Solana Kicks Off $100 Breakout... ETF Funds Pour In Amid Alpenglow Validator Test

▲ Solana (SOL)/AI generated image

Solana (SOL) is testing whether it can break through the $100 resistance level, buoyed by the entry of its Alpenglow upgrade into real validator testing and an increasing inflow of ETF funds.

CoinGape reported on May 12 (local time) that Solana's price was moving around $95, approaching the $100 resistance level. Solana has risen about 10% over the past week amid a broader rebound in the cryptocurrency market. Bitcoin (BTC) moving above $81,000 also influenced investor sentiment for major altcoins.

Solana's Alpenglow upgrade has now entered a phase where real validators participate in a community test cluster. Alpenglow is considered the largest consensus structure change in Solana's history, moving from a previous internal test-centric phase to one where external validators examine performance in an environment similar to actual network activity.

This validator test is a process to confirm stability, performance, and migration risks before mainnet deployment. Developers believe that Alpenglow can increase consensus efficiency without disrupting the current network balance. However, additional technical evaluation and final approval are required before actual network application. The final deployment timeline has been suggested as between late Q3 2026 and early 2026.

Solana ETF demand was also cited as a factor supporting the price trend. According to SosoValue data, as of May 11, the cumulative net inflow into Solana ETFs exceeded $1.08 billion. The net inflow for the previous trading day was $26.57 million, and the trading volume recorded approximately $104 million. Bitwise products saw an inflow of over $21 million on that day, and Fidelity's FSOL and Grayscale's GSOL also recorded net inflows.

From a technical perspective, $95 and $100 were presented as initial resistance levels. According to CoinGape, Solana was trading at $94.87 at the time of the report, having fallen about 1.2% in recent trades. The Relative Strength Index was around 55, indicating a moderate buying preference, and the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) showed signs of weakening after a bullish cross earlier this month.

If Solana breaks above $100, the next major target range could open up above $105. If the market rally continues, there's also talk of breaking through the $108 resistance zone. Conversely, if it falls below the key support level of $92, additional downward pressure could increase to the $88 support zone.

The Solana market is simultaneously facing three variables: anticipation for the Alpenglow upgrade, ETF fund inflows, and the vote on the US cryptocurrency market structure bill. The short-term direction is expected to be determined by whether it breaks the $100 resistance level and maintains the $92 support level.

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