Solana vs Polkadot

General

Description

Solana Logo
Solana
 (SOL)

Solana is a highly scalable computing platform for executing smart contracts. Thanks to technical innovations like the combination of Proof of Stake and Proof of History, it can handle up to 65,000 transactions per second with extremely low network fees. This has positioned Solana as one of the strongest competitors to Ethereum.

Solana overview
Polkadot Logo
Polkadot
 (DOT)

Polkadot is an interoperable blockchain network where developers can create their own blockchains (parachains) and leverage the shared security of the Relay Chain. The system enables native communication between different chains and offers flexible blockspace rental for projects of all sizes with Polkadot 2.0.

Polkadot overview

Purpose and goals

Solana Logo
Solana
 (SOL)
  • Smart contract platform
  • High scalability
  • Low fees
Polkadot Logo
Polkadot
 (DOT)
  • Network of blockchains
  • Interoperability
  • Shared security
  • Scalability

Price and market data

Price chart

Solana
 (SOL)

$183.27

+4.87%
Polkadot
 (DOT)

$3.92

+1.50%
Market data
SolanaPolkadot
Market cap
$98.99B
$5.97B
Market share
2.47%
0.15%
Current price

$183.27

-$7.65-4.18%

$3.92

-$0.13-3.35%
SOL converterDOT converter
All-time high
$293.31
Jan 19, 2025-37.60%
$54.98
Nov 04, 2021-92.88%
Crypto all-time highs
Cycle low
$96.09
+90.77%Apr 07, 2025
$3.04
+29.00%Jun 22, 2025
Prediction for 2025
Powered by AI
$484.85
+164.90%
$12.12
+209.22%
SOL predictionDOT prediction
Momentum
Neutral
NegativePositive
Neutral
Neutral
NegativePositive
Neutral
Relative Strength Index
Neutral
BuySell
Neutral (58.38)
Neutral
BuySell
Neutral (53.18)
Price trend
Positive
(16/30 days)
Positive
(16/30 days)
Price performance
+26.76%
-10.71%
Price performance
-23.26%
-35.99%
Price performance
+3.58%
-10.12%
Price performance
+4.87%
+1.50%
Price performance
-4.18%
-3.35%
Price performance
-0.59%
-0.40%
Annual return
-4.16%
-41.55%
Annual return
+87.27%
-19.92%
Annual return
+930.92%
+93.67%
SOL returnsDOT returns
Total return
+19,011.52%
2020 – 2025
+33.25%
2020 – 2025
Average annual return
+2,022.51%
+61.09%
Transaction volume
$6.35B
24h
$370.94M
24h
Max supply
Circulating supply
540.07M
1.52B
Inflation
20.18%
Year
62.88%
Year
Crypto inflation

On-chain data

Market data
SolanaPolkadot
Total Value Locked (TVL)
$10.49B
What is Total Value Locked?
Market cap/TVL (ratio)
9.44
Transactions (avg./day)
Active addresses (24h)

Our rating

Our rating
SolanaPolkadot
Our overall rating
Solana
Polkadot
How we evaluate cryptocurrencies

Our individual ratings

Risk
Solana: 7 of 10
Risk (Solana)
Polkadot: 4 of 10
Risk (Polkadot)
Solana Logo
Polkadot Logo
riskyless risky
Community
Solana: 8 of 10
Community (Solana)
Polkadot: 6 of 10
Community (Polkadot)
Solana Logo
Polkadot Logo
smalllarge
Hype & momentum
Solana: 7 of 10
Hype & momentum (Solana)
Polkadot: 5 of 10
Hype & momentum (Polkadot)
Solana Logo
Polkadot Logo
weakstrong
Active usage
Solana: 7 of 10
Active usage (Solana)
Polkadot: 5 of 10
Active usage (Polkadot)
Solana Logo
Polkadot Logo
lowhigh
Network effect
Solana: 6 of 10
Network effect (Solana)
Polkadot: 3 of 10
Network effect (Polkadot)
Solana Logo
Polkadot Logo
weakstrong
Decentralization
Solana: 5 of 10
Decentralization (Solana)
Polkadot: 5 of 10
Decentralization (Polkadot)
Solana Logo
Polkadot Logo
centralizeddecentralized

Our opinion

Solana Logo
Solana
 (SOL)
Solana has established itself as a significant Ethereum alternative with a strong developer community and successful projects across DeFi, NFTs, and gaming. However, its high scalability and low fees come with trade-offs: critics point to centralization tendencies and past network outages. Following the turbulence from the FTX collapse in 2022, the ecosystem has recovered remarkably well. Network stability has improved significantly - 2024 saw only one major outage. With the upcoming launch of Firedancer and continued growth in DeFi and memecoins, Solana demonstrates it can establish itself as lasting blockchain infrastructure. We view Solana as an exciting but not yet fully mature project with tremendous potential.
Solana overview
Polkadot Logo
Polkadot
 (DOT)
Polkadot takes a technically innovative approach to solving blockchain scalability problems. Instead of running all applications on a single main chain, specialized projects can be deployed on parachains that still benefit from the Relay Chain's security. This enables high-performance applications without compromising on security and stability. With the successful implementation of Polkadot 2.0 and Elastic Scaling in 2025, plus community approval of the JAM protocol, the project demonstrates concrete progress. Over 60 active parachains and the new Agile Coretime system make Polkadot more accessible to developers. However, Polkadot faces stiff competition from Ethereum Layer-2s and other multi-chain solutions. Long-term success hinges on whether the technically elegant design can attract more developers and projects. These recent upgrades leave us cautiously optimistic about Polkadot's future.
Polkadot overview

