Solana Upgrade Targets 150ms Finality as SOL Price Slips, Says Grayscale

• Grayscale expects Solana’s Alpenglow upgrade to cut transaction finality from roughly 13 seconds to 150 milliseconds.
• Solana averaged over 1,400 transactions per second and processed approximately 25% of stablecoin transactions over the previous three months.
• SOL trades at $104.96, with support at 102–104 and resistance at 108–112 as technical indicators suggest selling pressure may be easing.

Solana averages more than 1,400 transactions per second, far exceeding competing networks, according to Grayscale Head of Research Zach Pandl. The firm expects the upcoming Alpenglow upgrade to reduce transaction finality from roughly 13 seconds to 150 milliseconds. Meanwhile, SOL traded at $104.96 on October 17, 2026, as its four-hour chart showed continued selling pressure.

https://twitter.com/Grayscale/status/2111197381580726674?s=20

Alpenglow Upgrade Targets Faster Transaction Finality

In his report, “The Solana Blockchain: A Class Apart in Speed and Scale,” Pandl compared Solana’s transaction throughput with other blockchain networks. Solana averaged more than 1,400 transactions per second year-to-date, while BNB Chain processed fewer than 200.

Other networks averaged approximately 40 transactions per second, according to Grayscale. Solana’s average transaction cost stood at $0.005 this year, while transactions currently reach finality in roughly 13 seconds.

The upcoming Alpenglow upgrade is expected to cut that time to 150 milliseconds. Additionally, Solana processed approximately 25% of all stablecoin transactions over the previous three months, more than any other blockchain.

SOL Price Faces Resistance Below $112

Despite the network performance figures, SOL’s four-hour OKX chart shows a decline from its late-September peak above $124. The token climbed from approximately $96 in mid-September before selling intensified during October.

Sellers pushed SOL below $120, $116 and $112 before it reached $104.96 on October 17. The latest reading showed a $0.02 decline, or 0.02%, with trading volume at 23,020 SOL.

Source: TradingView

Immediate support is around 102–104, while $100 represents another downside level. A break below $100 could expose the previous area near $96. On the upside, resistance stands at 108–112, followed by $116 if buyers regain momentum.

Technical Indicators Show a Tentative Recovery

SOL’s Relative Strength Index stands at 45.72, above its moving average of 42.40. However, the RSI remains below 50, indicating that bullish momentum has yet to take control. The MACD line reads -0.94, above the signal line at -1.16, while its histogram is positive at 0.22. 

This crossover suggests downward momentum may be easing, although both lines remain negative. Recent volume spikes reflect increased trading activity during the sell-off and subsequent rebound. SOL needs to reclaim 108–112, while holding 102–104 could support consolidation.