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Solana Fundamentals: Scale, Speed and Smart Contracts Understanding a high‑throughput smart contract blockchain

What Is Solana? Solana (SOL) is a smart contract blockchain designed to support decentralized applications and on chain assets at scale. Unlike blockchains that focus primarily on value transfer, smart contract platforms provide programmable infrastructure that allows developers to build financial applications, digital marketplaces, payments systems and other blockchain enabled services.¹

Solana operates as a public, decentralized network that records and validates transactions on a shared ledger. Its design emphasizes high transaction throughput and low costs, often discussed as infrastructure for applications that require speed and efficiency.¹

How the Solana Network Works Solana is a blockchain that uses a network of validators to verify and record transactions. It uses proof-of-stake (a method where participants hold cryptocurrency as their “stake” to qualify to verify blockchain transactions) along with a timing mechanism called proof-of-history (used to help coordinate the order of transactions). This setup helps validators handle more work at the same time, which can reduce delays and congestion.

Validators process transactions, create new blocks and help maintain network security. In return, they can earn SOL network rewards in the form of additional SOL, with reward rates varying based on overall network participation.

Together, these design choices allow Solana to support thousands of transactions per second, with fees that are often very low compared with some other smart contract platforms.

Key Features of the Solana Network

SCALE SPEED Designed to support high Transactions are confirmed quickly, transaction volumes without relying enabling near real time settlement for on secondary layers. many applications.

LOW COSTS PROGRAMMABILITY Transaction fees are typically Smart contracts enable developers minimal, supporting micro to create decentralized finance (DeFi) transactions and high volume tools, digital marketplaces, gaming use cases. ecosystems and tokenized assets.

Solana as a Digital Asset Ecosystem Solana supports a broad range of on chain activity, including decentralized exchanges, stablecoin transfers, non fungible tokens (NFTs), gaming applications and tokenized assets. In recent years, the network has ranked among leading smart contract platforms by user activity and transaction volume.³

The native token, SOL, is used to pay transaction fees, secure the network through staking and support on chain activity.

How Do Investors Access Solana? Investors seeking exposure to Solana typically do so through two primary approaches: „ Direct ownership of SOL, which requires managing private keys, wallets and custody arrangements „ Exchange traded products, which may offer more convenient access but limit direct interaction with the network Each approach involves distinct operational, regulatory and risk considerations.⁴

Portfolio Applications Some investors evaluate Solana as: „ Exposure to the growth and adoption of blockchain-based technology infrastructure supporting Web3 and financial applications „ A component of an alternatives or opportunistic allocation „ A complement to other digital assets with different design objectives As with all digital assets, Solana’s role in a portfolio depends on an investor’s objectives, time horizon, liquidity needs and risk tolerance. 2

Key Takeaway Solana represents a high throughput approach to smart contract blockchains, prioritizing speed, scalability and low transaction costs. Its architecture and ecosystem distinguish it from both value transfer focused blockchains, like Bitcoin, and traditional financial infrastructure. Understanding these fundamentals can help investors more clearly assess Solana’s potential role within the broader digital asset landscape.

Educational material only. Not a recommendation or solicitation. 1 Solana Foundation, Solana Documentation — 2 Solana Foundation, Proof of History Explained — 3 Grayscale Research, Solana: Crypto’s Financial Bazaar — 4 Investor.gov, Crypto Assets —

2 MORGAN STANLE Y INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT | JUNE 2026