In January 2023, SOL was trading at a 97% discount to ETH. By July of that year, the discount had narrowed to 83%. Fast forward nearly a year, and this gap continues to close as the market reevaluates Ethereum's scalability roadmap and Solana's potential to host high-throughput financial applications.
Past comparisons often focused on high-level metrics like fees, decentralized exchange (DEX) volumes, stablecoin supply, and total value locked (TVL). This analysis shifts the focus to the actual value captured by token holders through staking and network participation.
Understanding Real Value for Token Holders
Value Capture on Solana
Solana token holders and stakers derive real value primarily from Jito Tips—a form of maximal extractable value (MEV) earned by validators and shared with stakers. This excludes newly issued SOL, base fees, priority fees, and MEV retained by searchers.
Jito's fee router and block engine facilitate MEV distribution. Validators using Jito’s services charge a 6% fee, with the remaining 94% passed to stakers. For example, staking via zero-fee providers like Helius (hSOL) allows stakers to retain nearly all MEV rewards. Notably, 95% of Solana’s staked tokens use Jito.
Value Capture on Ethereum
Ethereum token holders gain real value from MEV and priority fees shared by validators. This excludes new ETH issuance, base fees, block fees, and MEV kept by searchers or block builders.
After deducting fees from liquid staking providers like Lido (which charges 10%), the net value accruing to Ethereum stakers is reduced.
Key Observations
- Ethereum’s TVL is 6.6x larger than Solana’s, and its stablecoin supply is 10x greater.
- Yet, year-to-date, the real value captured by Solana token holders is 3.6x higher than Ethereum’s.
- Execution speed and efficiency determine how TVL translates into monetizable value for stakeholders.
In traditional finance, Nasdaq handles execution speed, while DTCC manages custody and settlement. Ethereum increasingly resembles DTCC (custody + settlement for Layer-2 trades), while Layer-2s like Base function like Nasdaq. Solana, by contrast, integrates both roles into a single layer.
This integration allows SOL holders to capture 100% of execution-related value, while ETH holders access only ~10% (via value destruction from Layer-2 activity). Ethereum hosts vast assets but must facilitate on-chain circulation—a process already underway on Layer-2s. The critical question is whether ETH holders can eventually capture this value, a challenge Solana currently avoids.
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Actual Yield Comparisons
Converting MEV and fee data into annualized yields provides clearer insights:
Solana’s Yield Breakdown
- Issuance Yield: 7.3% (as of June 2025, annualized)
- MEV + Priority Fees: Additional returns shared with stakers
Ethereum’s Yield Breakdown
- Issuance Yield: 2.78% (annualized)
- MEV + Priority Fees: Smaller share after provider fees
Solana’s issuance yield will gradually decline from its current 4.5% inflation rate, reducing by 15% annually until reaching 1.5%. Ethereum’s low inflation (0.64% annualized) keeps issuance yield minimal.
Sources of Real Value
The Role of Memecoins on Solana
Memecoins constitute over 50% of Solana’s DEX volume—a 51% increase in recent months. SOL/USD pairs account for 35%, while stablecoins, liquid staking tokens, and other assets make up the remainder.
Is this a problem? Not necessarily. Speculation and gambling are potent crypto use cases, and Solana’s superior user experience has driven product-market fit. Memecoin trading stress-tests the network and provides feedback for infrastructure improvements.
Today’s memecoins could pave the way for tomorrow’s tokenized stocks, bonds, and private assets—Solana’s long-term vision.
On Ethereum Layer-1, memecoins represent only 1–2% of DEX volume. Stablecoin swaps dominate (~50%), followed by ETH/stablecoin pairs and other tokens. On Base, memecoins comprise ~50% of volume, mostly from new tokens.
MEV: A Critical Differentiator
Some analysts argue that MEV—value derived from time-sensitive trades—is the only sustainable long-term value in Layer-1 networks. While this view is debated, MEV undoubtedly drives significant economic benefits.
How MEV Works on Ethereum
Ethereum uses a mempool where transactions await ordering before submission to validators. Key participants:
- Searchers: Bots identifying arbitrage, liquidation, or sandwich opportunities.
- Block Builders: Entities ordering transactions and accepting searcher “bribes.”
- Validators: Approving blocks and keeping most tips.
The workflow: Users submit transactions → Mempool → Searchers identify value → Submit transactions + tips to builders → Builders package blocks → Validators approve and collect fees.
A major uncertainty: If transaction volume shifts to Layer-2, will MEV follow? Evidence suggests MEV may migrate via priority fees—85% of Base’s fees already come from priority payments.
How MEV Works on Solana
Solana lacks a public mempool. Instead, validators use clients like Jito to create rolling private mempools. Jito’s block engine opens a ~200ms window for searchers to submit transaction bundles for the next block.
Searchers monitor on-chain state (e.g., order books) via full nodes or RPC endpoints. They detect opportunities from confirmed transactions rather than pending ones. About 50% of arbitrage MEV occurs via Jito, with rewards shared to stakers.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Solana offer higher staker yields than Ethereum?
Solana’s integration of execution and settlement allows stakers to capture more value from MEV and fees. Ethereum’s Layer-2-centric model diverts value away from mainnet stakers.
Is Solana’ reliance on memecoins sustainable?
While memecoins dominate volume currently, they stress-test the network and attract users. Solana’s infrastructure could support more diverse assets like stocks and bonds in the future.
How does MEV differ between Ethereum and Solana?
Ethereum uses a public mempool, enabling complex MEV strategies. Solana uses private rolling mempools, favoring speed and reducing front-running risks.
Can Ethereum stakers capture more value in the future?
Yes, through restaking and fee adjustments. New Layer-2 solutions using EigenLayer may allow ETH holders to derive additional value from restaking.
Does lower inflation benefit Ethereum?
Yes, lower inflation reduces sell pressure from new issuance, potentially supporting ETH’s price long-term.
Is Solana’s discount to ETH justified?
Fundamentally, no—Solana’s value capture mechanisms are more efficient. However, Ethereum’s network effects, decentralization, and asset collateralization support its premium.
Conclusion
Should SOL trade at a 65–68% discount to ETH? From a fundamental perspective, no. Solana’s efficient value distribution offers stakers higher real yields, even if Ethereum hosts more value in absolute terms.
Ethereum may become home to trillions in tokenized assets, but investors must ask how ETH holders will benefit. If another chain consistently delivers better value, capital may shift over time.
As Benjamin Graham noted, the market is a voting machine short-term but a weighing machine long-term. Narrative, liquidity, and social sentiment currently drive crypto prices, but fundamentals may eventually prevail.
Ethereum’s prospects could improve via restaking and Layer-2 innovations. However, for now, Solana’s technical advantages translate into tangible benefits for token holders.