📉 The number of Solana validators has decreased by 68% due to node expenses

📊 The number of Solana validators has decreased by 68% since 2023, falling from 2,560 nodes to 795.

🛡 Rising operational costs and competition from zero-fee operators are forcing smaller operators out of the market.

💰 An independent operator noted that many small validators are considering closure due to an unsustainable economy.

⚙️ The Nakamoto coefficient, which measures decentralization, has also decreased by 35%, indicating a less distributed staking supply.

📅 Validators now face initial investments of at least $49,000 in SOL tokens for the first year, plus ongoing voting fees. This trend raises concerns about the future of decentralization in the Solana network as large operators dominate the validator landscape.