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SolanaClick here for more Details validator staking rules are undergoing major changes to encourage a healthier and more decentralized network.
The Solana Foundation announced it will now remove three long-standing validators for every new validator added to its Delegation Program. The validators facing removal are those with under 1,000 SOL in external stake. Solana validator staking rules are designed to reward those earning true community support rather than relying heavily on the Foundation.
Some data researchers predict that around 150 validators could lose their foundation stake based on current levels. This adjustment emphasizes Solana’s goal: strengthening network decentralization by having validators secure organic backing instead of foundation subsidies.
Boosting Community-Backed Validators
The Solana Foundation holds a significant amount of $SOL tokens, some of which are used to support small validators. Those who join the Delegation Program must undergo KYC checks and receive assistance covering voting costs for a year. However, the foundation has shown willingness to remove validators before. In June 2024, a group was removed for operating private mempools, which risk sandwich attacks.
Solana validator staking rules are now pushing validators to secure real backing. This step is expected to gradually eliminate over-reliance on Foundation-provided stake. Last year, Helius reported that 72% of Solana validators received foundation support. Cutting back on this reliance is viewed as crucial to decentralizing the network and building genuine validator strength.
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Challenges Ahead for Small Validators
Validators earn revenue from inflation, priority fees, and MEV, all of which grow with more stake delegation. With the updated Solana validator staking rules, smaller validators are pressured to attract authentic delegations or potentially face shutting down operations.
The Delegation Program initially helped bootstrap a broader validator set, but sustaining freeloaders was never a long-term solution. The shift represents a tough, yet needed, maturation step for Solana’s validator ecosystem.
Staking rules could reshape the network
However, the environment for small validators remains challenging. First, the market activity slowdown impacted their earnings. Now, stricter staking rules create even more pressure. Further down the road, a possible reduction in Solana’s emission rates could squeeze validator revenues even tighter.
Although painful for some, these new Solana validator staking rules are seen as a necessary evolution. They promote a more competitive, resilient, and truly decentralized validator network, setting Solana up for stronger long-term growth.
