Solana (SOL) FAQ
Both run smart contracts; the difference is what each optimises for. Ethereum prioritises decentralisation and pushes scale to Layer 2 networks. Solana prioritises raw throughput on a single layer — parallel transaction processing, sub-second block times, fees under a cent — and accepts heavier hardware requirements for validators as the cost.
A cryptographic clock. Solana validators run a continuous hash chain that timestamps events, so the network can agree on the order of transactions without validators messaging each other to establish it. It is not the consensus mechanism itself — Solana still uses proof of stake — but it is the reason blocks can be produced so quickly.
It did, repeatedly — several full outages between 2021 and early 2024, mostly triggered by transaction flooding and client bugs. The record since has improved markedly, and the structural fix is client diversity: Firedancer, a second validator implementation built independently by Jump, exists so that one software bug can no longer stop the whole network.
You delegate SOL to a validator without transferring custody — the stake stays in your control and can be undelegated after a cooldown measured in days. Rewards come from the network's issuance schedule and are shared by the validator, minus its commission. Yield moves with total stake and network activity, so check live figures rather than quoted ones.
Create an account and complete KYC verification, then fund it by card, bank transfer, P2P, or a crypto deposit. Most users buy a stablecoin such as USDT first, then trade it for SOL on the SOL/USDT spot market. From there you can hold it, withdraw to your own wallet, stake it, or move it into other products.
