TLDR
- Solana has launched a formal onchain governance system called Solana Governance Proposals.
- Validators need at least 100,000 SOL staked to submit major governance proposals.
- The new framework lets token holders and validators vote directly on Solana’s future direction.
- Proposals must first secure support from 15% of active stake before moving to a ballot.
- Each vote is weighted by staked SOL and recorded onchain with Merkle proof verification.
Solana has launched an onchain governance system that gives validators and token holders a direct vote. The framework, called Solana Governance Proposals, requires 100,000 SOL to be staked to submit proposals. The change creates a path for policy approval before developers draft documents.
Governance System Defines Proposal Scope
Solana Governance Proposals let validators submit questions about the network’s future onchain. However, only validators with at least 100,000 SOL staked can open that process. Therefore, the rule limits proposals to participants with exposure.
Each proposal uses plain language and asks whether the network should pursue a direction. Then, voting power follows the SOL each participant has staked. The system records the tally onchain and verifies it with a Merkle proof.
That design separates approval from engineering work, which the network had handled through discussion. An SGP asks, “Should we do this?” while a SIMD explains the path. So, Solana can approve direction before developers draft steps.
Threshold and voting schedule set the process
A proposal does not move straight to a vote after submission under the new framework. Instead, it must first gain support from 15% of active stake before reaching a ballot. That filter keeps Solana from voting on issues without backing.
After crossing that threshold, the process follows a schedule based on epochs. The network uses epochs, which last two days, to organize operations. Consequently, Solana aligns the calendar with its rhythm.
To pass, a proposal needs a two-thirds supermajority of stake voting either for or against. The system excludes abstentions from that calculation and sets no minimum turnout requirement. The network can approve a proposal when enough stake supports one side.
Delegators Receive Direct Voting Authority
The framework also expands voting rights for delegators who stake through validators instead of running nodes. Under the design, delegators can override a validator’s vote or vote after validator abstention. This feature keeps voting power closer to token ownership.
The Solana Foundation describes that approach as “staker sovereignty” in the governance design. In effect, delegators do not lose all influence after assigning stake to a validator. Instead, Solana gives them a mechanism to express their preference on major questions.
That change gives Solana a formal governance route for major decisions while preserving SIMDs for implementation details. It also creates an onchain record of support before developers define execution plans. Together, these rules give Solana direct community voting for the first time.
Be the first to comment