Solana ‘Is Centralized,’ Says Bitcoin Pundit Edward Snowden, Citing Risks to Network Autonomy

Renowned Bitcoin pundit Edward Snowden boldly asserts that Solana “is centralized,” reigniting debates about the network’s design.

Speaking virtually at the Singapore Token 2049 conference, Snowden responded to a question on how blockchain networks could be designed from a “first principles” perspective to remain secure.

He pointed to Bitcoin’s design as a system built to withstand state intervention, in contrast to Solana, which he argued is at risk due to centralization. Snowden warned that Solana’s structure could easily fall under state control if governments chose to intervene.

His comments echoed previous critiques regarding Solana’s governance model. Crypto advocates have long expressed concerns about Solana’s centralization, with Snowden’s remarks amplifying the discussion. According to Snowden, if a network is not designed to resist government intervention from the ground up, it risks losing autonomy, as seen with platforms like Telegram. 

Other Centralization Concerns

The issue of centralization within Solana has been a focal point for critics for a while now. Stake with Pride, a well-known Cardano supporter, recently highlighted data that suggested over 73% of Solana validators comply with Know Your Customer (KYC) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) requirements. This led to further questions about the extent of decentralization in Solana’s network. 

Furthermore, Stake with Pride pointed out that Solana’s validator program, driven by its Foundation, automatically subsidizes validators who follow predefined rules. This has led to comparisons between Solana’s structure and traditional banking systems, further fueling concerns about its centralization.

Solana Supporters’ Defence

In response to Snowden’s remarks, Mert Mumtaz, co-founder of Helius Labs and a strong advocate for Solana, challenged centralization claims. Mumtaz emphasized the need for factual evidence, pointing out that Snowden did not provide specific data to support his statements that “Solana is centralized.”

He argued that Solana’s network, with thousands of geographically distributed nodes across different jurisdictions, makes it resilient to centralized control. Mumtaz further noted that Solana’s decentralization is evolving, with multiple clients, such as Frankendancer, now live on the mainnet, ensuring that the system has no single point of failure.

Meanwhile, despite the ongoing debate, Solana continues to gain attention for its potential. Analysts like Jelle have recently expressed optimism about the network, suggesting it may soon break out of its consolidation phase to an all-time high despite the broader crypto market’s struggles.