The Solana Foundation Delegation Program offers stake to eligible validators but gives conflicting guidance on when outside stake ends a participant’s eligibility, leaving a key exit rule inconsistent.
Known as SFDP, the program delegates Solana (SOL) to qualifying validators and aims to help newer operators join the network. It also supports testnet operations and lets operators assess network changes before deployment.
Membership runs for 12 months from the first mainnet epoch at which a validator becomes eligible for Foundation stake. The FAQ and delegation criteria page differ on the amount of outside stake that ends support. Their onboarding details also diverge: the FAQ says 100 testnet validators are added each week, while the criteria page describes a monthly schedule. EconoTimes previously covered the program’s conflicting retirement rules.
The FAQ says testnet operators pay the cost of running their nodes. Separately, eligible vote-cost coverage declines during a participant’s first year: 100% in the first quarter, then 75%, 50% and 25% in subsequent quarters before ending. The Foundation says the staged reduction is meant to encourage validators to build community stake that can sustain their operations.
Validators who leave the program may continue operating on Solana and apply for renewal, according to the FAQ. The Foundation also plans to broaden separate stake support for validators making major contributions to the ecosystem.
