Solana Secures Major Whale Backing as 2026 Kicks Off

Whales are placing their bets on Solana as the new year begins—signaling a potential shift in high-stakes crypto sentiment.

The Big Money Moves In

While the retail crowd watches from the sidelines, deep-pocketed investors are making decisive moves. These aren't your average traders; we're talking about entities with the capital to move markets and the patience to wait for the payoff. Their renewed interest in Solana suggests a calculated bet on its underlying tech and ecosystem resilience, not just a fleeting price play.

Beyond the Hype Cycle

This isn't about chasing last year's narrative. The support points to a longer-term conviction. Whales typically accumulate when sentiment is nuanced—after the euphoria fades but before the next mainstream frenzy. It's a quiet vote of confidence that often precedes broader market recognition, a classic pattern that leaves the 'buy high, sell low' crowd scratching their heads yet again.

The Infrastructure Play

Solana's appeal for large holders isn't just speculative. Its high throughput and low transaction costs offer a practical framework for serious capital deployment. For whales building positions, network performance is a non-negotiable—clunky tech doesn't cut it when you're moving eight or nine figures. Solana's architecture provides the rails for sophisticated strategies that simpler chains can't support.

The takeaway? When the so-called 'smart money' starts aligning with a blockchain at the start of a new year, it's worth paying attention. Just remember, in crypto, even the whales can sometimes be wrong—they just lose more zeros when they are.

In brief

• Solana opens 2026 at the top of crypto trends, according to data from the Santiment platform.
• Despite a 46 % drop over three months, whales massively accumulate SOL.
• This accumulation concerns several assets linked to the Solana ecosystem, not just the native token.
• Beyond Solana, 2026 looks like a pivotal year for crypto-TradFi convergence.

Whales on the lookout : massive Solana accumulation at the start of the year

At the very beginning of 2026, data published by the Santiment analytics platform show that Solana is the most discussed crypto topic on social media and in specialized circles, despite triggering a record liquidation.

On January 1st, Santiment revealed that many large wallets have made “repeated purchases of 10 Solanas or more” across several assets related to the SOL ecosystem. According to the report, these purchases are not limited to the native token but include several products associated with the ecosystem, although their capitalizations vary.

At the same time, the behavioral confidence score measured by the Santiment heuristic tool is around 70%, indicating a “moderate but steady confidence” among these investors.

Despite a notable 46 % drop in the SOL price over the past three months, data point to resilient market activity, particularly on the whales’ side. Santiment specifies that liquidity remains strong, enabling these large entities to operate in the market without causing major distortions. The key elements reported by the study include :

• Repeated purchases of 10 SOL or more, made by high-capacity wallets ;
• A diversity of Solana assets involved, beyond the native token alone ;
• A behavioral confidence score around 70 %, reflecting a measured but solid conviction ;
• Liquidity maintained despite the significant price decline over the quarter.

These observations suggest that these investors anticipate a market turnaround or wish to strengthen their strategic positions at price levels deemed attractive. In the absence of an immediate catalyst, this accumulation suggests a long-term vision by these dominant actors.

A discreet but significant institutional support

Beyond the specific accumulation on SOL, the trends noted by Santiment at the dawn of this new year point to a global dynamic, at the crossroads of traditional finance and cryptos.

In an end-of-year publication, David Duong, head of research at Coinbase, emphasized that “2025 laid the regulatory foundations for wider crypto adoption”. According to him, 2026 should mark an acceleration, notably driven by the rise of spot ETFs, the widespread use of stablecoins in payment systems, and the tokenization of financial assets. These structural changes are progressively integrating traditional finance flows.

This convergence between crypto and TradFi could indirectly benefit blockchains like Solana, known for their speed and low transaction costs. Moreover, Warren Buffett’s retirement, an iconic figure of Bitcoin skepticism, reignites discussions about generational renewal in investment approaches. Rumors even suggest a more favorable stance towards cryptos from Berkshire Hathaway’s new management, though no official announcement has been made yet.

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