Solana validator count plunges 68% to 800 nodes as break-even cost hits $17 million per block

Solana’s validator set has reportedly shrunk by 68% over the past two years, leaving about 800 active nodes and stirring concerns over network security. At the same time, the SOL stake needed for a validator to break even has tripled to roughly $17 million per block, intensifying pressure on operators amid one of the asset’s weakest quarters since 2022.