Solana Validator Count Drops Over 68% in Three Years, Ecosystem Divided on Implications

Derived from Odaily, the number of active validators on the Solana network has dropped significantly over the past three years, falling from over 2,500 in March 2023 to around 800 today, a decline of more than 68%. Validators are responsible for running nodes, signing blocks, and maintaining network security, and their numbers are often seen as a key indicator of decentralization. Some community members argue the decline is due to the exit of 'sybil' nodes, suggesting a smaller but more reliable validator set is healthier. Others, including developers from Layer 33, note that many exiting teams were not sybil nodes but left due to economic or technical reasons. The impact of the decline on decentralization depends on the independence and power distribution of the remaining nodes. Discussions are ongoing, and Solana plans to continue efforts to reduce node operation costs and improve tooling to enhance validator sustainability.