Solana price surge amid Alpenglow Upgrade and PSG1 Console debut

  • Solana surges past $214 amid strong retail and institutional demand.
  • Alpenglow upgrade aims to cut block finality to 150 milliseconds.
  • PSG1 console launch merges gaming, NFTs, and secure crypto storage.

Solana (SOL) has captured the attention of cryptocurrency investors this month, surging past $214 and outperforming major cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH).

On August 28, SOL surged to $214.57, marking a near 6% increase over 24 hours and a 14.3% surge over the past week.

This price surge can be attributed to the growing confidence in Solana’s technical roadmap amid the ongoing voting on the Alpenglow upgrade proposal, coupled with the network’s recent achievement of 107,540 transactions per second during a stress test, demonstrating its capacity for high-throughput applications.

Alpenglow upgrade sparks optimism

At the heart of Solana’s recent momentum is the Alpenglow upgrade, a network overhaul aimed at drastically improving transaction speed and consensus efficiency.

The community has begun voting on the SIMD-0326 proposal, which seeks to replace the current Proof-of-History and TowerBFT mechanisms with a new architecture called Votor.

Votor’s direct-vote protocol is designed to reduce block finality from 12.8 seconds to an impressive 150 milliseconds, while Rotor, a simplified block propagation system, will streamline data dissemination across the network.

Investors and developers alike are closely monitoring the vote, which spans three epochs and requires a two-thirds majority of validators to pass.

Although only 11.3% of validators have cast votes so far, the proposal is being widely viewed as a transformative step for the Solana ecosystem.

voting on the SIMD-0326 proposal

The upgrade promises not only to accelerate transaction confirmation but also to enhance the performance of decentralised applications, making the network more competitive in the high-speed blockchain arena.

Play Solana Gen 1 (PSG1) handheld console

Adding to Solana’s bullish narrative is the upcoming release of the Play Solana Gen 1 (PSG1) handheld console.

Scheduled to begin shipping on October 6, the device represents Solana’s continued push into consumer hardware and Web3 gaming.

The PSG1 combines gaming capabilities with a secure crypto wallet, allowing users to store digital assets via fingerprint authentication while enjoying a touchscreen experience powered by an octa-core ARM processor and 8GB of RAM.

The console also features a limited NFT collection of 2,000 tokens, offering holders early access and exclusive perks.

This marks a logical extension of Solana’s hardware strategy, which began with the Saga smartphone in 2022 and continued with the Seeker device in 2024.

These devices highlighted the demand for blockchain-integrated consumer products, with Seeker alone securing over 150,000 pre-orders and generating an estimated $67.5 million in revenue.

The PSG1 launch not only expands Solana’s physical product portfolio but also reinforces the ecosystem’s focus on blending crypto, NFTs, and gaming, attracting both developers and retail users.

This integration of entertainment and blockchain functionality is expected to drive engagement and position Solana as a pioneer in consumer-facing Web3 products.

Retail and institutional interest surge

Alongside technical upgrades and hardware launches, Solana’s market sentiment has been increasingly bullish.

Retail investors are displaying unprecedented optimism, with bullish-to-bearish sentiment ratios reaching 5.8:1 — the highest in eleven weeks.

Institutional interest has also intensified, with firms such as Pantera, Galaxy Digital, and Jump Crypto taking substantial positions in SOL.

Speculation surrounding a potential Solana ETF approval, anticipated by October, has added further fuel to the market rally.

But despite these positive signals, challenges remain.

Retail participation on Solana-based decentralised exchanges has declined from 4.8 million daily traders earlier this year to just 900,000 in August, influenced by meme coin scams, social media hacks, and the growing dominance of Ethereum’s DeFi ecosystem.

While SOL’s DEX volume share has rebounded to 27%, analysts caution that reliance on meme coin activity may limit long-term growth unless the network diversifies its offerings.

Nevertheless, the combination of network upgrades, innovative hardware releases, institutional backing, and bullish retail sentiment paints a positive outlook for Solana.

With the Alpenglow upgrade and PSG1 console debut on the horizon, the blockchain is positioning itself at the forefront of both high-performance DeFi applications and consumer-facing Web3 products, signalling a period of heightened activity and investor confidence.

