- Solana’s price dropped 12% over the past week, driven by significant sell-offs from the memecoin platform Pump.fun and a broader market downturn.
- The launch of memecoins and Bitcoin’s declining price also contributed to SOL’s decline.
Solana (SOL), one of the most prominent cryptocurrencies, has experienced a sharp 12% decline in value over the past week, driven by a combination of memecoin launches and significant sell-offs by large holders. As of September 4, at 11:06 AM UTC, Solana’s price had fallen to $128, marking a 3.8% drop on the daily chart, according to Cointelegraph data.
Pump.fun’s Massive Sell-Off and Its Impact
The most recent price drop is closely tied to actions by Pump.fun, a memecoin launch platform, which has been offloading substantial amounts of SOL tokens. According to a post by Lookonchain on September 3, the fee account associated with Pump.fun sold another $1.38 million worth of SOL, bringing the total sales to $41.64 million at an average price of $157.50 per coin.
This significant sell-off by a large entity, often referred to as a whale, has had a pronounced impact on Solana’s price. Whales hold the power to sway market trends due to their massive holdings, and traders frequently monitor their actions to gauge potential short-term price movements.
The Role of Memecoins in Solana’s Price Decline
The surge in memecoin launches on the Solana network, facilitated by platforms like Pump.fun, has also contributed to the token’s recent struggles. According to crypto trader and podcast host Luke Martin, the rally in Solana’s price came to a halt as soon as these memecoins started flooding the market. This suggests that the current memecoin craze may be putting downward pressure on SOL’s value.
“When you overlay Pump.fun launches on top of the Solana price chart, $SOL stopped going up almost exactly when people started launching tons of memecoins,” Martin noted.
Bitcoin Correlation and ETF Speculation
In addition to the memecoin craze, Solana’s price remains closely correlated with Bitcoin (BTC), which has also seen a downturn in recent months. Over the past three months, Bitcoin’s price has dropped nearly 18%, while Solana has fallen by around 22%, according to Bitstamp data. This correlation suggests that broader market trends are also influencing SOL’s price.
Looking ahead, there is speculation that Solana could be the next major cryptocurrency to receive a spot exchange-traded fund (ETF) listing in the United States. While a Solana ETF remains uncertain, such a development could serve as a significant price catalyst. The recent approval of Brazil’s first Solana ETF on August 7 has set a precedent, fueling hopes for similar approvals in other global markets.
Solana’s recent price decline is a result of multiple factors, including large-scale sell-offs by whales, the impact of memecoin launches, and broader market trends. However, the potential for a Solana ETF could offer a future lifeline for the cryptocurrency, potentially reversing its current downward trajectory.
