Solana is a Layer-1 blockchain, launched in 2020 by Anatoly Yakovenko. It uses Proof-of-Stake combined with Proof-of-History and delivers high transaction throughput at low fees.

Solana typically processes between 2,000 and 4,000 transactions per second on the mainnet average. Block time is 400 milliseconds, the compute limit per block is around 48 million compute units.

What is Proof of History?

Proof of History is Solana's cryptographic timestamp mechanism that gives transactions a verifiable order — without validators needing to coordinate. One of the core innovations enabling high speed.

How does Solana differ from Ethereum?

Solana prioritizes performance at Layer-1: high throughput, low fees, a unified program model. Ethereum bets on modularity with Layer-2 scaling. Each has different strengths and trade-offs.

Who maintains Solana?

The two main validator client teams are Anza (with Agave) and Jump Crypto (with Firedancer). Anatoly Yakovenko and Raj Gokal founded Solana Labs; Anza was later spun out. The Solana Foundation coordinates ecosystem initiatives.

What is Solana? Technology, Ecosystem, and History in 2026

Imagine sending money as fast and cheaply as an email — that is the core idea behind Solana. This network makes blockchain transactions practical for millions of everyday users.

In plain terms

Solana is like a global computer running thousands of applications at once — settling every transaction in well under a second for a fraction of a cent. Traditional banking takes days for international transfers; Solana takes less than a second. The network is open to everyone, no single entity controls it, and its rules are transparently encoded in software. This article explains what Solana is and why it works the way it does. The structured, step-by-step onboarding path — with context for your region — is the job of the Solana Guide.

Core idea

Solana is a Layer-1 blockchain (a standalone base network, not built on top of another system), launched in 2020 by Anatoly Yakovenko. The network combines two consensus mechanisms — Proof of History and Proof of Stake — to deliver high transaction throughput at minimal fees. In practice, this means applications like decentralized exchanges, NFT marketplaces, and payment services run smoothly and affordably on Solana — without congestion and without prohibitive transaction costs.

What this means for you

For anyone looking to use or understand Solana: the network is fast enough and cheap enough to support real-world everyday applications, from micropayments to complex financial protocols. Solana is no longer an experiment — it is active infrastructure with millions of users.

Key facts

Transaction speed: Up to 65,000 transactions per second (TPS)
Block time: ~400 milliseconds (time between two blocks on the network)
Transaction cost: Average 0.00025 USD per transaction
Consensus: Proof of History (PoH) + Proof of Stake (PoS)

What is Solana?

Solana is a high-performance blockchain platform launched in 2020 by Anatoly Yakovenko.

How Does Proof of History Work?

Proof of History is Solana’s unique contribution to blockchain technology. It’s a cryptographic clock that creates a verifiable sequence of events over time.

Imagine taking a photo of a newspaper — the photo proves it was taken after the newspaper was published. PoH works similarly: each transaction receives a cryptographic timestamp that proves its order.

This means validators (network nodes that verify and confirm transactions) don’t need to communicate with each other to agree on the order of transactions. This saves enormous amounts of time and makes Solana so fast.

The Solana Ecosystem

Solana hosts an extensive ecosystem including:

DeFi protocols: Jupiter, Raydium, Marinade, Drift
NFT marketplaces: Magic Eden, Tensor
Wallets: Phantom, Solflare, Fuse
Infrastructure: Helius, Jito, Pyth Network

Why Solana?

Three main reasons speak for Solana:

Speed: Transactions complete in less than a second
Cost: A fraction of a cent per transaction
Ecosystem: One of the most active developer ecosystems in crypto

Concept clear? Now the guided path. This article explains what Solana is. The structured, step-by-step onboarding experience — with regional context — is in the Solana Guide.

Next Steps

If you’re new to Solana, we recommend:

Setting up a wallet (e.g., Phantom or Fuse)
Learning about the staking concept
Reading the Solana Beginner’s Guide

Related SolanaHub content:

Glossary: