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Nidhi Kolhapur
Nidhi Kolhapur
Author
Nidhi is a Certified Digital Marketing Executive and Passionate crypto Journalist covering the world of alternative currencies. She shares the latest and trending news on Cryptocurrency and Blockchain.
- Jun 20, 2025 09:10 UTC
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Cardano or Solana? Which is a Top Altcoin That Could Explode by 2026
Cardano’s bold treasury move and Bitcoin gains potential give it stronger upside over Solana heading into 2026, with a possible 117% BTC gain.
While Solana eyes ETF approval and $450 targets, Cardano’s lower BTC ratio and analyst backing hint at higher risk-to-reward returns this cycle.
The debate between Cardano and Solana is being widely discussed, especially after a sharp remark from Solana’s founder about Cardano’s treasury proposal. Which project has a stronger upside heading into 2026?
Recently, Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson proposed putting 5–10% of Cardano’s $1.2B treasury into Bitcoin and stablecoins to generate yield and grow the treasury over time. According to him, this could eventually build a $1B+ fund to support Cardano’s ecosystem.
However, Solana’s founder did not like the idea and called it “dumb”. Cardano’s plan is to create sustainable returns, grow its treasury, and support its DeFi ecosystem long term. But critics think that it shows their lack of confidence in ADA.
Cardano vs Solana priced in Satoshis
Cardano and Solana are both top picks, but one has more upside when measuring gains in Bitcoin. Cardano currently trades around 600 satoshis. Based on past price movements, it has an upside to 1300 satoshis, which is a 117% gain. On the downside, it could fall to around 400 satoshis, a 33% drop.
Solana on the other hand, is trading at around 14,500 satoshis. If it climbs to 20,000 satoshis, that would be a 38% gain. But if it dips to 10,000 sats, it risks a 31% loss. Solana has already recovered more value against Bitcoin, so its short-term upside may be more limited.
Which is the better pick?
So if you are tracking gains in Bitcoin’s terms, Cardano may offer more explosive returns. It has dropped more than Solana, which gives it more room to bounce back.
There is also the ETF factor which is worth noting. Solana currently has a 91% chance of getting a spot ETF approved in 2025 while Cardano sits at 67%. Both altcoins look promising for 2026, but Cardano seems to offer better risk-to-reward potential.
Popular analyst Alex Becker also believes that ADA could outperform Solana this market cycle. Despite Solana’s bigger market cap, he sees more upside in ADA, and predicts a 5x–8x return.
What to Expect in 2026: Price Predictions
Cardano is currently trading at $0.6002, down 0.5% today. Moving ahead into the next year, Cardano could trade between $1.20 and $2.00 in 2026. A breakout above $1.60 may push it toward $2.50, if market sentiment turns bullish.
Solana is currently trading at $145.43. It is expected to rise 12-15% by this week, trading between $150 and $179. A close above $165 could push SOL toward the $179–$183 resistance zone. But if it slips below $150, a dip to $148 is possible.
CoinDCX projects Solana to trade between $400 and $450 in 2026 due to its strong growth potential driven by DeFi and NFT adoption.
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FAQs
While both are strong contenders, Cardano is seen by some analysts, like Alex Becker, as offering more explosive long-term returns (5x-8x) and better risk-to-reward potential for 2026 due to its deeper price drop and potential for a larger rebound. Solana has strong growth potential driven by DeFi and NFT adoption, with price predictions reaching $400-$450 in 2026.
Solana has higher ETF approval odds (91%) compared to Cardano (67%). A higher chance of ETF approval generally reduces investment risk by attracting more institutional capital and increasing mainstream accessibility, potentially leading to more stable and sustained price growth. However, a delay or rejection for either could introduce volatility.
Market sentiment shifts can significantly impact projected price ranges. Bullish sentiment, often driven by positive news or broader market rallies, could push both ADA and SOL towards the higher end of their predicted ranges or even beyond. Conversely, bearish sentiment, stemming from regulatory uncertainty or market downturns, could send them towards the lower end or below key support levels.
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