics are identified as key factors for these forecasts. The bank considers real transaction demand—rather than speculative flows—a vital measure for Solana’s future value.