The number of Solana validators has decreased by more than 68% over the past three years, and opinions have diverged within the ecosystem.

According to Odaily Planet Daily, the number of active validators on the Solana Network has decreased significantly over the past three years: from over 2,500 active nodes in March 2023 to approximately 800 currently, a drop of over 68%. Validators are responsible for running nodes, participating in block signing, and maintaining network security; changes in their numbers are often considered an important indicator of the degree of decentralization.

Ecosystem participants have offered various interpretations of this significant contraction. Some community members believe that this decline is primarily due to "sybil nodes" leaving the network, arguing that "having 800 reliable validators is healthier than having 3000 sybil nodes," and pointing out that reducing nodes that do not contribute significantly actually helps improve network quality.

However, some infrastructure teams hold a different view. Developers from Layer 33 stated that they know many teams that recently shut down their nodes, and these exits "are mostly not Sybil, but rather chose to cease operations due to economic or technical factors." Therefore, a decrease in the number of validators cannot be simply equated with improved decentralization; its true impact depends on the independence and power distribution of the remaining nodes.

The report indicates that discussions will continue, and Solana will continue to focus on reducing node operating costs and improving tool support to enhance the sustainability of network validators. (criptonoticias)