CIB Analyst

Solana Foundation's new hires: what does it mean for SOL? The Solana Foundation just poached a Binance marketing chief and a payments veteran from Polygon Labs, betting these hires can unlock institutional deals as SOL struggles to recover. But will relationship-builders actually move the needle for token holders? This post may contain links from our sponsors and affiliates, and Flywheel Publishing may receive compensation for actions taken through them. The Solana Foundation, a Swiss nonprofit that supports the development of the Solana blockchain (CRYPTO:SOL), recently announced the hiring of Rachel Conlan, former marketing chief at Binance, as chief strategy officer, and Jamal Raees, a veteran from Polygon Labs, as general manager of payments. This announcement was made on September 24, 2026. The foundation believes that these new hires will help it secure partnerships with banks, asset managers, and payment companies as financial assets increasingly move to blockchain technology. Currently, Solana leads the way in tokenized stock trading, holding more tokenized stocks than any other blockchain. As of September 25, SOL was trading at $117 - a 2.7% increase for the day - yet it remains down 5.8% for the year and has fallen 39.2% over the past 12 months. So, will these new hires generate renewed interest and demand for SOL among investors? The Solana Foundation hired a marketing chief and a payments executive. Rachel Conlan brings extensive experience from her three years at Binance, one of the largest cryptocurrency exchanges, where she served as global chief marketing officer. Her background also includes senior positions at OKX, CAA Sports, and Havas. At Solana, she will focus on fostering institutional partnerships, driving ecosystem growth, and leading sales initiatives that attract companies to the Solana network. Jamal Raees, joining from Polygon Labs, has experience in payment systems and stablecoins from his previous work at Bridge (now part of Stripe) and Wyre. His role will involve building relationships with payment companies and businesses interested in moving funds over the Solana platform. Lily Liu, the president of the Solana Foundation, emphasized that these hires align with the foundation's vision of a "Token Supercycle," which involves transitioning money and assets to continuously operating internet networks. Because Solana's network is already equipped to handle high trading volumes, these positions will focus primarily on distribution and sales rather than technical engineering. However, specifics such as issuers, venue partners, volume targets, or settlement assets weren't disclosed, leaving stablecoins as the likely default for any institutional investments. Solana leads tokenized stocks, but the sec's new rules favor compliant venues. The foundation reports that Solana has surpassed $620 million in tokenized stocks, a lead over other blockchains. However, this advantage has largely come from offshore platforms and tracker tokens, which mimic stock prices without offering holders voting rights or formal approval from the issuing companies. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has introduced new rules - known as the Innovation Exemption - that may impact trading in tokenized stocks. Under the new regulations, tokenized stock venues must be U.S.-based, use verified wallets, grant token holders full voting and dividend rights, and give companies 30 days' notice before tokenizing their shares. START NOW: Finally! You can open a SoFi Crypto account and access 25+ cryptocurrencies without juggling apps or logins. This means that the previous lead in tokenized stocks doesn't guarantee automatic success in a more regulated environment, and $620 million still represents a small fraction of the entire U.S. stock market. The new hires may help bridge this regulatory gap, but Conlan's past association with Binance, which faced legal issues in the U.S., complicates their strategy for attracting U.S. venues, especially without an active U.S. venue license or issuers' consent. Solana also faces competition from financial institutions like Lloyds, NatWest, and Barclays, which are developing their own blockchain solutions, as demonstrated by their recent transaction of tokenized deposits on September 24. Stablecoin payments on Solana pay little to SOL holders. While Solana stands to gain from these developments, SOL holders may benefit less directly. The network attracts new users and generates fees from developers and platforms operating on Solana, especially if compliant tokenized stocks and payment solutions are implemented. For SOL holders, the main benefits come from transaction fees paid in SOL and staking incentives, which involve locking up SOL to help maintain the network. In 2026, Solana has processed over $5 trillion in stablecoin transactions according to the foundation. Despite this impressive volume, transaction fees are remarkably low, at just 0.000005 SOL per signature - less than a tenth of a cent at a SOL