As we welcome 2024, Cointelegraph’s podcast, “Hashing It Out,” is focusing on the key narratives that are expected to dominate crypto conversations this year. In episode 44, Larisa Barbu, the chief operating officer of Exchange Art, a fine art marketplace on Solana, sheds light on Solana’s remarkable growth in late 2023 and its potential to continue thriving in 2024.
Barbu highlights the resilience of the Solana ecosystem and emphasizes the increase in activity on the layer-1 network beyond just price action and speculation. She attributes this resilience to the Solana community’s ability to weather the market downturn following the collapses of Terra and FTX in 2022. According to Barbu, the belief in the network’s vision empowered developers to remain committed and continue building.
While acknowledging that some users did move away from the layer-1 blockchain due to emerging issues compounded by the general slump in the cryptocurrency market, Barbu states that most builders stayed loyal. To reignite excitement, constant focus on developers and major announcements about technical updates, such as Firedancer, were necessary.
Barbu suggests that these efforts may have played a role in the renewed interest and price growth since the announcements made at Solana’s Breakpoint conference in September 2023.
The episode also explores how Solana’s growth has impacted sectors beyond decentralized finance. As the chief operating officer of one of Solana’s leading nonfungible token (NFT) marketplaces, Barbu notes that Solana has attracted new creators, including photographers. Additionally, traditional art galleries are finding ways to incorporate NFTs into their exhibitions, which could have a positive impact on the future of digital art.
To listen to the full episode of “Hashing It Out,” head over to Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or TuneIn. And don’t forget to explore Cointelegraph’s complete lineup of other shows!
Note: This article is intended for general informational purposes and should not be considered legal or investment advice. The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions of Cointelegraph.