Solana, co-founded by Anatoly Yakovenko, is the second-leading cryptocurrency protocol that’s shaking up 2023. It has an impressive estimated annual revenue of $2.85 billion. While the cryptocurrency world is definitely not what it was a few years ago, Solana has proven itself through the chaos of most digital currencies. This past Connect event was held in San Francisco from October 27-29, 2025. It highlighted the protocol’s accomplishments thus far and the growing embrace of cryptocurrency within established finance.
Yakovenko added that while Solana’s success has been impressive, it’s still very much linked to the overall trend of institutional investors warming up to cryptocurrencies. He stated, “If you are a back-office finance person, you actually get crypto much much faster.” This comment highlights the protocol’s attraction to finance all-stars who are just starting to figure out what digital assets have to offer.
In addition, Solana has increased its fees by hosting a widely variety of alternative coins the largest include one called “Trumpcoin.” Moreover, it recently issued its first exchange-traded fund (ETF), widely seen as a sign of maturation for the protocol. Yakovenko appreciates the strides toward decentralization, but doesn’t like that he has so little control over the coins living on Solana. This limitation calls attention to the protocol’s inherently open nature.
Solana is not without its challenges. The protocol has come under fire for facilitating public bribery. This backlash reached a peak following reports that a then-unknown crypto mogul had supposedly showered about $350 million on a popular pres. This president is well known for his high-profile pardons. Prominent individuals such as Tron founder Justin Sun and Binance founder Changpeng Zhao got these surprising clemencies.
Yakovenko expanded on AI’s potential to improve productivity across the tech sector’s economy. He remarked, “AI has been a great force multiplier for somebody who’s an expert,” highlighting how AI tools have allowed him to focus on critical tasks while relying on technology for routine operations. He added, “Now I can just watch Claude churning through its thing and I can almost smell when it’s going off the rails.”
Having recently weathered the worst of the market with flying colours, Solana is undoubtedly becoming an important contender in the sprawling cryptocurrency space. Its open protocol encourages creativity and flexibility. This focus is sure to propel its ongoing success in the fast-changing world of finance technology.