Solana Addresses Surge 115%, Bitcoin Acceptance Grows Among Merchants
By John Nada·Jan 31, 2026·2 min read
Solana's active addresses surged by 115% in January, while Bitcoin's acceptance among U.S. merchants grows. Cryptocurrency adoption is on the rise.
Activity on major altcoin networks has surged, with Solana seeing a remarkable 115% spike in active daily addresses as of January 28. The Solana network consistently topped 5 million active addresses, boosted by a frenzy of token launches, particularly following the introduction of Anthropic’s Claude Cowork. This activity drove platform fees to $4.5 million on January 16, a sharp increase compared to previous months.
Ethereum also marked a significant 25% rise in daily active addresses, outpacing major layer 2 solutions after crucial upgrades reduced fees and increased blob sizes. By January 29, average fees on Ethereum had dropped below $0.01.
Despite the growth in altcoin activity, Bitcoin miners in the U.S. faced challenges as winter storms threatened power supplies, potentially forcing some operations to scale back. As of January 28, approximately 400,000 individuals in southern states were without power due to the storm’s impact.
Meanwhile, a report from PayPal revealed that four in ten U.S. merchants now accept cryptocurrencies, reflecting a shift towards mainstream acceptance. The survey highlighted that 84% of these merchants believe crypto payments will become standard within five years.
Bitcoin's price, however, experienced volatility, falling nearly 10% from a peak of $97,000 amid geopolitical tensions related to U.S. foreign policy. Analysts noted that cryptocurrencies are becoming increasingly sensitive to global market conditions.
The surge in active addresses on Solana and Ethereum signals a robust recovery and growing interest in altcoins, while Bitcoin's mainstream acceptance continues to expand. This dynamic landscape underscores the ongoing evolution of the cryptocurrency market.