If you're deep into the Solana ecosystem, you've probably seen FabianoSolana's latest tweet that's got everyone talking. As a DeFi pro making a living in the space, he dropped a straightforward tier list breaking down his take on Solana DeFi tokens—from the heavy hitters that make up most of his portfolio to those wild surprise picks that could shake things up. It's a mix of blue-chip stability and meme coin energy, perfect for anyone looking to navigate the volatile world of blockchain investments.
Check out the original tweet here to see the full context and join the discussion.
This visual breakdown categorizes tokens based on their role in a balanced portfolio. Fabiano asks, "What did I forget? What would you change?"—inviting community input that's already sparked suggestions like adding $RECC or emphasizing $FARTCOIN. Let's break it down category by category, with a focus on the meme coin angle since that's where Solana really shines with its low fees and fast transactions, making it a hotspot for viral tokens.
The Foundation: 80% of the Portfolio
Fabiano allocates the lion's share to what look like reliable anchors in the Solana DeFi space. The logos suggest staples like $BTC (likely wrapped versions for DeFi use), $SOL (the native token powering the chain), $SUI, $TON, $PUMP (tied to Pump.fun, Solana's go-to meme coin launcher), $POPCAT (a viral cat-themed meme coin that's topped charts in 2025), $CARROT (a yield-bearing stablecoin wrapper for easy DeFi earnings), and $DRIFT (a popular perpetual futures DEX on Solana).
These picks emphasize stability and liquidity. For instance, $SOL is essential for anyone in DeFi—it's the gas for transactions on Solana, which boasts thousands of transactions per second at fractions of a cent. Meme coins like $POPCAT add fun; inspired by the internet's Popcat meme, it's community-driven and has seen massive adoption for its playful vibe, making it a solid hold in a diversified portfolio.
Tokens with Big Upside Potential
Next up are the tokens Fabiano sees as having massive growth ahead. The icons here include a fish (possibly $SHARK or a similar aquatic meme), a green pill (evoking $PILL or red-pill themed projects), and a smiling cloud ($CLOUD, perhaps a storage or AI-related DeFi play).
In the meme world, these could represent emerging narratives on Solana where community hype drives value. Solana's speed makes it ideal for such tokens, where quick pumps can turn small positions into big wins. If you're new to this, "upside potential" means these have room to grow but come with higher volatility—think 10x or more if they catch on.
Undervalued Gems
This tier is all about tokens flying under the radar but packed with value. Recognizable logos point to $RAY (Raydium, Solana's leading AMM DEX with a sun-like emblem), $BONK (the iconic Shiba Inu meme coin dubbed the "people's dog coin"), $PENG (a penguin-themed meme that's waddled its way into popularity), and others like a lightning bolt ($BOLT?) and a graph ($GRT, The Graph's oracle service).
$BONK stands out as a meme coin success story on Solana. Launched to reward early adopters, it's built a loyal community and even integrated into DeFi protocols for staking and yields. Undervalued means these are trading below their true worth—great for long-term holders looking for asymmetric returns. Raydium, for example, facilitates swaps and liquidity pools, making it a backbone of Solana DeFi.
Small Cap and Beta Plays
For the risk-takers, Fabiano lists small-cap tokens that could beta the market (move more extremely than the overall crypto trend). Icons include a yellow YT (yield token plays?), a chef hat ($CHEF or cooking-themed memes), a red arrow ($UP or directional bets), a green crocodile ($CROC, perhaps a predatory meme), and a blue F ($F or something niche).
Small caps on Solana are where meme magic happens—low market caps mean high potential multipliers, but also higher rug pull risks. These are "beta plays" because they amplify market moves; if Solana pumps, these could skyrocket.
The Wild Cards: ??? Surprise
The bottom tier is the fun part—mysterious surprises with logos like $MZ, $LE, $FARTCOIN (spelled as FARTWAY in the image, but community replies confirm it's the fart-themed meme), $ORCA (the orca whale DEX for automated trading), and others like a chart arrow ($I?) and a star ($X or $STAR).
$FARTCOIN got a shoutout in the replies, with one user calling it their favorite DeFi token (though Fabiano admitted getting burned on it recently). $ORCA is more established DeFi, allowing users to create liquidity pools and earn fees—it's user-friendly for beginners dipping into Solana. These surprises could be the next big memes, especially with Solana's ecosystem fostering quirky, community-led projects.
The community weighed in quickly, with replies praising the list's focus on Solana DeFi's strength and suggesting tweaks like adding $RECC for upside. One commenter summed it up: "DeFi looking good on Solana." It's a reminder that while tier lists like this provide a snapshot, the crypto space evolves fast—always do your own research (DYOR) and consider factors like total value locked (TVL) and community sentiment.
If you're building your own Solana portfolio, this tier list from FabianoSolana is a solid guide, blending DeFi utility with meme coin excitement. Whether you're stacking $SOL for stability or hunting undervalued memes like $BONK and $PENG, Solana remains a top chain for innovation in 2025. What changes would you make? Drop your thoughts in the comments below!