There has been a significant decrease in the number of validators on the Solana network. While there were over 2,500 validators at the beginning of 2023, the number has now dropped below 900.

This situation brings about two different perspectives. Some see this as a positive development: they view it as the removal of fake nodes and useless nodes, which in turn increases the quality of the network.

However, those working on the infrastructure side point to another reality. High operating costs are forcing even genuine operators to exit. This isn’t just about cleaning up spam—serious validators are also unable to withstand the expenses.

From the perspective of network decentralization, such a sharp decline in the number of validators is a controversial issue. Is Solana’s infrastructure economy sustainable, or will only the big players survive? Time will tell.