price of $117. As a result, stablecoin transactions generate minimal fees for SOL holders. Additionally, interest in Solana-focused investment funds has declined sharply, with inflows dropping 96% in a single week in early September. While SOL's recent price increases are noteworthy - up 14.9% over the past month and 4.1% over the past week - these gains occurred largely before the new appointments. Do the Solana Foundation's hires move SOL? At this stage, the answer seems to be no. The Solana Foundation has identified a critical challenge: attracting compliant venues, securing investor protection, and collaborating with issuers. These are relationship-focused roles that suit a strategy chief and a payments executive, yet the new hires appear to bring more expertise and connections rather than immediate investment demand for SOL itself. Any institutional investments they might attract are likely to involve stablecoins rather than boosting SOL's price directly. Without a U.S. issuer consenting to tokenize its shares on Solana or the establishment of a compliant U.S. venue on the network, the impact of these hires on SOL's value remains limited. Finally! Access 25+ cryptocurrencies the easy way. After years of waiting for a good option, SoFi now offers access to major cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana, along with more than 25 total digital assets. What stands out isn't just the selection, it's the integration. You don't need a separate app, a new login, or a different funding source. Crypto lives next to the rest of your portfolio, which makes position sizing, rebalancing, and capital deployment far easier for investors who actively manage risk. If you're an active investor who wants crypto exposure without stepping outside a regulated financial ecosystem, SoFi is a top choice. Get started here. (Sponsor) Sam Daodu is a crypto analyst who's spent nearly a decade making blockchain understandable - no easy task when most whitepapers read like fever dreams. He writes for 24/7 Wall St., covering Bitcoin, altcoins, and crypto market analysis for investors. Before crypto, he was a tech writer (back when explaining "the cloud" was peak innovation). Since 2018, he's written for CoinTelegraph, Yahoo Finance, The Block, Cryptonews, Zypto, Rain, and more - basically anywhere people want crypto news without the headache. Sam runs MacLabs Marketing, a content agency for crypto brands tired of sounding like AI wrote their website. He also publishes free crypto education on his site for Web3 enthusiasts who think "gas fees" is a typo. When he's not writing or staring at charts, Sam's either: - Watching anime (currently convinced One Piece has better tokenomics than most altcoins) - At the gym sculpting himself into a Greek god - Listening to the music your mum warned you only bad boys listen to Connect: LinkedIn | Email | MacLabs Marketing

Lloyds to close 37 bank branches with 2 Lancashire sites affected. According to a list published by the bank, the Lloyds branch in Blackpool is scheduled to close on October 13 (Image: Archive) A total of 37 Lloyds Bank branches are set to shut their doors before the end of 2026, including two in Lancashire. Lloyds says changing customer habits and the growing use of digital banking services are behind the latest round of closures, which will affect branches across England and Wales over the coming weeks. According to a list published by the bank, the Lloyds branch in Blackpool is scheduled to close on October 13 and in Accrington on November 3. The move comes as Lloyds has also confirmed major changes for Halifax customers, with digitally active users being moved onto Lloyds' banking platforms as part of a wider rebrand. Customers who currently use Halifax online banking and the Halifax app will begin seeing services phased out from October 5, although exact closure dates will vary and customers will be contacted directly with details about their individual accounts. Lloyds has sought to reassure customers concerned about the changes, stressing that account details, savings rates and insurance products will remain unaffected. The bank said customers switching from Halifax to Lloyds will keep their existing sort codes and account numbers, while any savings account interest rates will also stay the same. Those already using the Halifax app will receive an invitation to move over to the Lloyds app, with the transition taking only a few clicks. Customers will also receive emails explaining how to complete the process. The latest branch closure programme follows a trend seen across the banking sector, with lenders increasingly citing lower demand for in-person services as more customers choose to bank online or via mobile apps. The 37 Lloyds branches due to close before the end of the year include locations in Carlisle, Rochdale, Barnsley, Bristol, Nottingham, Liverpool (Huyton), Leicester, Harrogate and Blackpool. For Lancashire customers, the Blackpool branch will close on October 13 and in Accrington on November 3.

