Solana Cuts Slot Time in Half to 350 Milliseconds
Solana's mainnet has cut its slot time to 350 milliseconds, marking the first reduction since its launch. This change comes after a one-epoch delay and takes effect at epoch 1020.
The new target slot time is part of a four-step plan that aims to reduce slot times to 200 milliseconds, with each step reducing the time by 50 milliseconds. The next planned reduction will bring slot times down to 300 milliseconds.
According to Anza's research firm, testnet has already reached an effective 200-millisecond target, while devnet sits at 300 milliseconds with its gate switched on but not yet in force.
Mert Mumtaz, chief executive of Helius, predicts that shorter slots paired with a higher block limit will quadruple network throughput in the near term. However, validators now face tighter timing margins due to the reduced slot time and increased block production.