Ethereum vs 
Solana
The platform race in one pair. Ethereum prioritises decentralisation and settles much of its activity on layer-2 networks built on top; Solana runs everything on one fast base layer, accepting heavier hardware requirements for sub-cent, sub-second transactions. Ethereum has history and the deepest ecosystem; Solana has speed and momentum in consumer apps — and both inherit their coin's value from whether builders keep choosing them.
12 months, both starting at 100 (AUD)
ETH → 37 · SOL → 34| Measure | ETH | SOL |
|---|---|---|
| Market cap | A$322.0B | A$62.2B |
| Rank | #2 | #7 |
| Price | A$2,667.37 | A$106.65 |
| 90-day change (AUD) | −10.4% | −11.2% |
| 12-month change (AUD) | −60.5% | −63.4% |
| From all-time high | −65.1% | −77.5% |
| Supply model | No fixed maximum | No fixed maximum |
| AU exchanges we verify it on | 5 | 5 |
About Ethereum
Ethereum, launched in 2015, introduced smart contracts — programs that run on the blockchain itself — and became the foundation for most of crypto's applications, from stablecoins to DeFi and NFTs. Its coin, ether, pays for computation on the network and can be staked to help secure it.
About Solana
Solana is a high-throughput blockchain launched in 2020, known for fast, sub-cent transactions and a large ecosystem spanning DeFi, NFTs and consumer apps. SOL pays network fees and can be staked to help secure the chain.
FAQ
Which is bigger, Ethereum or Solana?
By market value today: Ethereum (A$322.0B vs A$62.2B). Size measures money invested, not quality — but it does measure liquidity, which affects how easily you can buy and sell.
Which performed better this year?
Over the past 12 months in AUD terms: ETH −60.5%, SOL −63.4% — the chart above shows the whole path, which matters more than the endpoints. Past performance is no indicator of future results, in either direction.
Can I buy both in Australia?
Yes — both are listed on AUSTRAC-registered exchanges we verify. ETH appears on 5 of our reviewed platforms and SOL on 5. Compare costs first on the fee calculator, and remember every crypto-to-crypto swap between them is a CGT event.
Should I hold ETH or SOL?
That's a personal decision we don't make for you — this page exists to make the structural differences clear so the choice is yours. What we'd say to anyone: understand what job each coin is designed for, size positions like the risk is real, and check the honest failure statistics before going further down the market-cap list.
Data from our market records (powered by CoinGecko), refreshed with the daily rebuild. General information only, not financial advice — we compare structure and history, we don't pick winners.