Solana (CRYPTO:SOL) emerges as the preferred allocation among three major cryptocurrencies heading into the September 30 quarter-end, according to an analysis by 24/7 Wall St. The recommendation hinges on Solana's consistent performance across recent timeframes and its scheduled network upgrade, whereas XRP (CRYPTO:XRP) and Zcash (CRYPTO:ZEC) face distinct structural headwinds. As funds prepare for portfolio rebalancing at the end of the quarter, the timing of network events becomes a decisive factor for investors adjusting their holdings.
As of September 22, Solana is priced at $118, XRP at $1.57, and Zcash at $1,520. Solana is the only asset among the three to have gained value in every recent evaluation period. The token rose 23.10% this week and 24.90% for the month. Year-to-date, Solana is down just 4.23% from its starting price of $124, making it the least depreciated asset of the group, though it remains down 45.96% year over year. The primary catalyst is the Alpenglow upgrade, set to activate on mainnet on September 28. This update replaces the current voting method with a system called Votor, aiming to reduce transaction finality from approximately 12.8 seconds to roughly 150 milliseconds. Because the upgrade rolls out over multiple epochs, which are roughly 38-hour windows for validator turnover, its full effect will extend into early October.
XRP presents a different profile. The asset gained 19.78% this week, climbing from $1.28 to its current level of $1.57. However, analysts characterize this move as a recovery rather than a breakout. Over the past month, XRP has gained only 1.02%, and it stands down 16.48% from its December 31, 2025 closing price of $1.84. The recent weekly surge largely reverses losses incurred following a Senate vote on September 15. While the XRP Ledger's Batch amendment is scheduled to go live at 14:06 UTC on September 29, provided validator support holds above the required 80% threshold, Ripple has indicated that institutional readiness should mitigate launch risks. Buying at the current price is viewed as chasing a rebound from recent lows rather than anticipating new momentum.
Zcash occupies a unique position with significant year-to-date gains. The token is up 187.51% from its starting price of $510, representing a 2,908.51% increase over the past year. It rose 32.34% this week and 71.62% for the month. The rally followed Grayscale's introduction of its Zcash Trust ETF in late August and a September 15 vote by holders to shorten block intervals from 75 seconds to 25 seconds. While a design deadline for this change is set for September 30, no specific activation date has been confirmed. The primary risk for Zcash is the magnitude of its recent price increase; as a top gainer entering quarter-end rebalancing, it faces potential selling pressure if expectations are not met.
The analysis concludes that Solana offers the most favorable risk-reward profile due to its timely upgrade and smaller annual dip. However, a specific downside risk exists: Solana hit a low of $96 on September 15, which is about 19% below its current price. A drop below this level before the September 28 activation would undermine the investment case.