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PUMP circulating supply shrinks as Pump.fun’s total buybacks surpass $58M

  • The Launchpad bought PUMP worth $10.6M last week.
  • fun has spent more than $58M to repurchase the native token.
  • The program has reduced the PUMP circulating supply by 4.26%.

The Solana-based meme trading and creation platform is once again in the spotlight, this time with its significant buyback program.

Pump.fun has announced that it used $10,657,503 to buy PUMP between August 20 and 26.

The number made headlines as it represents 99.32% of the total revenue the network yielded in that timeframe.

The move reflects Pump.fun’s dedication to strengthening PUMP’s tokenomics through steady investment.

That’s vital, especially since the platform lost its key investors after massive exits.

Last week’s over $10 million buyback reinforces investor confidence in the team’s long-term vision while injecting new demand into the altcoin.

Pump.fun buybacks top $58 million

The meme generator launched its buyback program in mid-July with plans to reinvest all platform revenue into native PUMP.

Pump.fun has accumulated tokens worth over $58 million since introducing the initiative.

The team said:

To date, Pump.fun has purchased a total of $58,134,191 million PUMP tokens, offsetting 4.261% of the circulating supply.

That’s a substantial milestone that places the project among the top networks known for direct asset purchases.

Meanwhile, the impact of the Pump.fun’s buyback is notable.

The project has trimmed the PUMP circulating supply by 4.261%.

Sustained supply reduction could have bullish effects as it translates to scarcity and increased demand.

What does it mean for holders?

Buybacks often indicate confidence and trust from the project’s team.

For Pump.fun, the strategy has two key impacts.

Firstly, weekly purchases will bolster demand for the native coin.

Also, removing a massive supply will trim supply, which could ensure price stability and growth in the coming times.

Such mechanisms attract experienced investors since they position the alt as an asset with stable demand, not hype.

Sentiment and market response

Cryptocurrency enthusiasts are always quick to discover massive buybacks, and it was the same for Pump.fun.

While the latest $58 million milestone confirms the launchpad’s strength, the comment sector appeared dissatisfied.

Most people focused on the upcoming airdrop, which the PUMP team confirmed will not happen soon.

Also, skeptics caution that the platform might not sustain such buybacks as they rely on consistent revenue generation.

Pump.fun should ensure continued growth for steady fund flows for the repurchase strategy.

Meanwhile, one X user remained optimistic, stating:

Consistent offsets like this tighten supply and make every new demand spike more impactful.

PUMP price outlook

The native token has failed to recover from its initial sell-off.

PUMP changes hands at $0.01557 after losing 28% and 40% in the past month and week.

Technical indicators demonstrate PUMP’s near-term weakness, exacerbated by the ongoing broader market bloodbath.

The meme cryptocurrency hovers well below the 50 and 100-EMAs on the 3H timeframe.

Also, the MACD signals dominant selling pressure with a bold crossover and red histograms.

The RSI at 10 confirmed faded momentum, but the oversold signals hint at possible reversals.

The team should elevate the project’s appeal among investors and traders to enhance sentiment.

While buybacks are bullish, steady demand from the community is essential for a full impact.

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Traders eye $117k as BTC holds above $110k; Check forecast

Key takeaways

  • Bitcoin climbed above $112k briefly on Wednesday after adding over 1% to its value.
  • Traders are optimistic that BTC will reclaim the $117k resistance level soon.

BTC tops $111k as market sentiments improve

The cryptocurrency market had a rough start to the week, with BTC dropping below the $110k level on Monday. However, the sentiments have improved, with Bitcoin briefly climbing above $112k on Wednesday.

At press time, BTC is trading at $111,907 and could rally higher soon amid positive sentiment in the market. August saw BTC set a new all-time high, but it has struggled since then. Analysts are now looking ahead to September and what the month will offer for the leading cryptocurrency.

In an email with Coinjournal, Ruslan Lienkha, chief of markets, YouHodler, stated that the key macro catalysts for crypto heading into September remain U.S. inflation, interest rate policy, and labor market data. The interaction of these factors will largely shape overall risk sentiment and, in turn, the trajectory of both traditional and crypto markets.

