What Is Solana?
Launched in 2020, Solana is a Layer 1 blockchain designed for speed and scale. It processes tens of thousands of transactions per second with ~400ms block times and fees often under a cent — enabling use cases that are impractical on slower, pricier chains.
How Does Solana Work?
Solana pairs Proof of History (PoH) — a cryptographic clock that orders events — with Proof of Stake (PoS) for security. Validators stake SOL to secure the network and earn rewards. This architecture lets Solana parallelize work and achieve high throughput.
The SOL Token
SOL is Solana's native asset. It pays transaction fees, secures the chain via staking, and serves as base liquidity across DeFi. See market data on the SOL token page.
The Solana Ecosystem
Solana hosts DEXs (Jupiter, Raydium, Orca), lending (Kamino), liquid staking (Jito, Marinade), DePIN (Helium, Render), NFTs (Tensor), and more. Explore it in our ecosystem overview.
Getting Started on Solana
- Install a Solana wallet.
- Fund it with SOL.
- Connect to Jupiter and start trading.
Summary
Solana is the speed-and-scale Layer 1 underpinning a vast DeFi and NFT economy. With PoH + PoS, sub-second blocks, and tiny fees, it's the natural home for active trading — which is exactly why Jupiter chose it. Grab a wallet, fund it with SOL, and the whole ecosystem opens up.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Solana faster than Ethereum?
Yes, by design. Solana offers sub-second blocks and far lower fees than Ethereum mainnet, though Ethereum has a larger, longer-established ecosystem.
What is SOL used for?
SOL pays network fees, secures the chain through staking, and acts as core liquidity across Solana DeFi, including Jupiter.
Is Solana safe?
Solana is a mature, widely used network. As with any chain, risks include smart-contract bugs and market volatility — use reputable apps and wallets.