Solana Team is preparing to open the doors of a physical store in New York

In an effort to raise awareness of the Solana blockchain and Web3 in general, the team behind open-source blockchain Solana (SOL) is getting ready to open its physical store to the public in New York City, USA.

The Solana Foundation, a nonprofit devoted to the expansion of the Solana network, helped launch the store, known as Solana Spaces, which is housed in a mall in Hudson Yards.

It does not appear that the store is yet open. According to several reports, the store has only been accessible to "preview visitors" so far, and according to Solana Spaces, 30 previews were offered on Wednesday. The store is scheduled to open today, says Fortune.

Solana Spaces wants to be "the friend" who demonstrates how to get a wallet, your first airdrop, your first membership in a decentralized autonomous organization (DAO), and more, according to the store's official Twitter account.

"ESpaces is everyone’s first crypto friend. Inside, you’ll learn how Solana works, what Web3 is. We’ll set you up with a wallet and your first NFTs, and guide you through your first on-chain transactions," it said earlier this month.

In addition, Solana Spaces stated that the store was intended to serve as a "cultural center" and "embassy" for the Solana community.

"We’ll be an event host, a launchpad, and a purveyor of Solana culture – including a whole new set of merch, and frequent limited edition collaborations with brands in and outside of crypto" the statement read.

Additionally, the store has announced Magic Eden, a significant NFT marketplace with headquarters in Solana, as a launch partner, bringing NFT collections, including Solana's collection Degenerate Ape Academy, to the store.

According to the aforementioned Fortune article, the store is stocked with branded merchandise, has an interactive installation, and has Degenerate Ape Academy NFTs all over its walls.

With a market cap of USD 13.68 billion, Solana's native token SOL is currently the ninth largest cryptocurrency. The blockchain was introduced as a substitute for the more expensive Ethereum (ETH), but it is struggling to live up to that expectation, especially given how frequently it goes down.

On the news, SOL is rising sharply in the meantime. It has increased by 8% to USD 39.6 as of 10:05 UTC on Thursday morning. It is down more than 6% in a week and up almost 3% in a month.

By fLEXI tEAM