The Solana Foundation has introduced a significant change in its validator onboarding process. The new approach states that for every new validator added to the Solana Foundation Delegation Program (SFDP) on the mainnet, three existing validators will be removed as per specific criteria. The main aim of this adjustment is to reduce reliance on Foundation-backed delegation and promote the development of active validators.

The Head of Staking Ecosystem, Ben Hawkins, disclosed this policy shift on Discord, with the CEO of Helius, Mert Mumtaz, sharing the statement on X platform. The criteria for removing validators include having less than 1,000 SOL in external stake and being eligible for delegation on the mainnet for at least 18 months. The Solana Foundation referred to these validators as "VINO" - Validator in Name Only.

Hawkins highlighted that this change is in line with Solana network's emphasis on decentralization. By decreasing the number of validators dependent on centralized delegations, space is created for those who actively contribute to the ecosystem. This strategy is expected to enhance the network's operational efficiency by encouraging greater involvement and efficient resource utilization.

Users on X platform have acknowledged this move as a positive step towards long-term network health and increased decentralization. The Solana Foundation's Delegation Program is crucial for supporting validators and ensuring a decentralized and resilient network. Program benefits include covering vote costs in the initial year, gradually reducing over time, and a matching stake of up to 100,000 SOL from the Foundation.

Any remaining SOL held by the Foundation is distributed among eligible validators, contingent on meeting performance benchmarks and operating a Solana validator on the testnet.