Solana (SOL) faced renewed selling pressure ahead of its scheduled Alpenglow upgrade on October 21, with the token declining 1.44% over 24 hours to $103.96. Traders are watching whether the network upgrade can support a recovery or whether further weakness could push SOL toward $90.
The broader crypto market also moved lower, shedding 1.77% to reach a total valuation of approximately $2.72 trillion. A wave of long-position liquidations and broad-based selling contributed to the downturn.
Bitcoin traded near $81,400, while Ethereum changed hands around $2,380. XRP also remained under pressure, trading below $1.30 as investors navigated the latest market correction.
Solana’s Alpenglow Upgrade Targets Near-Instant Transaction Finality
Solana is scheduled to introduce its Alpenglow consensus upgrade on October 21, with the protocol designed to reduce transaction finality to approximately 150 milliseconds. According to Anza, faster slot production brought epoch 1064 closer than previously anticipated, advancing the projected activation timeline.
TOMORROW: Solana’s biggest upgrade ever, Alpenglow, goes live on mainnet Wednesday. ⚡️
Finality drops from ~12.8 seconds to ~150 milliseconds.$SOL is about to get a lot faster.
📸 DeFi Dev Corp. https://t.co/l4NwtPP1Tu pic.twitter.com/ieEVDPDwWq
— CryptosRus (@CryptosR_Us) October 20, 2026
Alpenglow is expected to replace Solana’s existing TowerBFT consensus mechanism with a redesigned process for validator agreement. The change focuses on consensus and finality rather than modifying how transactions execute or how existing programs operate.
However, the transition may involve temporary operational disruptions. Quicknode cautioned that block production could briefly pause during the switchover, while certain data feeds might experience temporary connectivity issues.
Validators also need to run compatible software and ensure their vote accounts hold sufficient funds to cover the required admission fee. The stated fee is equivalent to 0.8 SOL per epoch. Validators without the necessary balance may be unable to participate in the subsequent epoch.
Another consideration is the difference between validator-level finality and what RPC infrastructure can report. RPC nodes may take longer to reflect finalized transactions than validators participating directly in consensus.
Although the upgrade targets approximately 150 milliseconds for finality, actual performance will depend on network conditions and how the new system operates after activation.
Solana Blockchain Applications Generate $163.52 Million in Monthly Revenue
Solana has also maintained a strong position in blockchain application revenue. Over the reported 30-day period, applications on the network generated $163.52 million, compared with $75.44 million on Hyperliquid and $55.15 million on Ethereum.
INSIGHT: @Solana remains the #1 chain by app revenue across daily, weekly, and monthly timeframes. pic.twitter.com/48Wn5wlQh1
— SolanaFloor (@SolanaFloor) October 19, 2026
The shorter-term figures were similarly notable. Solana applications generated approximately $4.87 million in daily revenue and $31.23 million over seven days, placing the network ahead of the other platforms across all three reported periods.
Network-level revenue figures provided a separate indication of Solana’s recent activity. Blockworks data showed that the blockchain generated $6.54 million between October 12 and October 18, extending its lead over other layer-1 and layer-2 networks to five consecutive weeks.
BNB Chain recorded $3.23 million during the same period, while Ethereum generated $2.87 million.
These figures highlight Solana’s revenue momentum, although application revenue and total network revenue measure different activities and should not be treated as interchangeable indicators.
SOL Price Analysis: $105 Is the First Hurdle Before $110
SOL was trading around $104.01 in the latest four-hour chart snapshot, with the current candle showing a decline of 0.38%. Recent price action has largely remained within the $100–$105 range, indicating that selling pressure may be easing without yet establishing a convincing bullish reversal.
Momentum indicators offer a mixed picture.
The relative strength index (RSI) stood at 47.24, below the neutral 50 threshold. This suggests that buying momentum remains limited, although the reading is not in deeply oversold territory.
Meanwhile, the moving average convergence divergence (MACD) line was at -0.23, above its signal line at -0.41. The histogram was positive at 0.19, indicating improving short-term momentum despite both lines remaining below zero.
For bulls, the immediate challenge is to push SOL above $105 and sustain the move. A successful breakout could open the way toward $110, where stronger buying interest would be needed to maintain the recovery.
If SOL establishes a sustained position above $110, the $120 region could become a subsequent upside reference. However, reaching that level would likely require broader market stabilization and continued buying pressure.
Could Solana Drop to $90 Instead?
The bearish scenario remains relevant if buyers cannot overcome resistance near $105.
A rejection at that level could keep SOL confined to its recent trading range, with $100 serving as the next important support area. Continued selling could put that level under pressure.
A decisive four-hour candle close below $100 would weaken the near-term technical outlook and potentially expose the $90 level as the next downside target identified on the chart.
The direction of the wider cryptocurrency market may also influence SOL’s next move. Continued liquidations and weakness in major digital assets could make a sustained recovery more difficult, even with Alpenglow approaching.
Solana Outlook Ahead of October 21
Solana enters the Alpenglow launch with two competing narratives: a major consensus upgrade intended to improve transaction finality and a market environment characterized by selling pressure.
Technically, $105 is the first level to watch, followed by $110 as a potential recovery target. On the downside, $100 remains a critical support zone, while a confirmed breakdown could bring $90 into focus.
The upgrade could strengthen confidence in Solana’s technical capabilities, but its activation alone does not guarantee an immediate increase in SOL’s price. Traders will need to assess actual network performance, market liquidity, and price action following the launch.
**Bottom line:** SOL’s near-term direction depends on whether buyers can reclaim $105 and challenge $110 or sellers force a breakdown below $100. Until either move is confirmed, the $90–$110 range remains a useful scenario framework rather than a guaranteed price prediction.
