The Solana token (SOL) is used in the Solana blockchain ecosystem for a variety of purposes, including the following:

1. **Transaction Fees**: SOL is used to pay transaction fees and smart contracts on the Solana network. Transaction fees help prevent spam and keep the network secure.

2. **Staking**: SOL holders can participate in staking by freezing their tokens to support the security and operation of the network. In return, they are rewarded with new SOL tokens.

3. **Governance**: SOL can be used to vote on proposals and changes to the Solana protocol. Token holders have the ability to influence the future development of the network.

4. **Payments for Services and Applications**: In the Solana ecosystem, many decentralized applications (dApps) and services accept SOL as payment for their services.

5. **Investments and Trading**: SOL is actively traded on various cryptocurrency exchanges and is used as an investment tool.