According to U.Today, Solana is implementing significant measures to enhance the fairness and integrity of its network. The Solana Foundation recently took the unexpected step of unstaking validators found to be sharing mempool transactions. This move is part of a broader initiative to reduce Maximum Extractable Value (MEV) and maintain a trustworthy ecosystem.
Several operators in the Solana Foundation Delegation Program were removed due to their involvement in sharing mempool transactions. Such actions can lead to MEV-related activities like sandwich attacks, where a malicious actor surrounds a victim's transaction to exploit price variations.
The Solana Foundation's final decision to eliminate these validators is still awaiting enforcement actions. MEV is a significant issue on blockchain networks. Validators can increase their profits from blockchain transactions by rearranging, adding, or removing transactions within a block. The Solana Foundation aims to enhance network security and ensure fair transaction processing by opposing validators who engage in such activities. This makes Solana a more attractive platform and helps build trust among investors and users.
There are speculations that some validators might continue with MEV procedures despite these precautions if they lack access to specialized tools like Jito. However, the Solana Foundation and its investors, who provide a substantial portion of the funding for Solana validators, have the power to influence validators' actions, potentially preventing them from executing MEV.
While the foundation's decision may seem erratic in the short term, it is a clear commitment to making the network safer and more secure. The long-term benefits will result in a more transparent and trustworthy ecosystem. However, some may argue that this decision contradicts the principle of decentralization.