Solana Network Experiences Forking Event That Disrupts Transactions

By Tsunami 02/25/23 8:21 AM

The Solana network, a popular blockchain platform, recently experienced a significant forking event that left users unable to conduct on-chain activity. According to Solana Explorer, the network’s transaction processing rate dropped to just 93 transactions per second at around 2:00 AM EST on Saturday, well below the typical rate of around 5000 TPS.

The sudden drop in throughput left users of Solana unable to conduct trades or transfer assets, prompting concerns among the community. While the exact cause of the forking event is still unclear, two validator operators have confirmed that they are working with Solana Foundation and Solana Labs to coordinate a response.

SolBlaze, a pseudonymous staking service operator, has urged users to remain patient while the root cause of the forking event is determined. He noted that the Solana network is still confirming blocks, but validator operators are at risk of running out of memory until a solution is found.

In a Discord channel established to coordinate efforts, validators and Solana engineers have been discussing potential solutions, including a network restart or software downgrade. As of press time, however, they had not reached a consensus on the best course of action.

The Solana network is known for its high throughput and low transaction costs, making it a popular platform for decentralized applications and trading. However, this recent forking event has highlighted the need for robust and reliable infrastructure in the blockchain ecosystem. It also underscores the importance of having a coordinated response in place in the event of network disruptions.

The Solana community is now waiting for updates from validator operators and Solana Labs regarding the status of the network and any potential solutions. In the meantime, users are advised to exercise caution when conducting on-chain activity on the Solana network.

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