The Solana Foundation has announced a significant change to its validator program aimed at improving the decentralization of the network. The new policy will see the removal of three existing validators for every new validator added.
Change in Solana's Validator Program
The new policy from the Solana Foundation includes the removal of three existing validators, who have been active for over 18 months and hold less than 1,000 SOL in external stake, for every new validator added to the network. The aim is to reduce dependence on foundation stake delegation and enhance overall decentralization, which is a core tenet of blockchain ecosystems.
Importance of Changes for Solana's Future
Solana has been praised for its performance and low transaction fees. However, concerns regarding decentralization have arisen periodically, particularly relating to stake distribution. This updated validator policy is designed to directly address these issues by allowing new participants with solid community backing to enter the network more easily.
Implications for Validators and Stakeholders
For existing validators, this serves as a wake-up call, making the attraction of external stake more crucial than ever. It puts pressure on validators to engage more actively with delegators and provide transparent, quality services. For token holders, the changes represent a positive step toward a more resilient and distributed network.
The updated validator policy indicates Solana's commitment to evolving towards a more decentralized and healthy validator ecosystem, which is essential for the network's long-term viability.