PayPal selects Solana as the default blockchain for PYUSD stablecoin payments. The shift from Ethereum where it was originally launched to Solana signals the priority for faster transactions and cheaper transaction costs.
The announcement was made on Solana’s official X account. This comes at a time when SOL is trading around $86–$87, yet the network continues to show strong ecosystem growth and real world use cases.
Why Solana?
PayPal’s move appears to be backed by performance metrics. SOL’s near-zero transaction fees and faster transactions make it suited for payment flows, remittance, and high-frequency transactions
While Ethereum gas fees could spike when the network gets busy, Solana keeps costs down to fractions of a cent per transaction and settles everything in just seconds. For big payment companies that handle millions of tiny transactions every day, those low fees and quick transfers really matter.
PayPal’s move into crypto has been a steady buildup over the years. Paypa began in 2020 with users buying and holding Bitcoin and Ethereum in the app, then it added merchant payments in 2021, and thereafter, external wallet support in 2022. The recent default to Solana for PYUSD transactions is just the latest step in their long-term plan to weave real blockchain tech into everyday payments.
Solana’s growing institutional momentum
PayPal’s move to Solana comes right as the network is getting serious momentum. In 2026, Solana’s decentralized exchange volume hit around $117 billion, more than double Ethereum’s $52 billion in the same period. A lot of that comes from its speed and low costs, plus the boom in memecoins, real-world asset (RWA) tokenization, and DePIN projects.
Institutions are jumping in, too. A new tri-party custody setup with Anchorage Digital and Kamino allows big investors to borrow against their staked SOL without having to sell it; they keep earning rewards while staying compliant and safe. Solana’s RWA has already crossed $1.66 billion in tokenized value, mostly from treasuries and credit products being brought on-chain.
PayPal choosing Solana as its main network for PYUSD really highlights what’s driving crypto in 2026.
This potential split reflects the bigger trends shaping crypto in 2026. Efficiency and scalability are now the main drivers for high-volume, real-time uses like payments and remittances, which is why networks like Solana are gaining ground fast.
