Grayscale Research expects Solana's upcoming Alpenglow upgrade to reduce transaction finality from roughly 13 seconds to 150 milliseconds, according to a new report from the asset manager's research team. The analysis, published by Grayscale Head of Research Zach Pandl, highlights Solana's throughput lead over competing networks even as the SOL token trades under continued selling pressure.

SOL changed hands at $104.96 on October 17, 2026, down from its late-September peak above $124, with technical indicators suggesting selling pressure may be easing.

Alpenglow Upgrade Targets Faster Finality

In his report, "The Solana Blockchain: A Class Apart in Speed and Scale", Pandl compared Solana's transaction throughput with other blockchain networks. Solana averaged more than 1,400 transactions per second year-to-date, far exceeding competing chains: BNB Chain processed fewer than 200 transactions per second, while other networks averaged approximately 40, according to Grayscale.

Solana's average transaction cost stood at $0.005 this year, and transactions currently reach finality — the point at which a transaction becomes irreversible — in roughly 13 seconds. The forthcoming Alpenglow upgrade is expected to cut that finality time to 150 milliseconds, a reduction of nearly two orders of magnitude that the report presents as a key differentiator for the network. With the upgrade still forthcoming, the distance between the current 13-second finality and the 150-millisecond target stands as the main network-side benchmark to watch.

Additionally, Solana processed approximately 25% of all stablecoin transactions over the previous three months, more than any other blockchain — a segment of activity often used as a gauge of practical, day-to-day on-chain usage.

SOL Price Faces Resistance Below $112

Despite the network performance figures, SOL's four-hour OKX chart shows a decline from its late-September peak above $124 — a pullback that contrasts with the throughput and stablecoin-usage figures documented in Grayscale's report. The token climbed from approximately $96 in mid-September before selling intensified during October.

Sellers pushed SOL below $120, $116, and $112 before it reached $104.96 on October 17. The latest reading showed a $0.02 decline, or 0.02%, with trading volume at 23,020 SOL.

Immediate support sits around 102–104, while $100 represents another downside level. A break below $100 could expose the previous area near $96. On the upside, resistance stands at 108–112, followed by $116 if buyers regain momentum.

Technical Indicators Show a Tentative Recovery

SOL's Relative Strength Index stands at 45.72, above its moving average of 42.40. However, the RSI remains below the 50 mark, indicating that bullish momentum has yet to take control.

The MACD line reads -0.94, above the signal line at -1.16, while its histogram is positive at 0.22. This crossover suggests downward momentum may be easing, although both lines remain negative. Recent volume spikes reflect increased trading activity during the sell-off and subsequent rebound.

SOL needs to reclaim the 108–112 zone to strengthen its recovery, while holding the 102–104 band could set the stage for consolidation.