Solana has emerged as a standout performer in the altcoin market with a surge in weekly inflows at $24 million, making it the "altcoin of choice", according to a recent CoinShares report. Meanwhile, venture capital funding in the sector is down, a decline that could be challenging for the broader crypto market.
Solana saw capital inflows of almost $24 million in the week ending October 6, a level not seen since March 2022, CoinShares noted in a report published Monday.
Based on the report, the altcoin came only behind Bitcoin, which attracted most of the digital asset inflows, totaling $43 million in the past week. Investment in the overall digital assets space increased by $78 million in the week to October 6, the largest amount since July, while trading volumes for exchange-traded products rose 37%, the data showed.
Solana's Year-to-Date (YTD) inflows stand at an impressive $55 million, solidifying its position, second only to Bitcoin.
Solana boasts an Assets Under Management (AUM) of $118 million at a time when VC funding is dwindling. A PitchBook report cited by Bloomberg noted a 63% decline in year-on-year venture funding for crypto startups.
Investors’ interest in Solana seems to be holding up at the time of a fall in VC funding, which could continue to cut the institutional cash when the sectoral funding is almost at its lowest point since 2020.
While Solana's inflows paint a positive picture, the broader altcoin market is grappling with challenges. This comes amid an escalating Hamas-Israel conflict, which brings further uncertainty to the market.
Solana price is around the $22 mark on Tuesday, with a 24-hour trading volume of $350.4 million, based on CoinGecko figures. Solana has experienced a stagnant price in the last 24 hours and an 8% decrease over the past week.
In the decentralized finance (DeFi) front, Solana boasts a Total Value Locked (TVL) of $312.42 million, reflecting a minor 0.87% decline in the last 24 hours, as per defiLlama. Solana hosts 110 protocols and serves 84,923 active users, commanding 0.84% of the cumulative TVL.
Solana's surge in inflows makes it a compelling contender in the altcoin market. However, investors should approach the broader altcoin market with caution amid the current downtrend.