Solana validators in Europe control 72.8% of staked SOL, Bitwise finds

Solana’s staking network has shown significant geographic concentration, with 72.8% of delegated SOL assigned to validators operating in Europe, according to new research from Bitwise. Summary Bitwise found that European validators account for 72.8% of Solana’s staked SOL, highlighting geographic concentration. North America holds 16.2% of delegated SOL, followed by Asia at 10.6% and South America at 0.4%. At 250-millisecond slots, European validators recorded 95.8% one-slot vote arrivals, compared with Asia’s 70.7%. Solana’s faster slot times have exposed regional performance differences, although overall network skip rates remain low. The concentration raises geographic decentralization questions, but validator location alone does not establish MiCA regulatory exposure. According to the Bitwise Q4 2026 Staking Report, published on October 20, much of the network’s stake sits within a corridor connecting Amsterdam, Frankfurt and London. The findings come as Solana developers reduce block production intervals, creating new performance challenges for validators operating outside major network hubs. European validators account for 72.8% of Solana stake The report found that North Ame...