9 hour ago
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Solana Network Validator Count Drops 68% Over Three Years
The Solana network has experienced a significant reduction in its validator count, decreasing by more than 68% over the past three years. Currently, the number of validators has fallen to approximately 800 from an initial count of around 2,500. This decline raises concerns about the network's health and security.
- The decrease in validators may be due to ledger pruning, which involves removing inactive or redundant nodes to enhance network efficiency without compromising security.
- Validators are essential for blockchain operations as they run nodes, confirm transactions, and maintain system integrity.
- The reduction might eliminate "Sybil validators," potentially benefiting the network by reducing entities with excessive control.
- However, some of the departed validators were legitimate node operators, suggesting that fewer validators do not inherently improve network quality.
- The impact on Solana depends on the independence and power distribution among remaining validators.
Additionally, Solana is facing liquidity challenges, with trading activity showing a negative trend. On-chain data indicates a 30-day average realized profit-to-loss ratio below 1 since mid-November, typical of bear markets and indicating frequent trader losses.
