July 30, 2025
5 min read
Alex Carchidi
Explore why Solana’s tokenization boom and Ethereum’s tech upgrades make them top contenders to double in value soon.
Which Cryptocurrency Will Double Faster? Solana vs. Ethereum
By Alex Carchidi – July 30, 2025 Solana (SOL) and Ethereum (ETH) are two of the biggest and most important cryptocurrencies, each supported by passionate communities of investors, users, and developers. Both have strong momentum and could plausibly double faster than the other in the next 12 months. So, which is the better bet?Solana’s Tokenization Boom
In the past, trading shares of companies like Apple or Tesla on a blockchain instead of traditional stock markets was not possible. Today, Solana supports live orders for tokenized stocks, and this segment is exploding on its network. The value of stock tokens minted on Solana tripled in just two weeks, surpassing $96 million in mid-July. More broadly, tokenized real-world assets (RWAs) on Solana have grown to roughly $529 million, outpacing the sector’s overall growth. Why does this matter? Tokenization attracts capital that was never native to crypto—capital previously held in broker-dealer inventories or private credit funds and asset managers. Once assets are on-chain, that capital tends to stay because it can earn yield through staking, trade 24/7, and settle instantly. These features are difficult to replicate elsewhere, except by a few competitors that Solana now appears to be outperforming. Solana’s network fees have consistently ranked among the top five of all chains this year, averaging over $1 million per day even after fee reforms in June. In the 30 days ending July 25, Solana generated $39.3 million in network fees, showing that real users value the network enough to pay for block space. Together, the rapid inflow of RWAs and strong fee generation give Solana a credible path toward a second doubling in value. The platform is also planning technology upgrades over the next year to compete even more effectively. The main risk is that Solana’s low-fee model depends on relentless throughput; any major outage or regulatory freeze on tokenized securities could abruptly halt growth.Ethereum’s Tech Upgrade Spurs Growth
Ethereum’s critics have long joked that it is perpetually six months away from shipping an upgrade that fixes its high gas fees and other issues. However, the latest upgrade, Pectra, has changed the narrative. With Pectra, validators can now earn higher staking yields, incentivizing them to keep capital on-chain. Other improvements integrate smart contract functionality into wallets, enabling more complex workflows and potentially unlocking valuable new decentralized finance (DeFi) applications. Ethereum has already more than doubled in the past three months, rising from about $1,600 in late April to roughly $3,700 today. This rally recaptured ground lost during 2024 but still leaves Ethereum at less than half its inflation-adjusted peak from 2021, suggesting further upside if network activity accelerates. Pectra also improves Ethereum’s institutional appeal. Large custodians can stake significant amounts without managing thousands of validator keys, and higher effective balances earn better rewards. Assuming staking yields hold near 3%, large pools of idle Ethereum coins are likely to chase this passive income, shrinking the tradable float. Ethereum’s growing integration with traditional finance through exchange-traded funds (ETFs) means it will attract consistent buying from holders of large capital sums who prefer staking over selling. In summary, Ethereum is surging due to real technological progress that has helped it shake off negative sentiment, coinciding with significant capital inflows seeking yield.Which Coin Is the Better Bet?
Both Solana and Ethereum have bullish futures in the short and long term. However, Ethereum currently looks more likely to impress investors. Solana, despite its strengths and technical advantages, was never as disliked as Ethereum was recently. This means Ethereum investors have more potential value to gain from a price rebound to its mean. Additionally, while Solana is experiencing a boom in stock tokenization inflows, Ethereum’s ETF inflows are currently many times larger, making Ethereum the more probable candidate to double first.About the Author
Alex Carchidi is a contributing Healthcare and Cryptocurrency Analyst at The Motley Fool, covering biotech, pharma, cannabis, and digital asset industries. He holds degrees in Biology, Philosophy, and an MBA in Finance. Outside of work, Alex enjoys traveling in Latin America and exploring Boston’s food scene.This article originally appeared on The Motley Fool on July 30, 2025.