Solana News: Incoming! Breakpoint 2025 Alpha, SKR Airdrop and Franklin SOL ETF

Market Overview - Bitcoin remains stable around $90,500 despite nearly $1 billion in new BTC purchases by Strategy, with altcoins also performing relatively well. The upcoming FOMC rate decision is expected to influence market direction [1] - The Solana ecosystem has seen a 6% increase, reaching a total market cap of $185 billion, although trading volume has decreased by 12% to $12.9 billion [1] Solana Developments - Solana Mobile is set to launch its SKR token in January, with a total supply of 10 billion tokens, 30% of which will be reserved for airdrops and unlocks [2] - Franklin Templeton has introduced its Solana ETF, SOEZ, on NYSE Arca, which includes staking rewards, providing investors with direct exposure to Solana's network growth [3] - Pye Finance has raised $5 million in a seed round led by Variant and Coinbase Ventures to develop an on-chain marketplace for time-locked Solana staking positions, aiming to enhance tradability and packaging of locked stakes [4] Performance Metrics - Solana's total value locked (TVL) has increased by 7% to $8.8 billion, maintaining its position in second place among Layer 1 blockchains [7] - Solana's price experienced a weekly high of $145 before settling at $133, resulting in a 5% gain week-on-week [6] Upcoming Features and Launches - A live demo of the Firedancer performance upgrade showcased improved validator throughput and reduced latency [8] - New privacy features for confidential transfers are expected to debut, targeting institutional users [8] - An institutional-grade infrastructure stack is being launched, which includes custody, staking, and compliance tools to facilitate real-world money flows [8] - The rollout of Solana ID wallet/identity is anticipated, initiated by pre-Breakpoint free minting via MetaMask [8] - Over 80 new DApps and tools across DeFi, Web3 infrastructure, and cross-chain bridges are expected to launch [8]