- Solana is implementing a new validator policy to enhance decentralization by phasing out underperforming validators and promoting self-reliance.
- The move aims to strengthen the network by reducing reliance on the Solana Foundation while improving transparency and decentralization.
Solana Foundation Ups the Ante on Decentralization
Solana has made a decisive shift toward true decentralization by revamping its validator management policy, with the goal of fostering a more self-reliant and transparent validator ecosystem. The newly introduced strategy will gradually remove underperforming validators, encouraging participants to stand on their own feet—without overreliance on foundation delegation.
Ben Hawkins, Head of Solana’s Staking Ecosystem, made it clear in a recent Discord announcement: “For every new validator joining the Solana Foundation Delegation Program (SFDP), three will be removed.” Validators that haven’t secured at least 1,000 SOL in external stake after 18 months will be ousted from the delegation program. This, the Foundation believes, is necessary to cultivate a healthier network.
Addressing Validator Dependence: An Industry-Wide Wake-Up Call
The new policy has sparked important conversations across the crypto community. Kydo from EigenLayer emphasized the need for transparency, noting that many current validators only exist because they were “spawned” by the Solana Foundation. His concerns bring attention to the risk of centralization through over-dependence and highlight the importance of knowing how many validators truly operate independently.
According to research by Helius, up to 57% of validators could struggle to stay afloat without the SFDP, primarily due to the burden of voting fees—expenses vital to network participation.
Towards a More Resilient Network
Despite the immediate risks, the policy aims to increase Solana’s Nakamoto Coefficient, a key decentralization metric currently around 19. A higher coefficient means more validators are needed to compromise the network, reflecting increased resilience and decentralization.
This shift may be uncomfortable for some, but long-term benefits could include a more robust, decentralized infrastructure that’s less reliant on a central foundation.
The Road Ahead
Solana’s new validator strategy is a bold push toward sustainable decentralization. While some validators may fall, the long-term vision is clear: build a network where strength lies in independence, not in lifelines. This transformation could reshape not just Solana’s ecosystem, but how the crypto world views true decentralization.
