Solana tops activity metrics – But can SOL’s $80 support hold?

Solana [SOL] has returned to the spotlight. Data from Artemis shows the network leading in users, transactions, developer growth, trading volume, and fees, while maintaining over 24 straight months of uptime, a consistency that matters.

Artemis’ Zheng Jie Lim recently described Solana as the “internet capital markets,” a phrase that reflects its scale, activity, and resilience across key metrics.

But what do these gains mean for SOL’s long-term outlook?

Alibaba partnership adds serious weight

Momentum is not limited to on-chain numbers.

Alibaba, the world’s largest e-commerce company, recently demonstrated high-performance Solana RPCs. The partnership integrates Solana with Alibaba Cloud infrastructure. The goal of the partnership is simple:  to reduce latency.

Usually, lower latency improves execution speed.

Combined with ZAN, Alibaba Cloud could give on-chain high-frequency trading a millisecond advantage. In competitive markets, that edge is meaningful.

This development strengthens Solana’s positioning as a performance-first blockchain. It also signals growing institutional-grade infrastructure support.

Timing could not be more critical

The announcement comes at a decisive technical moment

On the weekly chart, SOL is testing what many consider its last line of defence around the $80 demand zone. This level has historically acted as strong support.

A hold at this level could spark a broader recovery, while a breakdown would turn the structure decisively bearish. The stochastic RSI is also signaling potential upside, with the token’s RSI rebounding from oversold territory at press time.

The fundamentals are strengthening. The chart is compressing.

Institutional appetite returns

Institutional demand is also beginning to surface.

In the last 24 hours alone, Open Interest (OI) surged to $2.1 billion as of writing. Rising OI alongside a major support test suggests traders are positioning for volatility.

The surging OI does not confirm direction, but it confirms the attention.

Mapping SOL’s long-term road

Solana is leading in activity. Infrastructure support is expanding. Institutional positioning is increasing.

Yet price sits at a critical inflection point. If the $80 support zone holds, the convergence of strong fundamentals and improving participation could support long-term bullish projections.

In the worst case scenerio, if the support fails, the market may need more time. As it stands, Solana stands at a crossroads, backed by strength but tested by structure.

Final Thoughts

• Solana leads key on-chain metrics as infrastructure support strengthens.
• The network’s Open Interest jumps to $2.1B as SOL tests long-term support.