While discussing how these events will affect the market, Lienkha stated that,

The recent sell-off reflects a combination of macro conditions and long-term positioning by large holders. We are entering the later stages of the current medium-term bullish cycle, which naturally encourages early investors, particularly those who have held Bitcoin for 10 years or more, to realize significant profits. By contrast, more recent whale entrants are likely to adopt a longer-term horizon, prepared to hold through one or even several future cycles. Overall, while whale activity has contributed, the dominant driver remains macro factors such as yields and shifting expectations around Federal Reserve policy.

BTC eyes $117k despite market volatility

The BTC/USD 4-hour chart is bearish and efficient, thanks to Bitcoin’s underperformance in recent days. However, the market could turn around soon as the momentum indicators improve.

The RSI of 49 shows that BTC is no longer experiencing heavy selling pressure, with the MACD lines set to confirm a switch to a bullish bias. If the recovery continues, BTC could climb above the 4H TLQ at $113,850 before rallying higher to reclaim the $117k resistance.

BTC/USD 4H Chart

However, the momentum remains bearish, and BTC could face further selling pressure. If that happens, BTC could drop below $110k again and retest the $107k support level.

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Aave’s new Horizon allows institutions to borrow stablecoins using real-world assets

  • The platform facilitates stablecoin loans backed by institutional funds and tokenized Treasurys.
  • Horizon bridges TradFi and DeFi with 24/7 institutional-level borrowing.
  • AAVE gained 12% the previous week.

Aave Labs has launched an advanced platform that enables institutions to borrow stablecoins using real-world assets (RWAs) like collateralized loan debts and US Treasury.

The Horizon borrowing tool marks a key step toward integrating decentralized finance (DeFi) and traditional finance (TradFi).

Meanwhile, it reflects Aave’s thriving lending market with institutional-grade products that combine DeFi’s efficiency and transparency with the compliance that top financial players seek.

Commenting on the development, Aave founder Stani Kulechov said:

Horizon is built for the growth of tokenized real-world collateral, enabling lending and borrowing at an institutional scale. Horizon delivers the infrastructure and deep liquidity that institutions require to operate on-chain, unlocking 24/7 access, transparency, and more efficient markets.

Businesses and large-scale investors can use Horizon to borrow stablecoins like Ripple’s RLUSD, Aave’s GHO, and USDC using real-world assets like real estate and tokenized US Treasurys as collateral.

How Horizon works

The new platform leverages Aave V3’s permissioned version.

Aave Labs launched the upgraded Aave version three network to serve as its leading lending protocol.

Meanwhile, Horizon enables institutions to interact with the blockchain industry without regulatory obstacles.

All borrowers need to do is deposit tokenized securities, including funds, as collateral and borrow USDC, GHO, and RLUSD.

Notably, stablecoin issuers will handle compliance, determining qualified participants and which assets they can interact with.

Furthermore, Horizon ensures a permissionless stablecoin market, allowing the DeFi landscape to remain composable and connected 24/7.

The timing matters

Horizon’s launch comes as tokenized RWA gains traction as the next phase of blockchain innovation.

Leading businesses, government bonds, and private equity are navigating tokenization to make illiquid assets tradable and more accessible.

Aave will gain increased utility and liquidity as individuals use traditional assets to secure stablecoin loans.

Furthermore, they can free up funds without offloading their long-term holdings, while enjoying blockchain’s 24/7 settlement perks.

Also, Aave DAO can generate additional revenue through Horizon’s undertakings.

Such moves cement Aave’s position as a top player in DeFi lending.

Stablecoins have seen increased traction since the US regulated the sector, and Aave looks ready to pioneer the closely-watched financial revolution.

AAVE price outlook

The alt trades at $327 after gaining more than 12% within the past week.

AAVE has dipped from the August 23 peak of $376 amidst the broader market decline.

Its short-term structure reflects bear dominance, with a 1% price decline in the past 24 hours.

AAVE’s 24-hour trading volume is down 25%.

That reflects faded trader enthusiasm in the digital token.

The 3H MACD highlights dwindling momentum with red histograms.

Also, the Relative Strength Index signals seller control.

Broad market downturn contributes to AAVE’s short-term bearishness.

Crypto analyst and trader Alex Clay highlights a monthly pattern that can propel the altcoin to $1,000 if confirmed.

That would mean an approximately 200% gain from AAVE’s current market price.

However, continued ecosystem development and broader market bull run remain essential for such a rally.

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