Solana launches payment channels capable of 1 million TPS

Solana has launched new payment channel technology capable of processing over 1 million transactions per second (TPS). Developed in partnership with Alibaba Cloud, the system is designed to facilitate high-frequency microtransactions, specifically targeting AI-agent payments and API usage.

The technology utilizes a “bar tab” model where users authorize a spending ceiling on-chain, allowing subsequent transactions to occur off-chain via signed messages. This process reduces on-chain activity and costs, with estimated transaction fees as low as $0.000000000776. Settlement occurs in a single on-chain transaction once the spending limit is reached or the session ends.

In controlled testing involving 100,000 parallel wallets, the system demonstrated a capacity for 80 billion payments in a 24-hour period. While this benchmark significantly exceeds the peak capacities of traditional payment processors like Visa and Mastercard, analysts note that the technology's real-world utility will depend on its ability to transition from lab-controlled stress tests to global commercial applications.