Solana launches the Firedancer validator, boosting network stability and sparking fresh SOL gains as investors rotate from BTC and ETH.
Solana pushed forward this week after the Firedancer validator went live on its mainnet.
Developers worked on this upgrade for almost three years, and it now sits alongside the existing Agave client.
The new validator was created to support heavy traffic, reduce outages and help the network stay stable during busy periods.
Traders reacted fast. SOL climbed around 6% after the announcement and traded near the upper range of its recent accumulation zone. The move came as Bitcoin and Ethereum saw strong outflows, while Solana logged over $11 million in ETF inflows.
Firedancer Begins Mainnet Life After Long Testing Phase
Solana confirmed that Firedancer now operates on its mainnet after a long period of controlled testing.
Jump Crypto built the client using C and C++ to focus on high performance and better use of resources. Early internal tests showed that Firedancer could process more than one million transactions per second under ideal conditions.
That figure is far ahead of current mainnet speeds.
Anatoly Yakovenko, Solana’s co-founder, welcomed the launch and noted that the network is heading towards maturity.
He also pointed out that the system has left its long beta cycle as more validators switch to stronger, more resilient setups.
The first batch of Firedancer nodes holds less than 1% of the total staked SOL. Developers expect this to grow as more validators choose multi-client configurations.
Firedancer Strengthens Solana’s Client Diversity
Solana now joins networks like Ethereum that support multiple validator clients. This kind of change helps reduce reliance on a single software base and lowers the chance of full-network disruptions.
Solana faced several outages in past years, and developers believe this update is the solution that prepares the chain for higher user activity.
Firedancer was designed to handle heavy traffic during periods of heavy usage.
It manages block production better and reduces the chance of bottlenecks. After the launch, the team expects better reliability during token launches, gaming spikes and even high-volume trading.
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SOL Gains as Traders Move Attention Toward Solana
SOL climbed about 6% after the Firedancer announcement and traded around the $138 to $140 range.
Data showed that Solana attracted $11.02 million in ETF inflows during the period. Bitcoin lost more than $77 million, and Ethereum lost over $42 million.
The charts also showed fresh interest in SOL as the asset continued to move inside a long accumulation zone and traded just below a trendline that has held for several weeks.
Analysts indicated that buyers were building positions quietly while waiting for a breakout.
Captain Faibik, a chart analyst, posted that a move above the trendline could point toward a run to $216.