Solana Steals The Spotlight As Fed Rate Cut Nears: Crypto Daybook Americas

What Happened

Michael Novogratz, the founder and CEO of Galaxy Investment, says Solana could evolve to become a settlement infrastructure in global finance. Why? Because the blockchain can handle over 6 billion transactions a day, which is way higher than the 400 million-700 million trades global securities markets usually deal with, he said. Speed matters.

At BaseCamp 2025, Coinbase’s layer-2 network hinted at plans for a token launch that could accelerate decentralization and unveiled a Solana bridge to boost cross-chain connectivity. Pantera Capital's Dan Morehead announced that Solana is their largest bet, valued at $1.1 billion, calling it the fastest and best-performing blockchain, which has outpaced even Bitcoin over the past four years.

Sept. 16, 12 p.m.: Solana Live event on X. Guests include Pump.fun co-founder Alon Cohen and Kyle Samani, chairman of Forward Industries (FORD) and the managing partner of Multicoin Capital. MacroSept. 16, 8 a.m.: Brazil July unemployment rate Est. 5.7%. Sept. 16, 8:30 a.m.: Canada August headline CPI YoY Est. 2%, MoM Est. 0%; core YoY Est. N/A (Prev. 2.6%), MoM Est. N/A (Prev. 0.1%). Sept. 16, 8:30 a.m.: U.S. August retail sales YoY Est. N/A (Prev. 3.9%), MoM Est. 0.3%. Earnings (Estimates based on FactSet data)None scheduled. Sept. 16, 12 p.m.: Solana Live event on X. Guests include Pump.fun co-founder Alon Cohen and Kyle Samani, chairman of Forward Industries (FORD) and the managing partner of Multicoin Capital. Sept. 16, 8 a.m.: Brazil July unemployment rate Est. 5.7%. Sept. 16, 8:30 a.m.: Canada August headline CPI YoY Est. 2%, MoM Est. 0%; core YoY Est. N/A (Prev. 2.6%), MoM Est. N/A (Prev. 0.1%). Sept. 16, 8:30 a.m.: U.S. August retail sales YoY Est. N/A (Prev. 3.9%), MoM Est. 0.3%. None scheduled. Token Events Governance votes & callsCurve DAO is voting to update donation-enabled Twocrypto contracts, refining donation vesting so unlocked portions persist after burns. Voting ends Sept. 16. Sept. 16: Aster Network to host a community call. Sept. 18, 6 a.m.: Mantle to host Mantle State of Mind, a monthly downhill series. Sept. 16, 12 p.m.: Kava to host a community Ask Me Anything (AMA) session. UnlocksSept. 16: Arbitrum (ARB) to unlock 2.03% of its circulating supply worth $45.92 million. Token LaunchesSept. 16: Merlin (MRLN) to be listed on Binance Alpha, MEXC, BitMart, Gate.io, and others.

Sept. 16, 8 a.m.: Brazil July unemployment rate Est. 5.7%. Sept. 16, 8:30 a.m.: Canada August headline CPI YoY Est. 2%, MoM Est. 0%; core YoY Est. N/A (Prev. 2.6%), MoM Est. N/A (Prev. 0.1%). Sept. 16, 8:30 a.m.: U.S. August retail sales YoY Est. N/A (Prev. 3.9%), MoM Est. 0.3%. Earnings (Estimates based on FactSet data)None scheduled. Sept. 16, 12 p.m.: Solana Live event on X. Guests include Pump.fun co-founder Alon Cohen and Kyle Samani, chairman of Forward Industries (FORD) and the managing partner of Multicoin Capital. Sept. 16, 8 a.m.: Brazil July unemployment rate Est. 5.7%. Sept. 16, 8:30 a.m.: Canada August headline CPI YoY Est. 2%, MoM Est. 0%; core YoY Est. N/A (Prev. 2.6%), MoM Est. N/A (Prev. 0.1%). Sept. 16, 8:30 a.m.: U.S. August retail sales YoY Est. N/A (Prev. 3.9%), MoM Est. 0.3%. None scheduled. Token Events Governance votes & callsCurve DAO is voting to update donation-enabled Twocrypto contracts, refining donation vesting so unlocked portions persist after burns. Voting ends Sept. 16. Sept. 16: Aster Network to host a community call. Sept. 18, 6 a.m.: Mantle to host Mantle State of Mind, a monthly downhill series. Sept. 16, 12 p.m.: Kava to host a community Ask Me Anything (AMA) session. UnlocksSept. 16: Arbitrum (ARB) to unlock 2.03% of its circulating supply worth $45.92 million. Token LaunchesSept. 16: Merlin (MRLN) to be listed on Binance Alpha, MEXC, BitMart, Gate.io, and others.

