Solana’s validator count has dropped 68% since 2023 as rising costs and zero-fee competition push smaller node operators offline. Solana’s validator count has fallen dramatically over the past three years, raising concerns about the blockchain network’s decentralization as the economics of running a node squeezes out smaller operators. The number of Solana validators fell 68% to 795 as of Wednesday, from a peak of 2,560 validator nodes in March 2023, according to Solanacompass data. Validators are responsible for adding new blocks and verifying transactions in proposed blocks, playing a vital role in the operations of the decentralized ledger. Read more
WisdomTree adds Solana to its tokenized fund lineup, citing transaction speed as it expands a regulated multi-chain strategy. American asset management company WisdomTree said on Wednesday that it is expanding its tokenized funds onto the Solana network as part of its “multi-chain deployment strategy.” The exchange-traded product issuer said the strategic expansion enables both institutional and retail users to “mint, trade, and hold WisdomTree’s full suite of tokenized funds on Solana, supporting the growth of on-chain offerings.” All of the company’s tokenized funds — including money market, equities, fixed income, alternatives, and asset allocation — can now be traded on Solana. Read more
Even as SOL price drops, whale accumulation amid declining exchange supply and strengthening onchain metrics point to a potential for recovery. Solana (SOL) price dropped below $130 for the first time since Jan. 2 as onchain data suggested that a strong recovery could be in the cards for the top-10 altcoin. Key takeaways: SOL dips below $130 amid marketwide pullback, but whales remain confident as they load up more tokens. Read more