Solana: The Altcoin Poised for an 'Epic' Q4 Surge, Says Bitwise CIO As Solana (SOL) approaches the $225 mark, Bitwise's Chief Investment Officer, Matt Hougan, predicts a significant bullish rally for the altcoin in the fourth quarter. This optimistic forecast is based on a proven "recipe" for substantial returns that previously propelled Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH), suggesting Solana could be next in line, largely fueled by burgeoning corporate demand and upcoming institutional products.
Institutional Catalysts Fueling Solana's Ascent
According to Hougan, the blueprint for success involves a combination of exchange-traded product (ETP) inflows and robust corporate treasury purchases. This strategy proved highly effective for Bitcoin since January 2024 and Ethereum since April 2025. Now, attention is shifting to Solana, as several prominent issuers, including Bitwise, Grayscale, and VanEck, have filed to launch spot Solana ETPs, with approvals anticipated in Q4. Although the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) recently deferred its decision on these spot SOL ETFs to October 16, 2025, this delay could mean multiple issuers entering the market simultaneously, potentially amplifying the rally. Further bolstering institutional interest, major firms like Galaxy Digital, Jump Crypto, and Multicoin Capital recently secured $1.65 billion to establish Forward Industries, a publicly traded company dedicated to purchasing and staking SOL, with crypto evangelist Kyle Samani named as its chairman. This move is expected to significantly drive investor demand.
Solana's Fundamental Strength and Market Dynamics
While institutional vehicles provide accessibility, Hougan underscores the critical role of Solana's inherent strengths in attracting investor interest. He describes Solana as a formidable Ethereum competitor, a programmable blockchain designed to host stablecoins, tokenized assets, and decentralized finance (DeFi) applications. The network recently approved a major technical upgrade, solidifying its position as one of the fastest blockchains globally. Solana currently ranks third in stablecoin liquidity and fourth in tokenized assets among programmable blockchains, demonstrating rapid sector growth. Crucially, with a market capitalization around $120.8 billion — significantly smaller than Bitcoin's $2.2 trillion and Ethereum's nearly $530 billion — relatively modest capital inflows into Solana could lead to substantial price impacts, further fueling its potential "epic" run. Solana is currently trading at $222, reflecting a 5.1% increase in the weekly timeframe.
