A new report from Cathie Wood’s ARK Invest highlights Solana (SOL) as a dominant force in economic value creation within the DeFi space. According to the analysis, the Solana ecosystem is not only growing but is also demonstrating superior profitability compared to other leading blockchain networks.
Among the networks analyzed, Solana generated approximately $223 million in economic value, securing the top position. Tron (TRX) followed in second place with about $160 million.
Latest Defi Quarterly Report from @ARKInvest shows Solana tops blockchains in Real Economic Value (REV) with ~$223M in Q3 2025, leading for a fourth consecutive quarter. pic.twitter.com/SSX9OnVlZS
— Capital Markets (@capitalmarkets) October 14, 2025
Overall Blockchain Economic Value Shows Decline
The report also sheds light on a broader industry trend: a significant contraction in the total true economic value generated by blockchains. After peaking at $4.9 billion in Q4 2021, the figure plummeted to $655 million by Q3 2023, representing a dramatic 83% decline.
ARK Invest attributes this downturn primarily to a reduction in non-strategic transactions, which were once a major driver of network revenue. The firm also notes that the widespread optimization of transaction efficiency and lower fees across multiple chains have contributed to this overall decrease in captured value.
ARK Invest’s Strategic Moves in the Solana Ecosystem
ARK Invest’s bullish outlook on Solana is further evidenced by its strategic financial and operational commitments to the ecosystem. The firm has deepened its ties through direct investments and partnerships with key ventures in the Solana space.
In a significant move, ARK Invest participated in a $300 million funding round for Solmate on September 19, 2023, acquiring an equity stake valued at approximately $162 million. Furthermore, in July of the same year, the firm transferred the validator operations for its digital asset fund to SOL Strategies, a Toronto-based company specifically focused on Solana, signaling a strong vote of confidence in the network’s infrastructure and long-term viability.
