Solana Foundation Caps Validator Program at 100 Members, Shifts Focus to Contributors

TLDR

• The Solana Foundation Delegation Program (SFDP) will now cap support at 12 months per validator.
• Validators exit automatically once delegated stake reaches 300,000 SOL.
• Only 100 validators can join, and each must run its own node.
• The foundation will expand separate delegations to major network contributors.
• More than 100 validators have submitted materials to keep receiving support.

The Solana Foundation is changing how it supports validators on the Solana network. Its Solana Foundation Delegation Program, known as SFDP, will now limit both the number of participants and how long each one can receive help.

Under the new rules, only 100 validators can take part in the program. Each participant must also operate its own validator node. The cap sets a firm ceiling on how many operators the foundation backs through SFDP.

Support will last for a maximum of 12 months. Validators will also leave the program automatically once their delegated stake reaches 300,000 SOL.

Jacob Creech, vice president of engineering at the Solana Foundation, explained the changes. His comments came in response to recent controversy over the overhaul, according to a Nov. 10 report by digital asset outlet BlockBeats.

Why the Foundation Is Changing the Program

SFDP was created to help new validators join the network. It was also built to keep the testnet running reliably and to let some validators test network updates before they go live.

Creech said the Solana ecosystem and its validator community have grown over time. As a result, he said the old support model is less able to reflect the network’s changing conditions.

The foundation will now delegate SOL in a more flexible way. Its focus will be on network stability and contributions to the ecosystem. Delegation means the foundation stakes its own SOL with chosen validators, which helps them earn rewards.

Creech said support for new validators will continue. SFDP will still serve as an entry point for newcomers, but with fixed limits on time, stake and size.

Outside of SFDP, the foundation plans to expand separate SOL delegations. These will go to validators that have made major contributions to the network.

The foundation has taken this approach before. It previously delegated stake to ecosystem contributors such as Blueshift and to validators that tested Frankendancer early.

Concerns Over Validator Numbers

The overhaul has raised concerns that the total number of validators on Solana could drop. Creech addressed those worries directly in his explanation.

He said reducing the size of the validator set is not the goal. However, he said the number could decline as a side effect if the foundation cannot find enough high-quality contributors.

The changes come as SOL trades under pressure. The token has fallen below its 20-day moving average of $95.19 and its 50-day moving average of $106.06, based on market data cited alongside the report.

SOL’s relative strength index stood at 23.18 at the time. Traders generally view a reading below 30 as a sign that an asset is oversold.

Trading volume has also been declining, according to the same data. Price levels near $83.50 and $80 have been flagged as support zones.

Validators are still seeking a place in the revised program. More than 100 validators have already submitted materials to continue receiving support, the report said.

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