Details

Info
SolanaPolkadot
Founder
Anatoly Yakovenko, Raj Gokal
Gavin Wood, Robert Habermeier, Peter Czaban
Developer
Solana Labs, Solana Foundation
Parity Technologies, Chainsafe Systems, Soramitsu
Published
2017
2017
Open source
Yes
Yes
Sector
Smart Contracts
Smart Contracts
Key feature
Performance
Interoperability
Blockchain
Solana Blockchain
Polkadot Blockchain
Staking
Yes
Yes
Consensus mechanism
Proof of History, Proof of Stake
Nominated Proof of Stake
Energy consumption
Low
Low
Transactions per second
65,000 TPS
1,000 TPS
Institutional investors
  • a16z Crypto
  • Slow Ventures
  • Multicoin Capital
  • Delphi Digital
  • BlockTower Capital
  • Jump Capital
  • etc.
  • 1Confirmation
  • Boost VC
  • Digital Currency Group
  • Blockchain Capital
  • Coin Fund
  • Arrington XRP Capital
  • etc.
Community
3.39M followers
1.58M followers
Website
solana.com
polkadot.network
Whitepaper
Whitepaper
Whitepaper
Solana vs Polkadot

Solana or Polkadot

Market data comparison of SOL versus DOT

The current price of Solana is $183.27 and has decreased by in the last 24 hours. Polkadot is currently trading at $3.92, with a drop of over the same period. Solana has a market cap of $98.99B and ranks 6th. Polkadot follows with a market cap of $5.97B, ranking 33rd — meaning it is valued lower.

We automatically update all market data every 15 minutes, so you always have the latest figures for your comparison.

Should I buy Solana or Polkadot?

You should be aware that investing in cryptocurrencies carries risks, and we are neither allowed nor intending to provide investment advice. Still, we'd like to offer some food for thought: consider the opportunities and risks associated with both Solana and Polkadot. What target markets and problems are these two projects aiming to address?

If you're still unsure whether to invest in Solana or Polkadot, you can take a look at some additional market data to help with your decision:

Currently, Solana is about below it's all-time high of $293.31 reached on Jan 19, 2025.
In comparison, Polkadot is down approximately from it's all-time high of $54.98 on Nov 04, 2021.
Solana currently has a 1,610.93% higher 24h transaction volume of $6.35B compared to Polkadot with $370.94M.
Over the past year, Solana achieved a total return of , while Polkadot returned . Keep in mind, however, that past performance rarely guarantees future results.

Additional criteria for comparing cryptocurrencies:

  • What problem does the project aim to solve, and is a decentralized network meaningful and necessary for it?
  • How actively is the network being used?
  • Does the project have a large and active community?
  • How strong is the development activity? (e.g., on GitHub)
  • How decentralized is the underlying blockchain and the project itself?

How we evaluate cryptocurrencies

These are just a few indicators you can use to better evaluate and compare cryptocurrencies like Solana and Polkadot. Cryptocurrencies and their underlying technologies are often difficult to compare — even for professionals. So don’t stress yourself out, and never let emotions or fear of missing out drive your investment decisions.

Where can I buy Solana or Polkadot?

Today, there are many reputable and secure exchanges that make it easy to invest in Solana and Polkadot. We're happy to help you choose the right one: simply use our exchange comparison tool to find the platform that best suits your needs. Both Solana and Polkadot are well-known and in high demand, which means they're available on most major exchanges.

Crypto exchanges comparison

Which crypto wallet is best for Solana and Polkadot?

If you want to store cryptocurrencies like Solana or Polkadot yourself, choosing the right wallet is essential. Consider your personal preferences when deciding: Is ease of use important to you? Do you prefer maximum security with a hardware wallet (USB device), or is a software wallet sufficient for your needs? Our crypto wallet comparison helps you find the best wallet for Solana, Polkadot, and many other cryptocurrencies.

Crypto wallets comparison

How does our comparison work?

Data & Interfaces

Our market data is automatically updated every 15 minutes. This means you can always use the latest data for your comparisons. We obtain the data through web interfaces (API) from CoinGecko, Santiment, DefiLlama, CoinCodex and many more

Research & Deepdive

We regularly sift through a jungle of technical whitepapers, websites, social media and forums for you. In doing so, we filter out essential and relevant information in order to present it to you clearly and comprehensibly in our comparison

Analysis & Valuation

We research and use analysis tools for blockchains and their networks, to form a fact-based foundation for our valuation. Please note that this is not an investment recommendation, but merely our personal opinion.

Community & Feedback

We check our information every 1-2 months to ensure it is up to date and correct. With the help of our community, we can find outdated or incorrect data even faster. Of course, we also welcome your feedback or suggestions for improvement!

Our data on cryptocurrencies was last updated on 2025-08-19T00:20:57.930898+00:00. Sources: CoinGecko, santiment.net, defillama.com, coincodex.com.

The content on this website is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, legal, or tax advice. It should not be interpreted as a guarantee of future price developments or as an invitation to act. All visitors are responsible for independently verifying any information before using a listed service. Trading cryptocurrencies involves significant risk and may result in the total loss of your invested capital. Past performance is not indicative of future results. We do not assume any liability for the timeliness, accuracy, or completeness of the information provided, including third-party content. Some of the links on this website are affiliate links. If you purchase a product or service through one of these links, we may receive a commission — at no additional cost to you. All actions are taken at your own risk.