Coinbase delays transactions on Solana due to memecoin frenzy: what’s happening?

The recent Solana transactions on Coinbase have experienced significant delays, triggering reactions among users. 

This situation emerged following an exponential increase in activity on the Solana network, generated by the launches of the memecoins “TRUMP” and “MELANIA,” announced on January 18 and 19, 2025, respectively. 

These events have created congestion on the blockchain, which has put pressure not only on Solana but also on the infrastructure of Coinbase.

The cause of Solana delays at Coinbase: a mix of congestion and internal management

According to Brian Armstrong, CEO of Coinbase, the platform had not anticipated such an increase in activity related to Solana. “Our team is working to scale the Solana infrastructure,” Armstrong stated on January 19 on X (formerly Twitter). 

However, some reports indicate that the delays of Coinbase may not depend solely on the blockchain network, but also on the internal management of transactions on the exchange.

Mert Mumtaz, CEO of the infrastructure provider Solana Helius, emphasized that “the delays on Coinbase are not directly related to the Solana blockchain.” The network, in fact, has maintained 100% uptime over the last 90 days, demonstrating technical stability despite the peak in activity.

The origin of the congestion dates back to the launch of the memecoin by the team of Donald Trump and Melania Trump. The memecoin, released in anticipation of the presidential inauguration on January 20, attracted a massive number of users.

Moonshot, the platform indicated for the purchase of these tokens, has registered over 200,000 new on-chain users, increasing the trading volume on Solana.

This intense traffic has slowed down processing times, negatively affecting the user experience on Coinbase. Some users have reported delays of up to 15 hours for the completion of USDC transactions on Solana, a situation that has raised criticisms towards both the blockchain and the exchange.

Coinbase: a solution on the way?

In response to the issues, a spokesperson for Coinbase stated: “We are aware of the delays that some users are facing, but we are actively working to resolve the problem. The bull and bear operations of purchase, sale, and fiat withdrawal are not affected.”

Coinbase’s commitment focuses on optimizing its infrastructure to handle the peaks of activity generated by unpredictable events such as the launch of memecoins. However, it is evident that the platform must improve its adaptability in congestion situations, thus ensuring a more reliable service for users.

Despite the recent issues, Solana continues to be one of the most performant blockchains, thanks to its scalability and low transaction costs. The network has kept its infrastructure operational during the peak of activity, demonstrating a resilience that could consolidate user trust in the long term.

For Coinbase, on the other hand, the main challenge is to prevent similar issues from damaging the reputation of the exchange. Being one of the most popular platforms in the United States, its role in the crypto ecosystem is fundamental, and the management of infrastructures for blockchains like Solana will be a crucial factor for future success.

Conclusions

The case of delays in Solana transactions on Coinbase highlights the importance of a robust and scalable infrastructure to cope with the volatility of the crypto sector. 

Although Solana has demonstrated a certain technical reliability, recent events highlight that even the best ecosystems can be tested by external factors. 

Coinbase, for its part, will have to work to ensure a stable user experience, regardless of activity peaks.

With the ongoing interest in Solana and the rise of memecoin, it will be interesting to see how these players will face similar challenges in the future.