In the fast-paced world of cryptocurrency, where meme coins pop up like weeds and promise overnight riches, one voice is reminding us that sometimes the best play is the simplest one: hold onto your Solana (SOL). That's the core message from a recent X thread by @KevinWSHPod, host of the "When Shift Happens" podcast, who dropped some real talk on why SOL is the trade of the cycle.

The thread kicks off with Kevin pointing out that if you'd bought SOL at its cycle bottom—around a 2x dip—you'd already be sitting on a 15x gain, and that's in a liquid, sizable asset. "And it’s about to go much higher," he says. But here's the kicker: "You just have no patience and lost all your SOL in the casino. RIP." Ouch. That "casino" he's referring to? The wild world of meme tokens on Solana, where platforms like Pump.fun let anyone launch a coin, turning trading into a high-stakes game of roulette.

For those new to the scene, Solana is a high-speed blockchain known for its low fees and scalability, making it a hotspot for meme coins—those fun, often joke-based tokens like Dogecoin or newer hits on SOL such as $BONK or $WIF. While memes can moonshot and create millionaires, they're notoriously volatile. Kevin's thread highlights a common pitfall: traders dump their stable SOL holdings to chase meme pumps, only to get rekt when the hype fades.

The community chimed in quick. @0xPrimeX echoed the sentiment: "Well said, most people lost their SOL in the meme casino. But they could have just kept their SOL, and made a fortune." It's a stark reminder that while meme tokens fuel Solana's ecosystem and drive adoption, they're not for the faint-hearted. Patience with blue-chip assets like SOL often outperforms the gamble.

One reply from @noncesensicalll shared a screenshot of their long position on SOL perps via Paradex, boasting a +49.5% gain. Talk about walking the talk!

Not everyone agrees SOL's run is endless. @Jesse8219621144 countered, "Sol has had its run. Its close to a cycle top (if it isn't already in) against BTC. HYPE and only HYPE!" This sparks an important debate in crypto cycles—phases where market sentiment swings from bear to bull. SOL's price has indeed surged, but as Kevin implies, the upside might still be huge if you avoid the distractions.

Even meme enthusiasts got in on the action. @STONKS_SOL, the account for the $STNK memecoin on Solana, replied with the classic "stonks" GIF, capturing that euphoric feeling of gains.

(Pro tip: If you're diving into memes, research the community and tokenomics first. Tools like Dexscreener can help spot red flags.)

Kevin's thread is a wake-up call for blockchain practitioners: in a sea of shiny new tokens, sticking to fundamentals like SOL can build real wealth. As the Solana ecosystem grows—with more DeFi apps, NFTs, and yes, memes—holding the native token positions you for the long haul. If you've been burning SOL on failed meme bets, maybe it's time to rethink your strategy.

Check out the full thread here and join the conversation. What's your take—hold SOL or chase the next meme moonshot?