Solana Validator Node Count Decreases by 68% in Three Years, Small Nodes Priced Out

Cointelegraph reported on January 29 that data shows the number of validator nodes on the Solana network has dropped sharply—from a March 2023 high of 2,560 to the current 795, a 68% decline—sparking market concerns about the network’s decentralization. Industry insiders note that beyond purging “zombie nodes,” the core driver is the ongoing rise in operating costs plus zero-fee competition from large nodes, which is systematically squeezing out small and medium-sized validators. One independent validator operator said many small nodes aren’t bearish on Solana, but the economic model is no longer sustainable: “Without economic viability, decentralization becomes a charitable act.” Meanwhile, Solana’s Nakamoto Coefficient has fallen from 31 to 20 over the same period, a roughly 35% drop—indicating staked SOL control is shifting toward concentration in a handful of large nodes, reducing the network’s decentralization. Cost details include: - A minimum of $49,000 worth of SOL in the first year just to maintain operations (excluding hardware and servers); - Approximately 401 SOL per year for voting fees; - Daily voting transaction costs that can reach up to 1.1 SOL/day. The trend signal is clear: Solana is gradually shifting from a “broadly participatory node structure” to one dominated by large institutional nodes, which may have profound impacts on the network’s long-term security structure and governance landscape.