Solana emerged as one of the hottest cryptocurrencies when its price hit a new all-time high of $293 in January 2025. With daily trading volumes consistently hitting $6-9 billion across major exchanges, it's clear why investors are scrambling to get their piece of this lightning-fast blockchain. In this post, you'll learn how to navigate your first Solana purchase with complete confidence.
Understanding Solana Fundamentals
Several key features set SOL apart:
- Lightning-fast transactions: Solana processes up to 100,000 transactions per second (TPS) compared to Ethereum's 15 TPS
- Ultra-low costs: Transaction fees are fractions of a cent, making micro-transactions viable
- Innovative consensus: Uses Proof of History combined with Proof of Stake for enhanced efficiency
- Massive market presence: Current market capitalization ranges from $103-125 billion
- Developer-friendly ecosystem: Robust infrastructure supporting DeFi, NFTs, and gaming applications
Solana has earned the nickname "Ethereum killer" due to its cheaper and faster blockchain. The platform's ability to handle high-volume applications while maintaining security has attracted developers building next-generation decentralized applications.
Now that you know the fundamentals, let's see how to buy SOL.
Where to Buy Solana
You have several options for buying Solana:
- Centralized crypto exchanges like Coinbase or Binance, where you can deposit USD or other fiat currency via a card or bank transfer
- Decentralized exchanges where you can pay with another cryptocurrency
- Directly in the wallet with a crypto card
Centralized exchanges typically require lengthy KYC ("Know Your Customer") procedures that might take hours or even days. Bank wires can take another day, not including potential delays. Finally, exchanges often have complicated interfaces aimed at experienced traders.
Meanwhile, to buy SOL on decentralized exchanges you need some other crypto such as ETH.
So if you're new to crypto, the easiest way to get started with Solana is to buy SOL using a bank card and receive it directly in your wallet.
And first, you need a wallet.
Choosing a Wallet for Solana
There are several types of wallets for Solana:
- Exchange wallets offer convenience but store your private keys on their servers, creating security risks.
- Software wallets provide better control as they're non-custodial, meaning you own your private keys. A wallet can be a mobile app or a browser extension.
- Hardware wallets offer the highest security by storing keys offline in specialized hardware. But you need to buy a special device.
The easiest way to get started is with a reliable software wallet.
Best Solana Wallets
Here are the best free software wallets for Solana:
- Multichain portfolio tracking across Solana, Ethereum, and 50+ EVM chains — you'll never lose any of your tokens
- Detailed transaction history with PnL to help you understand if your trades are profitable
- Best swap aggregation to always give you the best price
- Built-in security features to keep you safe from scams
- Non-custodial, open-source, and independently audited
Phantom
- Browser extension and mobile app built specifically for Solana
- User-friendly interface for beginners
- Non-custodial
Trust Wallet
- Solana-focused wallet with native staking features
- Web and mobile versions available
- Excellent for DeFi participation
If you're just starting on Solana but are serious about crypto, you should start with Zerion Wallet. It's free, easy-to-use, and gives you everything you need to confidently grow as a crypto trader and investor.
How to Buy Solana with Zerion Wallet
Here's how to buy SOL with Zerion Wallet, a secure browser extension wallet with a bank card or Apple Pay. The steps are almost the same on mobile.
1. Download Zerion Wallet
- Install Zerion as a browser extension to Chrome or another browser. You can also download Zerion as a mobile app for iOS or Android.
2. Create a New Wallet Address
- Set up a new wallet and safely store your recovery phrase.
3. Click “Buy Crypto With Card”
- From Zerion browser extension, you will be redirected to the Zerion web app. If you're on mobile, you'll need to manually open https://app.zerion.io/ in a browser.
- In the Zerion web app, select one of the options — these will depend on your country
- Complete a brief KYC – usually, an email and phone number are all you need.
- Type the amount of SOL you want to buy.
- Review fees and conversion rate.
- Confirm the purchase.
5. Receive SOL in Your Wallet
- Your SOL will appear in your Solana wallet in Zerion automatically in a few minutes.
- From there, you can swap, stake, or send it.
What's Next
We've seen how easy it is to buy Solana with Zerion Wallet.
Once you get your SOL, you can try your hand at trading Solana memecoins, staking SOL, or simply holding it long-term.