In a statement that has ignited vigorous discussion across the cryptocurrency sector, Solana co-founder Anatoly Yakovenko has made a startling claim: the Solana (SOL) network is more decentralized than its prominent rival, Ethereum (ETH). This assertion directly challenges long-held perceptions about blockchain governance and reopens fundamental questions about Satoshi Nakamoto’s original vision for a decentralized financial system.
Yakovenko presented his case by arguing that by the standard of decentralization envisioned by Satoshi Nakamoto, Solana meets or exceeds Ethereum’s level. He emphasized a core architectural differentiator: Solana’s system structure theoretically allows anyone to verify the entire ledger by running a node, providing independent validation without reliance on trusted third parties. He contrasted this with certain Ethereum Layer 2 scaling solutions and governance models that sometimes employ security councils or multi-signature setups, stressing that in Solana’s model, there is no central authority with the power to confiscate user funds.
The debate centers on a multi-faceted comparison of decentralization metrics. Ethereum currently boasts over 1 million validators following its transition to Proof-of-Stake (PoS), though a significant portion are staked through large providers like Lido Finance. Solana, using a Proof-of-History (PoH) enhanced Proof-of-Stake model, has approximately 2,000 validators. The argument hinges on whether a larger number of validators with potential concentration risk is more or less decentralized than a smaller, more geographically dispersed set.
Other key factors include client software diversity and hardware requirements. Ethereum has several consensus and execution clients (e.g., Geth, Besu), while Solana’s client ecosystem has been primarily built around a single implementation from Solana Labs, though alternatives like Firedancer are in development. On hardware, Yakovenko emphasized that individuals can operate a Solana node using a standard laptop, framing decentralization as a matter of open verification rather than raw validator count.
This discussion arrives at a critical juncture for both networks, as Ethereum continues its post-merge evolution and Solana recovers from past network outages, with both competing for developer mindshare and institutional adoption. The impact of Yakovenko’s statement forces the community to engage with the nuanced reality of what makes a blockchain truly decentralized, with real-world implications for developers, investors, and regulators.
