Solana (SOL) is a high-performance blockchain platform designed to support scalable and decentralized applications (dApps). The project was founded in 2017 by former Qualcomm engineer Anatoly Yakovenko, and the Solana mainnet launched in March 2020. The platform is developed and maintained by Solana Labs, a U.S.-registered company, and is governed in a decentralized manner by the Solana Foundation based in Switzerland.

The main goal of Solana is to provide high transaction speed with low fees, achieved through a unique consensus algorithm called Proof of History (PoH), which works in combination with Proof of Stake (PoS). This enables Solana to process over 50,000 transactions per second without compromising decentralization.

The network’s native token, SOL, was also launched in 2020. It is used for paying transaction fees, staking, and participating in the ecosystem’s governance. SOL also plays a key role in network security through validator and delegator participation.

Solana has gained widespread popularity due to its support for DeFi protocols, NFT marketplaces, gaming projects, and other Web3 applications. Despite occasional technical outages, the network continues to grow and attract new developers and investors thanks to its scalability and accessibility.