Solana Cuts Block Confirmation Times by 12.5% in First Step Towards Sub-Second Speed

Solana's mainnet has taken its first step towards achieving sub-second block times by reducing confirmation time across the network.

The change, which came into effect after epoch 1019, cut the target from 400 milliseconds to 350 milliseconds. This reduction in slot window size is expected to improve feedback and confirmation thresholds measured in slots.

A validator-telemetry provider called Trillium measured a mean of 365.4ms across 431,505 timed slots in post-change epoch 1021, compared to 420.7ms in pre-change epoch 1015. This suggests that the timing cut has improved slot spacing and stability.

The Solana Foundation confirmed the mainnet change after the feature gate activated at slot 440,208,000. The new timing is expected to support faster block-level feedback, although finality remains a separate metric.