If you're deep into the world of meme tokens, you know Solana has been a hotbed for viral projects and quick launches. But a recent tweet from Mert, CEO of Helius Labs, sheds light on why Solana is pulling ahead as the preferred playground for builders – and that's great news for anyone creating or trading memes.

Mert shared his excitement in response to a post from Jacob Franek of Alliance DAO, a top crypto accelerator. Jacob pointed out that Layer 1 blockchains (L1s, the base networks like Solana and Ethereum where everything gets built) are essentially a "two-horse race." In their latest batch, dubbed ALL15, a whopping 84% of applicants were building on either Solana (SOL) or Ethereum (ETH). He even questioned if stablecoin-focused L1s could ever catch up in terms of founder interest.

To back it up, Jacob included this eye-opening chart showing the shift in founder preferences over time:

As you can see, Ethereum dominated early on with its lime-green bars towering high. But Solana's blue sections have been steadily growing, especially in recent halves, signaling a major pivot. By H1 2025, it's clear Solana and Ethereum are neck-and-neck, leaving other ecosystems like Polkadot, Cosmos, and Avalanche in the dust.

Mert jumps in to explain why this is happening – and it's all about making Solana founder-friendly. For the past year and a half, his team at Helius has been laser-focused on this. They're proactively reaching out to founders, helping with go-to-market (GTM) strategies – that's basically how to launch and promote your project effectively – providing round-the-clock support, and even offering months of free Remote Procedure Calls (RPCs). RPCs are the behind-the-scenes tech that lets apps talk to the blockchain, and getting them for free or discounted is a game-changer for bootstrapped teams.

He sums it up perfectly: "Solana = app chain." In crypto speak, that means Solana is positioning itself as the ultimate chain for building applications, including those wild meme token launches that can go viral overnight. And if you're part of Alliance DAO, you get auto-included in these perks.

Why This Matters for Meme Tokens

Meme tokens thrive on speed, low costs, and community hype – all of which Solana delivers in spades. With more founders flocking to SOL, we're likely to see an explosion of innovative meme projects. Think faster tools for creating tokens, better DEXes (decentralized exchanges) tailored for memes, and integrations that make pumping your favorite cat or dog coin even easier.

This founder surge isn't just numbers on a chart; it's fueling the ecosystem where memes are born. Ethereum's high fees and slower speeds have pushed many meme creators to Solana already, and with support like free RPCs and expert GTM help, expect even more migration. If you're a blockchain practitioner eyeing the next big meme wave, keeping tabs on Solana's growth is key.

Community Reactions and What's Next

The tweet sparked quick responses from the crypto crowd. Builders like Darklake and Jon Walch chimed in, confirming Helius's support has been crucial for their projects. Others echoed the sentiment: Solana's builder energy is "next level."

Looking ahead, as Solana cements its spot as a top L1, meme token enthusiasts should watch for new launches and tools emerging from these founder cohorts. Whether you're trading, creating, or just hodling, this shift could supercharge the meme economy.

Stay tuned to Meme Insider for more updates on how blockchain trends like this impact your favorite tokens. What's your take – is Solana the future of memes? Drop your thoughts below!