- KBW 2024: Discussing Solana Network Vulnerability
- Arguments for Decentralization
- Previous Centralization Accusations
At the Korea Blockchain Week (KBW) 2024, Solana Foundation’s executive director Dan Albert stated that patch coordination does not mean network centralization. This statement was in response to recent claims that Solana lacks decentralization.
KBW 2024: Discussing Solana Network Vulnerability
On August 9, Solana validator Laine shared the details of a critical vulnerability that could have halted the network. Validators coordinated the patch behind the scenes to prevent attackers from exploiting the vulnerability. The quiet distribution of the patch led some to question the network's decentralization.
Arguments for Decentralization
Responding to a question at KBW 2024, Albert explained that the patch was deployed due to a security vulnerability that could have caused a liveness issue on the Solana mainnet. Albert emphasized that the ability to coordinate a fix does not mean centralization. According to him, there are 1,500 block-producing nodes managed by nearly as many individuals in the network.
Previous Centralization Accusations
The Solana network has faced centralization accusations multiple times. In 2022, a community member claimed that a few individuals could shut down and restart the network. However, Solana-based decentralized finance firm Unstoppable Finance argued that Solana’s validator count is higher than other blockchains, making the network more decentralized than many believe.
Dan Albert emphasized that the ability to coordinate patches in the Solana network is not an indication of centralization. This capability is due to interaction with active members of the community and ecosystem.
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