During the Korea Blockchain Week 2024, the executive director of the Solana Foundation, Dan Albert, defended the decentralization of the Solana network, explaining that the coordination of patches does not compromise the decentralized nature of the blockchain.

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The defense of Solana’s decentralization: coordinating a patch does not mean centralization

In a context of increasing scrutiny and discussions on the decentralization of blockchains, the Solana Foundation has recently defended its network against accusations of centralization.

During a roundtable at the Korea Blockchain Week (KBW) 2024, Dan Albert, executive director of the Solana Foundation, answered critical questions regarding the decentralized nature of the Solana network.

Specifically, emphasizing that the ability to coordinate a security patch does not equate to centralization.

The debate on the decentralization of Solana has resurfaced after a network validator, known as Laine, revealed details about a critical vulnerability that could have caused the network to block.

The vulnerability, identified on August 9, 2024, required a rapid and coordinated intervention by the validators to avoid possible attacks that could have compromised the entire network.

The coordination to solve this problem has raised doubts among some members of the blockchain community. They have questioned whether such an action can be considered a form of centralization.

However, Albert explained that the coordination necessary to address a security vulnerability does not imply that the network is centralized. Albert, during his speech at KBW 2024, stated:

“It is important not to confuse the ability to coordinate with centralization.”

Albert highlighted that the Solana network is composed of about 1,500 nodes distributed worldwide, managed by an equally large number of individuals.

This vast number of independent nodes is proof of the decentralized nature of the network, according to Albert. He added that the fact that some companies manage more nodes does not compromise the overall decentralization of the network.

The issue of security

The executive director of the Solana Foundation then delved into the topic of security. In particular, explaining that the patch needed to resolve the vulnerability was implemented in an open and transparent manner.

The patch has been made available as open-source software, and no one has been forced to run closed-source versions.

This approach, according to Albert, is in line with the principles of decentralization, where the validators have the freedom to choose which software to run.

“We have the ability to communicate with the validators, or with some of them, on a voluntary basis, but this should not be confused with centralization.”

Albert then highlighted how dialogue within the community is essential to maintaining network security without compromising its decentralized nature.

The criticisms of Solana’s decentralization are not new. Already in 2022, the network had been accused of being too centralized.

Specifically with some members of the community who had suggested that a few actors had the power to shut down and restart the network at their discretion.

These accusations, however, have been firmly rejected by key figures in the Solana ecosystem. They have defended the structure of the network as more decentralized compared to many other blockchains.

The opinion of Unstoppable Finance and other considerations

An example of such defense comes from Unstoppable Finance, a decentralized finance (DeFi) company based on Solana, which has contested the accusations of centralization.

The company argued that the number of validators on the Solana network is higher than that of many other blockchains, which confirms its decentralization more than is believed.

This argument is supported by the fact that, despite the coordination of security patches, Solana continues to be managed by a large number of independent validators, each with the power to decide autonomously.

In conclusion, the discussion about the decentralization of the Solana network continues to be a hot topic in the blockchain community.

However, as argued by Dan Albert and other exponents of the Solana Foundation, the coordination of security patches does not represent a threat to the decentralization of the network.

On the contrary, it is a necessity to ensure the robustness and reliability of a blockchain. Which, by nature, must balance security with the distribution of power among its participants.

Solana, with its vast network of nodes and independent validators, continues to represent an example of how a blockchain can maintain decentralization even in the face of technical and security challenges.