Solana Begins Network Congestion Fixes

Solana has started to roll out updates aimed at improving system performance. The first of these updates, version v1.17.31, was introduced early Monday by Anza, a developer team that originated from Solana Labs. This initial release does not purport to completely solve the congestion but marks a significant first step towards a more stable network.

The new Agave validator client update, run by the computers that maintain the Solana network, introduces preliminary fixes. Anza has emphasized that while this update includes enhancements to mitigate some of the congestion, it is part of a broader strategy to address network issues, with further improvements expected in version v1.18.

Solana has faced severe challenges recently, with its network issues obstructing transactions and affecting other basic functionalities. These problems have arisen amid a surge in trading activities, especially with meme coins and other tokens on the network. However, other underlying issues contribute to the congestion, such as a protocol similar to Bitcoin mining and allegations that some infrastructure firms have exploited a bug to gain undue advantages.

The Solana Foundation attributes the current network troubles to a “known bottleneck in the implementation of QUIC used on the Agave validator client,” as stated by Austin Federa, the Head of Strategy. While this issue is set for a future fix, the increasing network demand has precipitated urgent action.

In the days leading up to the rollout, Anza tested the update and subsequently deployed it on the Solana testnet, urging validators to upgrade as soon as possible. Although no definite timeline has been established for the next update, v1.18, the developers have cautioned that even this future upgrade will not eliminate the network’s issues.

Early testing results have been somewhat promising. Anza’s Rex St. John highlighted that the update seems to enhance the fee collection process by prioritizing more valuable transactions. However, the full impact of these changes will only be clear once the update has been fully implemented in a live environment.

Presently, about one-third of all validators have adopted the v1.17.31 update, with version 1.17.28 still the most prevalent, running on nearly half of all machines according to Solana Beach data. As Solana continues to evolve and address its technical challenges, the community and investors are watching closely, hopeful for a more resilient and efficient network.