As investor adoption of crypto, retail and institutional, continues to grow exponentially, discussions are typically centered around bitcoin and ethereum. The former is lauded for its store of value while the latter carries more functional utility when taking into account its role in the blockchain network. One name that might not be as familiar to more casual crypto investors is solana. More investors may start hearing about solana vying for ethereum’s top spot on the blockchain networks list.
Ethereum has benefited as bitcoin continues to reach record levels this year. Bitcoin has risen in tandem with its physical rival, gold, in the current market environment, where the dollar continues to exhibit weakness in a rate-cutting environment. However, ethereum has made a run of its own, reaching a new high in August 2025 — something it hasn’t done in almost four years.
As previously mentioned, the investment case for ethereum differs with that of bitcoin. Ether is the native coin of the ethereum blockchain network, which comprises the underlying technology used to develop decentralized applications and digital assets like cryptocurrencies. Investors can think of it as betting on the growth of the crypto infrastructure itself as opposed to an individual coin. As such, ether represents a share of the ethereum network just like one share of stock represents ownership in an entire company.
From a pure price standpoint, the disparity between bitcoin (over $100,000) and ethereum (over $4,000) is an unfair comparison. However, in terms of pure percentage gains, the two are almost neck and neck in year-do-date performance. Investors looking to capture the upside in ethereum can invest in the ether coin itself, or a fund like the Invesco Galaxy Ethereum ETF (QETH).
Here Comes Solana
Hot on the heels of ethereum is solana — another burgeoning blockchain network. While Solana doesn’t have the mass adoption of ethereum, it certainly has the potential to reach mass scale. Kathy Kriskey, Invesco’s product strategist of commodities and alternatives, made a keen comparison of solana and a “bullet train.” The ethereum network is a highly congested freeway commonly used to get from point A to B. Solana, though, like a high-speed train, has the potential to do it quicker and cheaper as its network technology evolves.