None scheduled. Sept. 16, 12 p.m.: Solana Live event on X. Guests include Pump.fun co-founder Alon Cohen and Kyle Samani, chairman of Forward Industries (FORD) and the managing partner of Multicoin Capital. Sept. 16, 8 a.m.: Brazil July unemployment rate Est. 5.7%. Sept. 16, 8:30 a.m.: Canada August headline CPI YoY Est. 2%, MoM Est. 0%; core YoY Est. N/A (Prev. 2.6%), MoM Est. N/A (Prev. 0.1%). Sept. 16, 8:30 a.m.: U.S. August retail sales YoY Est. N/A (Prev. 3.9%), MoM Est. 0.3%. None scheduled. Token Events Governance votes & callsCurve DAO is voting to update donation-enabled Twocrypto contracts, refining donation vesting so unlocked portions persist after burns. Voting ends Sept. 16. Sept. 16: Aster Network to host a community call. Sept. 18, 6 a.m.: Mantle to host Mantle State of Mind, a monthly downhill series. Sept. 16, 12 p.m.: Kava to host a community Ask Me Anything (AMA) session. UnlocksSept. 16: Arbitrum (ARB) to unlock 2.03% of its circulating supply worth $45.92 million. Token LaunchesSept. 16: Merlin (MRLN) to be listed on Binance Alpha, MEXC, BitMart, Gate.io, and others.

Curve DAO is voting to update donation-enabled Twocrypto contracts, refining donation vesting so unlocked portions persist after burns. Voting ends Sept. 16. Sept. 16: Aster Network to host a community call. Sept. 18, 6 a.m.: Mantle to host Mantle State of Mind, a monthly downhill series. Sept. 16, 12 p.m.: Kava to host a community Ask Me Anything (AMA) session. UnlocksSept. 16: Arbitrum (ARB) to unlock 2.03% of its circulating supply worth $45.92 million. Token LaunchesSept. 16: Merlin (MRLN) to be listed on Binance Alpha, MEXC, BitMart, Gate.io, and others.

Sept. 16: Arbitrum (ARB) to unlock 2.03% of its circulating supply worth $45.92 million. Token LaunchesSept. 16: Merlin (MRLN) to be listed on Binance Alpha, MEXC, BitMart, Gate.io, and others.

Token Launches

Market Context

Suddenly, it's all about Ethereum rival Solana and its native token SOL as the broader market holds its breath ahead of Wednesday's Federal Reserve rate decision.

All these signs suggest SOL could outperform bitcoin (BTC), ether (ETH) and other major tokens if the Fed cuts rates by the 25 basis points this week, as expected. If it surprises with a 50-basis-point move, things could get wild. Keep your eyes on those SOL/BTC and SOL/ETH trading pairs.

Currently, SOL is trading around $235 after peaking near $250 over the weekend. Other major cryptocurrencies are stuck in neutral, trailing behind stocks, which continue to hit fresh highs.

And as for the traditional markets, Monday’s mix of rising stocks and the VIX, Wall Street’s fear gauge, has some observers raising their eyebrows. History shows these moments often precede market corrections, so stay alert!

Sept. 16, 12 p.m.: Solana Live event on X. Guests include Pump.fun co-founder Alon Cohen and Kyle Samani, chairman of Forward Industries (FORD) and the managing partner of Multicoin Capital.

Why It Matters

On the stablecoin front, the Bank of England proposed limits on how the value of dollar-backed stablecoins an individual can hold, as low as 10,000 pounds ($13,600), citing systemic risks. Stani Kulechov, Aave’s CEO, called the move “absurd” and urged the crypto community to stand up against such regulations.

More countries, especially those with current account deficits, will likely consider similar measures to curb outflows that dodge traditional banks.

Details

By Omkar Godbole (All times ET unless indicated otherwise)

If that's not enough, Kyle Samani, chairman of Nasdaq-listed Solana treasury company Forward Industries, said over the weekend that the company plans to deploy funds to boost the Solana-native decentralized finance ecosystem.

What to Watch

Crypto

Macro

Sept. 16, 8:30 a.m.: Canada August headline CPI YoY Est. 2%, MoM Est. 0%; core YoY Est. N/A (Prev. 2.6%), MoM Est. N/A (Prev. 0.1%).

Sept. 16, 8:30 a.m.: U.S. August retail sales YoY Est. N/A (Prev. 3.9%), MoM Est. 0.3%.

Earnings (Estimates based on FactSet data)

Sept. 16, 8 a.m.: Brazil July unemployment rate Est. 5.7%.

None scheduled.

Token Events

Governance votes & calls

Sept. 16: Aster Network to host a community call.

Sept. 18, 6 a.m.: Mantle to host Mantle State of Mind, a monthly downhill series.

Sept. 16, 12 p.m.: Kava to host a community Ask Me Anything (AMA) session.

Unlocks

Sept. 16: Merlin (MRLN) to be listed on Binance Alpha, MEXC, BitMart, Gate.io, and others.