TLDR
- Liquidity clusters at $140–$141 and $144–$146 are shaping short-term SOL price direction.
- Analysts expect a potential liquidity sweep before Solana attempts its next expansion.
- Four-hour charts show active demand and a developing higher-low structure.
- Higher-timeframe resistance keeps SOL range-bound until a confirmed breakout.
Solana(SOL) price is trading within a tightening range as technical indicators outline potential paths for the next move. Liquidity positioning, short-term structure, and higher-timeframe resistance are converging to define critical decision levels. Analysts suggest SOL price is approaching zones that could determine whether momentum expands or consolidation persists.
Liquidity Heatmap Defines Short-Term Solana Price Targets
According to analyst Ted Pillows, the chart indicates a liquidity heatmap of recent Solana price action. The highlights zones where large clusters of resting orders are concentrated. Such zones often act as magnets, drawing price as the market seeks to rebalance inefficiencies.
The most prominent downside liquidity sits between $140 and $141. Solana price has already pulled back from recent highs and is gradually drifting toward this region. Ted noted that when liquidity remains untested, price commonly gravitates toward it before initiating a stronger directional move.
$SOL has 2 decent liquidity clusters right now.
On the downside, there's a liquidity cluster around the $140-$141 level.
On the upside, there's a liquidity cluster around the $144-$146 level.
I think a retest of the $138-$140 level before the next leg up is highly likely to… pic.twitter.com/yshOjfLji9
— Ted (@TedPillows) January 18, 2026
On the upside, another significant liquidity cluster appears between $144 and $146. This zone corresponds to recent local highs, where upside attempts have previously stalled. The analyst further suggests a possible sequence where price first dips toward the $138–$140 zone, clearing sell-side liquidity, before attempting another expansion higher.
Such behavior reflects a common liquidity-driven structure. Markets often reset by sweeping nearby liquidity before continuation. Until these zones are fully engaged, short-term Solana price action may remain rotational rather than trending.
Four-Hour Chart Shows Constructive Solana Price Structure
Meanwhile, analyst Crypto Pirates provided insight from a four-hour timeframe perspective. The chart outlines a corrective phase following a clear swing high. Solana price has retraced into a defined demand zone that previously supported impulsive advances.
Within this zone, several candles show long lower wicks and limited downside follow-through. This pattern suggests buyers are stepping in earlier, absorbing sell pressure. The lack of aggressive breakdown indicates that demand remains active at these levels.
$SOL long setup forming nicely on the 4H.
Letting price pull back into demand, then looking for LTF confirmation to bid. pic.twitter.com/IOaHZnDT9S
— Crypto Pirates 🏴☠️ (@DaCryptoPirates) January 18, 2026
The broader structure remains intact as long as the recent swing low holds, with the chart favoring consolidation rather than an immediate breakout. Projected movements indicate the price may compress further before resolving higher.
Importantly, this setup aligns with a classic higher-low formation. If the demand zone continues to hold, Solana price could rotate back toward the prior swing high. However, patience remains critical while price builds structure.
Higher-Timeframe Resistance Continues to Cap Solana Price
From a higher-timeframe view, analyst Daan Crypto Trades highlighted a well-defined resistance band overhead. This level has capped upside attempts multiple times across recent months. As long as the price remains below it, the broader structure stays range-bound.
Below current levels, a green support zone has repeatedly absorbed selling pressure. Each test of this area has attracted buyers, preventing sustained downside continuation. This behavior reflects ongoing proof of value rather than distribution.
Daan noted that consolidation beneath resistance often signals balance within the market. It does not necessarily imply weakness. Expansion typically follows such phases, but confirmation remains essential before shifting directional bias.
Until Solana price reclaims and holds above the marked resistance, conditions remain neutral. Continued rejection would extend the existing range. A confirmed breakout would signal a shift in higher-timeframe structure.
