Solana dropped to $185 Friday after failing to maintain momentum above the crucial $188 price level, continuing a pattern that has defined the cryptocurrency's performance throughout 2025. The digital asset briefly surged above $200 earlier this week, reaching $205 on Thursday before retreating alongside broader market weakness.
What to Know:
- Solana has repeatedly failed to hold above the $188 Value Area High resistance level throughout 2025, according to technical analysis
- The cryptocurrency's high-volume trading zone sits around $150, with analyst suggesting upward momentum depends on staying above this support
- If selling pressure continues, the $170-$179 range could provide the next significant support level for potential price stabilization
Technical Analysis Points to Resistance Struggle
Crypto analyst Burak Kesmeci identified the $188 level as a critical resistance point using Fixed Range Volume Profile analysis. This technical indicator maps trading volume distribution across different price levels over specific time periods.
The $188 mark represents what traders call the Value Area High - the upper boundary where 70% of trading volume occurs. Kesmeci noted that Solana has consistently struggled to break and hold above this threshold since the beginning of 2025. "SOL's downturn was no coincidence," he wrote on social media platform X Thursday.
The analyst's research shows Solana's primary high-volume trading zone centers around $150. This level has served as a foundation for the cryptocurrency's recent price action. Market participants typically view sustained trading above high-volume zones as bullish signals.
Support Levels and Market Dynamics
Below the current trading range, Kesmeci highlighted the $170-$179 zone as another area of significant trading activity. This region could function as support if selling pressure intensifies. The analyst suggested this range might cushion further declines.
Volume profile analysis has gained popularity among cryptocurrency traders for identifying key support and resistance levels. The methodology assumes that prices tend to return to areas where heavy trading previously occurred. Kesmeci emphasized that shifting the high-volume trading level upward would strengthen bullish momentum. However, current patterns suggest Solana faces continued resistance near $188.
Understanding Cryptocurrency Technical Indicators
Fixed Range Volume Profile represents one of several tools traders use to analyze cryptocurrency price movements. The indicator displays volume distribution across price levels within selected timeframes, helping identify areas where buying and selling interest concentrates.
Value Area High and Value Area Low mark the boundaries containing 70% of trading volume during the analyzed period. These levels often act as psychological barriers where price movements stall or reverse direction.
High-volume nodes indicate price levels where significant trading occurred, suggesting these areas may provide support during declines or resistance during rallies.
Current Market Performance
Solana traded near $180 Friday afternoon, reflecting a nearly 5% decline over 24 hours according to market data. Despite the recent weakness, the cryptocurrency maintained weekly gains of over 4% based on CoinGecko information.
The broader cryptocurrency market experienced similar pressure, with major digital assets retreating from recent highs. Bitcoin and Ethereum also posted daily losses while maintaining positive weekly performance.
Closing Thoughts
Solana's inability to sustain trading above $188 reflects ongoing technical challenges that have persisted throughout 2025. The cryptocurrency's performance hinges on breaking above key resistance levels and establishing higher volume zones to support sustained upward momentum.