ICP and Solana Team Up for Multi-Chain Expansion
The Internet Computer Protocol (ICP) is adding Solana to its growing list of blockchain integrations. This follows earlier moves to connect with Bitcoin and Ethereum, letting developers build apps that span multiple chains. The idea isn’t exactly new, but ICP’s approach—using what it calls “Chain Fusion”—might make things smoother and cheaper for decentralized finance (DeFi) projects.
Dfinity Foundation, the team behind ICP, made the announcement earlier this week. Their Fusion tech is designed to link ICP with other major blockchains without relying on risky third-party bridges. Instead, ICP’s native smart contracts, called “canisters,” can interact directly with Solana. These canisters act like smart wallets, handling transactions based on preset rules.
Why This Matters for Developers
For app builders, the big draw here is flexibility. They won’t have to fully migrate their projects to ICP—they can tap into Solana’s liquidity and user base while still using ICP’s infrastructure. That could mean faster transactions and lower costs, at least in theory.
Jan Camenisch, Dfinity’s CTO, put it this way: “This bridges the gap between Solana’s speed and ICP’s security. Developers get more tools, and users get a smoother experience.” Whether that plays out in practice, though, remains to be seen.
Solana’s recent surge in activity—thanks partly to meme coins and decentralized exchanges (DEXs)—could give ICP a boost. Solana has around 4.8 million daily active users, while ICP’s own numbers are much smaller. Token Terminal data shows roughly 9,000 daily active users on ICP, with about 5,300 unique wallets.
The Bigger Picture for ICP
This isn’t just about Solana. Dfinity has been pushing for a more decentralized internet, and linking multiple blockchains is part of that plan. Right now, ICP’s DeFi sector is modest, with less than $30 million in total value locked. But the protocol already handles wrapped Bitcoin (about 297 BTC) and could attract more established trading and lending apps.
ICP’s price has been hovering around $5.12 lately, stuck in the middle of its monthly range. It’s not a top-tier chain by any means—ranked 190th in activity—but it’s been slowly growing. Backed by heavyweights like a16z and Polychain Capital, the project has raised $167 million since 2018.
Will this Solana integration move the needle? Maybe. It’s hard to say which apps will actually use both chains, or whether users will care. But in a bull market where cross-chain functionality is becoming the norm, ICP is at least trying to stay relevant.
