Solana's Protocol Upgrades May Impact Validator Earnings

According to Cointelegraph, Solana's upcoming protocol upgrades are crucial for the network's sustainability but may significantly affect validator earnings. In March, Solana validators will vote on two proposed upgrades, known as Solana Improvement Documents (SIMDs), aimed at ensuring rewards for stakers and adjusting the inflation rate for the SOL token. These proposals have sparked considerable debate, as they could reduce validator revenues by up to 95%, potentially threatening smaller operators, according to VanEck's digital asset research head, Matthew Sigel. Sigel noted that while these changes might decrease staking rewards, reducing inflation is a valuable goal that enhances Solana's long-term viability. The first proposal, SIMD 0123, seeks to introduce an in-protocol mechanism to distribute Solana's priority fees to validator stakers. Currently, priority fees, which account for 40% of network revenues, are not shared with stakers, although validators must pass on other revenue forms like voting rewards. This proposal, set for a vote on March 6, aims to increase staking rewards and discourage off-chain trading agreements, promoting on-chain execution. Staking involves locking up SOL as collateral with a validator on the Solana blockchain, earning SOL payouts from network fees and other rewards, but risking 'slashing' if the validator misbehaves. The second proposal, SIMD 0228, is considered the most impactful. It proposes adjusting SOL's inflation rate to inversely track the percentage of token supply staked, potentially reducing dilution and lowering selling pressure from stakers who view staking rewards as income. As of February, Solana's inflation rate is 4%, down from its initial 8% but still above its target of 1.5%. Inflation currently decreases at a fixed rate of 15% annually. This proposal was primarily drafted by Multicoin Capital's Vishal Kankani. Multicoin, a venture capital firm, holds a significant position in Jito, Solana's most popular staking pool. As of December, over 93% of Solana validators use Jito's software to maximize earnings from block-building. These proposals emerge as asset managers push for regulators to allow SOL exchange-traded funds (ETFs) on US exchanges. Issuers are also requesting US regulators to permit cryptocurrency staking in ETFs to boost returns. Bloomberg Intelligence estimates a 70% chance of SOL ETFs being approved in 2025.