NEAR vs SOL: NEAR Protocol vs Solana — 2026 Comparison
This page compares NEAR Protocol (NEAR) and Solana (SOL) using the DeFi Intel research dataset. Native asset of the NEAR Protocol, a sharded proof-of-stake blockchain with human-readable account names. Used for fees, staking, and governance. Native asset of the Solana blockchain, a high-throughput proof-of-stake chain using proof-of-history for ordering. Used for fees, staking, and governance. As of the last data review, NEAR ranks #34 by approximate market capitalisation (≈$2.7B) and SOL ranks #7 (≈$45B).
Side-by-side comparison
| Feature | NEAR Protocol (NEAR) | Solana (SOL) |
|---|---|---|
| Market-cap rank | #34 | #7 |
| Approx market cap (USD) | $2.7B | $45B |
| Category | Layer 1 | Layer 1 |
| Chain(s) | NEAR | Solana |
| Token standard | native | native |
| Launched | April 2020 | March 2020 |
| Consensus role | PoS | PoS |
| Issuer | Near Foundation | Solana Foundation |
| Issuer type | Decentralized (no single issuer) | Decentralized (no single issuer) |
| Total supply | 1,180,000,000 | 585,000,000 |
| Circulating supply | 1,090,000,000 | 535,000,000 |
| Max supply | uncapped | uncapped |
NEAR Protocol (NEAR) in brief
- Native asset of the NEAR Protocol, a sharded proof-of-stake blockchain with human-readable account names. Used for fees, staking, and governance.
- Launched April 2020.
- Chain-native asset of NEAR.
- No fixed max supply (uncapped).
- Issuer: Near Foundation.
Full profile: NEAR Protocol (NEAR) token page.
Solana (SOL) in brief
- Native asset of the Solana blockchain, a high-throughput proof-of-stake chain using proof-of-history for ordering. Used for fees, staking, and governance.
- Launched March 2020.
- Chain-native asset of Solana.
- No fixed max supply (uncapped).
- Issuer: Solana Foundation.
Full profile: Solana (SOL) token page.
Key differences (data view)
- SOL is the larger asset by market capitalisation: rank #7 (≈$45B) versus rank #34 (≈$2.7B) for NEAR.
- Both launched in 2020.
- They live on different chains — NEAR: NEAR; SOL: Solana.
- Both are classified as Layer 1 assets in the DeFi Intel dataset.
Frequently asked questions
Which is bigger, NEAR or SOL?
Solana (SOL) is larger by market capitalisation: approximately $45B (rank #7) versus $2.7B (rank #34) for NEAR, as of the last DeFi Intel data review.
When did NEAR Protocol and Solana launch?
NEAR Protocol launched in April 2020; Solana launched in March 2020.
Are NEAR and SOL on the same chain?
No. NEAR is on NEAR, while SOL is on Solana.
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- NEAR Protocol (NEAR) token profile
- Solana (SOL) token profile
- All DeFi Intel comparisons →
Methodology & sources
Every figure on this page is drawn from the DeFi Intel token research dataset — the same data that powers the NEAR and SOL token profiles. Market capitalisations and supply figures are approximate snapshots from the last dataset review, not live quotes. DeFi Intel publishes editorial research, not financial advice.