Key Takeaways:
- Solana’s Chain GDP soared to $1.2B in Q1 2025, led by Pump.fun, and Phantom.
- App RCR surged to 142.8%, highlighting app monetization strength.
- DeFi TVL dropped in USD but grew in SOL, with Kamino maintaining the lead.
Solana started 2025 on an explosive note, fueled by surging user interest and speculation surrounding meme coins such as TRUMP and MELANIA. According to Messari’s Q1 2025 “State of Solana” report, the chain’s Chain GDP as total application-generated revenue grew 20% quarter-on-quarter from $971 million to $1.2 billion.
January itself contributed well over half of that at $699 million. The highest revenue generators were Pump.fun at $257 million, Phantom at $164 million, and Jupiter at $80 million, showing an increase of 79%.
Decentralized trading platforms became the driving forces behind the revenue growth, in particular during January’s 153% increase in DEX volumes to $8.3 billion.
Jupiter’s increase in app revenue was after its Q1 buying frenzy of apps such as SonarWatch and Drip. Simultaneously, Titan launched a Meta DEX Aggregator, marking the beginning of competitive aggregation.
The figures here are underlain by the App Revenue Capture Ratio (RCR), an important metric evaluating the efficiency of monetization. Solana’s App RCR reached 142.8%, from 117.6% in Q4 2024.
That means apps on Solana generated $142.80 in revenue for each $100 spent on transaction fees or MEV tips, reflecting the maturity and economic optimization of the chain.
Solana’s App Revenue Capture Ratio Hits 142.8%
Solana’s App Revenue Capture Ratio (RCR), measuring how well app revenue tracks with spending at the level of the network, spiked from 117.6% to 142.8% in Q1. This means apps generated $142.80 in revenue for each $100 spent in fees and in validator tips, reflecting high monetization at the level of the network.
Such numbers point to the growing maturity of Solana’s application economy. DEXes with swap fees and NFT platforms with transaction margins have fueled this efficiency. High RCR numbers indicate that application developers are keeping more economic value relative to the base protocol costs in their coffers, which is good for long-term viability.
DeFi Landscape Shifts Despite TVL Drop
Solana’s TVL in USD dropped 64% quarter-on-quarter to $6.6 billion but grew 18% in terms of SOL to 53 million SOL. Kamino topped at $1.6 billion and 24% of the market due to the introduction of Kamino Swap. Jupiter Perps was second at $1.4 billion, and third was Raydium at $1.1 billion.
Despite the general decline in USD-denominated TVL, DEX trading volume was high. January 18 was the high point, with Solana DEXs seeing $36 billion in volume, some 10% of Nasdaq’s daily volume.
Meteora experienced meteoric volume growth of 3047% due to the rise of meme tokens, while Raydium and Orca held high market shares. The ongoing growth of perpetual futures again highlighted Solana’s increasing footprint in DeFi.
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