Lloyds share price outlook: what investors should watch in 2026. Lloyds shares face key tests in 2026 as strong profits and capital returns meet interest-rate uncertainty, margin pressure and motor-finance costs that could affect future performance. Published on: 17 Sep 2026, 9:30 pm Updated on: 17 Sep 2026, 9:30 pm Key takeaways -. * Lloyds reported GBP 3.1bn statutory profit after tax and kept its 2026 financial targets intact. * The 1.58p interim dividend and GBP 1bn buyback strengthen the capital-return story for shareholders. * Motor-finance costs, net interest margin and the October results remain important factors for the share price. Lloyds shares trade at 111.25p, up 2.35p or 2.16% at the latest quote. The stock has made a strong move from its 52-week low near 81p and now sits close to its recent high near 117.9p. That leaves the next phase more dependent on profit growth, capital returns, interest rates and the cost of the motor-finance case than on a simple recovery story. The central question for Lloyds now concerns the strength of its earnings. The bank delivered a solid first half, kept its 2026 targets, raised its dividend and added a fresh GBP 1bn buyback. Yet the share price also faces several risks. Net interest margin could face pressure, UK rate policy remains uncertain and the final cost of motor-finance compensation could affect future capital returns. Strong half-year results give Lloyds a firm base. Lloyds reported GBP 9.7bn of net income for the first half of 2026, up 9% year on year. Statutory profit after tax reached GBP 3.1bn, up 23%. Operating costs stood at GBP 4.9bn, flat from a year earlier, while return on tangible equity reached 17.1%, up three percentage points. Loan balances rose 2% year to date, with an increase of GBP 10.4bn, while deposits rose 1%, or GBP 4.4bn. These figures matter as Lloyds seeks further income growth from its large UK customer base. The bank kept its 2026 targets intact. Lloyds expects underlying net interest income above GBP 14.9bn, a cost-to-income ratio below 50%, operating costs below GBP 9.9bn, an asset-quality ratio near 25 basis points and return on tangible equity above 16%. Net interest margin could shape the next move. Lloyds reported a 3.19% net interest margin for the first half. This figure remains central to the earnings outlook. A bank earns much of its income from the gap between loan rates and funding costs, so changes in mortgage prices, deposit rates and customer demand can affect profit. The Bank of England has kept Bank Rate at 3.75%. Its latest guidance points to continued uncertainty around inflation, with higher energy costs adding pressure. The central bank also notes that inflation could rise later in 2026. For Lloyds, the key issue sits in the spread between lending income and funding costs. A stable margin would support the bank's income target. A weaker margin could make that target harder to reach. Capital returns add support for shareholders. Lloyds raised its interim dividend to 1.58p per share, up 30% from the prior year. The bank also announced a GBP 1bn share buyback. Lloyds reported total capital return of GBP 1.9bn for the first half, which includes the dividend increase and buyback. The group held a pro-forma CET1 ratio of 13.1% at the end of June and aims for about 13% at the end of 2026. That target gives the bank scope to return surplus capital while it keeps a strong capital base. This part of the Lloyds story matters for the share price. Dividend income and buybacks can form a large part of total shareholder returns, particularly when the share price trades close to its recent highs. Motor finance remains the main risk. The motor-finance commission case remains the largest clear uncertainty around Lloyds. The bank held GBP 1.95bn of provisions at 30 June 2026 and recorded no extra charge in the first half. The final cost remains unclear. The Financial Conduct Authority has proposed a redress scheme, while legal challenges have affected the process. The FCA said the Upper Tribunal had partially suspended the schemes in July. Any final decision on compensation could alter Lloyds' capital position and future shareholder returns. That makes the eventual cash cost more important than the current provision alone. A cost above the existing provision could place extra pressure on capital. A lower final cost could remove part of that concern. Accelerate 2030 sets a bigger test. Lloyds has also launched its Accelerate 2030 strategy. The group expects mid-single-digit net-income compound growth from 2027 to 2030. It also targets a cost-to-income ratio below 45% by 2030, return on tangible equity above 18% in 2028 and about 20% in 2030. Capital generation could exceed 225 basis points by 2030. Those targets place more focus on cost control and income growth. Lloyds must turn its technology and productivity plans into stronger financial results for the strategy to support a higher long-term valuation. October results could set the next direction. The next major Lloyds update comes on 29 October 2026, when the bank plans to publish its Q3 interim management statement. Preliminary full-year results should follow on 28 January 2027. At 111.25p, Lloyds sits near the upper end of its recent range. The next phase will depend on whether earnings remain strong, capital returns continue and the motor-finance cost stays within the existing provision. A solid third-quarter update could provide fresh evidence for the bank's 2026 targets, while weaker margin data or a larger compensation bill could create pressure around the current share price. The key issue for Lloyds is therefore not just where the share price stands today. The more important test is whether the bank can turn strong capital generation and higher shareholder returns into steady profit growth while it manages the risks that still sit ahead. FAQs. 1. What is the latest Lloyds share price? 2. What is Lloyds targeting for 2026? Lloyds expects underlying net interest income above GBP 14.9bn and return on tangible equity above 16%. 3. What dividend did Lloyds announce? Lloyds raised its 2026 interim dividend to 1.58p per share, a 30% increase from the previous year. 4. What is the main risk for Lloyds shares? The motor-finance commission issue remains a major risk, with GBP 1.95bn in provisions recorded at 30 June 2026. 5. When is the next major Lloyds update? Lloyds plans to publish its Q3 2026 interim management statement on 29 October 2026. Disclaimer: Analytics Insight does not provide financial advice or guidance on cryptocurrencies and stocks. 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