Solana Emerges as the Bridge Between Banks and Blockchain Payments
For years, the idea of legacy financial giants embracing blockchain felt like a distant vision. That changed this week when Western Union, the century-old global remittance titan, took its first concrete step into the digital asset economy — and it chose Solana as its foundation.
Key Takeaways
- Jackson Hinkle spotlighted Solana’s institutional adoption in a discussion with Sheraz Shere of the Solana Foundation.
- Stablecoins, Shere said, have already achieved product-market fit but need banks and payment networks to scale globally.
- Hinkle emphasized that Solana’s partnerships, such as with Western Union, show blockchain is shifting from speculation to utility.
- Solana now supports $13.5 billion in stablecoins, positioning itself as a key network for real-world money movement.
Political commentator and TheStreet Roundtable host Jackson Hinkle has spotlighted Solana’s rising influence in institutional finance, following his discussion with Sheraz Shere, head of payments and commerce at the Solana Foundation. The conversation, centered on Solana’s integration with major financial players like Western Union, underscored how blockchain technology is moving from crypto markets into mainstream economic infrastructure.
Hinkle noted that Solana’s adoption by one of the world’s oldest and largest remittance firms signals a turning point in how global payments are evolving. He described the trend as a “migration from speculation to real-world utility,” emphasizing that stablecoins are now at the center of that transition.
“Stablecoins Already Work — Now Banks Need to Catch Up”
During the interview, Sheraz Shere explained that the success of stablecoins no longer depends on public acceptance but on the participation of traditional financial institutions.
“Stablecoins are top of mind for everyone,” Shere told Hinkle. “They already have product-market fit and they’re being used for money movement. But we still need the major payment processors and banks — the ones that know how to move money at scale — to embrace this technology before it can truly go mainstream.”
Hinkle agreed, pointing out that Solana’s partnerships show the blockchain industry is no longer a fringe experiment. Instead, it’s becoming the technological backbone for financial institutions seeking faster, cheaper settlement rails.
Solana’s Growing Presence in Global Payments
The remarks came shortly after Western Union confirmed plans to launch a Solana-based stablecoin in collaboration with Anchorage Digital, a move that will enable the company to test digital remittances through blockchain networks. The decision, Hinkle said, represents “an institutional validation of Solana’s technical strengths” — particularly its scalability, transaction speed, and low fees.
According to data from DeFiLlama, the total stablecoin market now exceeds $305 billion, with Solana accounting for $13.5 billion in circulation. While that figure remains small compared to Ethereum or Tron, it’s growing fast, and Hinkle noted that Solana’s focus on velocity — actual payment movement rather than stored capital — gives it a practical edge.
“On Ethereum, most stablecoins just sit idle in DeFi protocols,” Shere explained during the interview. “On Solana, they move. They’re used for payments, payroll, and cross-border transfers. That’s what defines real adoption.”
The Network Competing on Utility
Hinkle’s discussion also touched on how Solana differentiates itself from legacy blockchains. Shere acknowledged Ethereum’s role as a pioneer but argued that Solana’s technical design gives it an operational advantage.
“Ethereum is incredible,” he said, “but it wasn’t built to handle ten or twelve thousand transactions per second. Solana was designed for scale from day one. It’s fast, cost-efficient, and built to serve as the internet for finance.”
Hinkle concluded that the network’s momentum reflects a broader transformation in how both investors and institutions view blockchain: no longer as speculative infrastructure, but as a foundation for the next financial era.
Toward a More Connected Financial System
As Solana continues to attract global players — from Visa and PayPal to Western Union — the conversation between Hinkle and Shere highlighted what could become one of the defining narratives of 2026: the convergence of decentralized technology and institutional finance.
For now, Solana’s story isn’t just about crypto adoption. It’s about how a once-niche blockchain has become a testbed for the digital economy’s future — and how voices like Jackson Hinkle’s are bringing that story to a mainstream audience.
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Alex is an experienced financial journalist and cryptocurrency enthusiast. With over 8 years of experience covering the crypto, blockchain, and fintech industries, he is well-versed in the complex and ever-evolving world of digital assets. His insightful and thought-provoking articles provide readers with a clear picture of the latest developments and trends in the market. His approach allows him to break down complex ideas into accessible and in-depth content. Follow his publications to stay up to date with the most important trends and topics.
