Solana (SOL) traded between $113.80 and $118.60 on Thursday, sticking to a narrow range after a wild week in crypto markets. Even as bigger market forces weighed on Layer-1 tokens, Solana managed to avoid deeper losses, thanks to a big announcement: Samsung is integrating USDC payments on Solana for 82 million U.S. Galaxy devices. This news comes as Solana gears up for a major network upgrade, with a faster slot duration set to launch during Epoch 1053.
Solana’s Performance – October 8, 2026
SOL/USD Price Range: $113.80 – $118.60
24-Hour Change: Down 2.15%
7-Day Change: Up 2.91% from October 1 ($113.55)
Major News: Samsung Wallet now supports USDC transactions on Solana
Technical Upgrade: Slot time drops to 200ms at Epoch 1053 (October 9)
Table of Contents
Market Action and Price Trends
SOL faced moderate selling early in the Asian and European sessions, dipping from highs near $122. Strong support held around $112.50, keeping it inside its October range. Trading volume stayed high as big investors moved their positions ahead of U.S. economic reports and new protocol features. Derivatives data showed that funding rates dropped, cooling off speculative trades while spot markets soaked up supply near support.
Over the past week, Solana’s price stayed stable compared to other smart contract coins. SOL started October at $113.55 and climbed to $118.60 on October 5 before settling back into its current range.
Samsung Wallet Integration Brings New Interest
The big news was Samsung’s partnership with the Solana Foundation. Starting at the end of October, Samsung Wallet and Samsung Pay will let users send USDC on SOL. This integration targets 82 million U.S. Galaxy devices, making Solana payments easily accessible for more people. Users can transfer money across borders right from Samsung Wallet, without needing extra crypto apps. Built-in fiat conversion will let them switch between U.S. dollars and USDC quickly.
Analysts say the real impact depends on how many people actually use this feature. Still, getting Solana transactions into Samsung devices gives the blockchain a huge new audience.
Solana Upgrades Network Speed
SOL will activate a key upgrade at Epoch 1053, expected at 15:00 UTC on October 9. This step shortens slot times from 250ms to 200ms, speeding up block generation by 20%. Faster slots mean higher efficiency for decentralized exchanges and payment systems, especially with Samsung now onboard.
Technical Snapshot – October 8
Support zones: $113.80 and $110.00
Resistance levels: $118.60 and $122.00
SOL trades near its short-term moving averages, showing the market is balanced as traders watch the new upgrade and wider crypto trends.
Network activity remains strong, with lots of daily fee-paying addresses and high liquidity in Solana pools.
What’s Next for Solana?
As the quarter continues, Solana stands out. Here’s what to watch:
Epoch 1053 Upgrade: Keep an eye on how the network performs after it switches to 200ms slots.
U.S. Spot ETF Progress: New regulatory reviews and possible market launches.
Mainstream Payment Launch: Samsung Wallet’s USDC service goes live later this month.
With its network running faster and Samsung giving it access to millions of mainstream users, Solana heads deeper into October with solid momentum. Market swings are likely, but the fundamentals look strong.
Disclaimer: Investing in cryptocurrency comes with major risks and volatility. Past performance and upgrades do not guarantee future results. Always do your own research or talk to a financial expert before making any decisions.
