Solana (SOL) Poised for Major Breakout: Whale Activity and ETF Buzz Fuel Bullish Momentum

Solana (SOL) is showing strong signs of a potential price surge, driven by significant whale accumulation and growing ETF hype. Recent on-chain data revealed a massive transaction of 1 million SOL tokens worth $155 million, which immediately boosted SOL's price by 3.81% to $155.57. This move also triggered a 27.86% spike in trading volume, reaching $4.11 billion, indicating heightened market interest. Derivatives markets mirrored this activity, with a 17% increase in volume to $14.7 billion, while funding rates remained positive, suggesting sustained bullish sentiment. As of July 2025, Solana's ecosystem continues to attract attention, with its scalability and low transaction costs positioning it as a top contender in the blockchain space. The combination of institutional interest (via potential ETF developments) and large-scale accumulation by whales could propel SOL to new highs in the NEAR term.

Solana (SOL) Price Primed for Takeoff: ETF Hype Meets Massive Whale Accumulation

Solana's market dynamics shifted dramatically following a single whale transaction moving 1 million SOL tokens worth $155 million. The transfer, captured by Whale Alert, propelled SOL's price 3.81% higher to $155.57 while triggering a 27.86% surge in trading volume to $4.11 billion.

Derivatives markets echoed the spot activity with a 17% volume jump to $14.7 billion. Funding rates remained positive as longs dominated liquidations—shorts absorbed $8.3 million in losses versus just $2.44 million for long positions. This bear squeeze coincides with the debut of the first U.S. solana staking ETF, which saw $33 million in day-one volume.

The whale movement represents one of 2025's largest SOL transactions to date, though the identities behind the wallets remain obscured. Historical patterns suggest such transfers often precede significant price movements in Solana's markets.

Japan's Minna Bank Partners with Solana and Fireblocks for Stablecoin Research

Minna Bank, a digital subsidiary of Fukuoka Financial Group, is collaborating with Solana, Fireblocks, and TIS to explore stablecoin applications in Japan's consumer finance sector. The study will focus on payments, on-chain banking infrastructure, and mobile-first user experiences.

Solana's SOL token dipped 3.36% to $150.81 amid broader market pressures, despite this institutional validation. The blockchain's selection underscores its growing role in real-world financial solutions as stablecoins surpass $250 billion in market capitalization.

Minna Bank's young demographic—primarily ages 15-39—positions it as an ideal testbed for Web3 financial solutions. Fireblocks CEO Michael Shaulov noted the initiative could streamline value transfer in the digital economy.

Smart Money Shifts to Pre-TGE Tokens Amid Crypto Market Fear

The cryptocurrency market is currently dominated by fear, with the Fear & Greed Index lingering below 30, signaling 'Extreme Fear.' In such conditions, savvy investors are pivoting toward pre-TGE tokens as a strategic hedge against volatility. These high-upside, low-risk bets offer asymmetric rewards—where a modest $50 investment can potentially yield exponential returns if the token gains traction post-listing.

Historical patterns reveal this trend. Jupiter, a Solana-based DEX, exemplifies the opportunity: its pre-market price of $0.02–0.03 surged to $0.70 within a month of launch, delivering 20x returns to early backers. Recent data underscores a broader shift, with DEX/CEX volume ratios hitting 27.92% as capital flows into pre-TGE OTC markets.

Unich has emerged as a focal point for this smart money movement, addressing past inefficiencies in OTC trading. The platform's rise reflects a growing institutional preference for early-stage opportunities over saturated altcoins.

Minna Bank Collaborates with Solana Japan to Pioneer Blockchain-Based Payments

Japan's Minna Bank has forged a strategic alliance with Fireblocks, Solana Japan, and TIS to develop daily payment solutions leveraging blockchain technology. The initiative, announced July 4, 2025, will explore stablecoin transactions and Web3 wallet integration, targeting both retail and institutional users.

Fireblocks' custody infrastructure will enable instant stablecoin swaps for domestic transactions, while Solana's high-throughput blockchain provides the settlement layer. Industry experts highlight the potential for 24/7 payment rails to undercut traditional card networks' fees and cross-border costs.

The partnership extends beyond transactional efficiency, aiming to redefine digital banking through Web3 wallet integration. Michael Shaulov of Fireblocks notes stablecoins represent a paradigm shift in value transfer, combining the speed of crypto with the stability of fiat pegs.