Solana Launches Onchain Governance, Fixes Entry at 100,000 SOL Staked

Solana has launched a formal onchain governance system, introducing Solana Governance Proposals (SGPs) to give validators and token holders a direct voice in the network’s direction. Validators with at least 100,000 SOL staked can submit proposals, while delegators can override or replace their validator’s vote.

Detailed in the project’s GitHub repository, the framework establishes a transparent, onchain voting process, allowing stakeholders to record decisions that shape the protocol.

Through SGPs, validators backed by a minimum of 100,000 SOL (around $7.7 million) can propose high-level changes. Voting influence is proportional to the amount of SOL staked, creating a structure similar to shareholder governance.

Each proposal is framed as a straightforward question about whether the network should pursue a particular path. Votes are weighted by stake, recorded onchain, and verified using Merkle proofs, ensuring integrity without requiring a full recount.

The model separates governance into two layers. SGPs address the core decision — whether a change should move forward — while Solana Improvement Documents (SIMDs) define the technical execution and implementation.

Once an SGP is approved, it serves as a mandate for developers to draft one or more SIMDs to carry out the proposal.

Before reaching a formal vote, proposals must first secure support from at least 15% of active stake, a filter designed to ensure only meaningful issues proceed while routine upgrades continue without requiring a full referendum.

After clearing this threshold, voting unfolds across Solana’s epoch-based schedule, with each epoch lasting roughly two days.

To pass, a proposal must gain a two-thirds supermajority of participating stake, excluding abstentions. There is no minimum turnout requirement.

A notable feature is the expanded role of delegators — users who stake SOL with validators instead of running nodes themselves. These participants can override their validator’s vote or step in if the validator abstains, with voting power tied to their individual stake.

The Solana Foundation describes this approach as “staker sovereignty,” ensuring governance power ultimately remains with token holders rather than being concentrated solely among validators.

The rollout comes as Solana sees renewed momentum, with SOL climbing about 16% over the past week to near $78, outperforming much of the broader crypto market.