#SolanaSurge Solana emerged in 2017 with Anatoly Yakovenko seeking a faster blockchain. Its key innovation was **Proof of History (PoH)**, a "cryptographic clock" to order transactions. He founded Solana Labs with Greg Fitzgerald, and the mainnet was launched in March 2020. Its **speed and low fees** attracted developers and users for DeFi and NFTs. The **PoH, an experienced team, and a growing ecosystem** were key. It has faced **network outages and regulatory challenges**, but its fast processing capability has made it an important competitor.