Node Count Drops 70%, This Time Solana Is in a Hurry
Solana's validator count has dropped by 70% from its peak of 2,560 in March 2023 to around 756, accompanied by a 35% decrease in its Nakamoto coefficient, indicating increased centralization. This decline is largely due to the phasing out of the Solana Foundation Delegation Program (SFDP), which previously subsidized smaller validators. Many of these validators were economically unviable without support, controlling only 19% of the total stake, while larger nodes held over 80%.
In response, Solana is implementing a new validator policy effective May 1, focusing on infrastructure decentralization. The policy imposes limits: no single Autonomous System Number (ASN) can host more than 25% of staked SOL, and no single data center can exceed 15%. It also enforces stricter performance rules, including faster transaction processing and anti-censorship measures, to improve network reliability and security.
Critics, like node operator Chainflow, argue that the rules may unfairly penalize competent smaller validators based on their hosting location rather than performance, potentially forcing them into less reliable infrastructure and accelerating their decline.
Amid ambitions to become a "Nasdaq on-chain" for global capital markets, Solana trails Ethereum and BNB Chain in real-world asset (RWA) value but leads in user activity. The network's upgrades aim to enhance stability and reduce finality times, competing with Ethereum's efforts to scale and decentralize further. The success of Solana's new policies is crucial for gaining institutional trust and competing effectively in the evolving blockchain landscape.
marsbit04/10 04:08
