Solana Speeds Up: Network Cuts Block Time in Half

Solana is taking its next step in reducing block time to improve network speed. The network has started halving its block time, beginning from epoch 1020, with the goal of reaching a new block every fifth of a second.

The current block time is 400 milliseconds, and Solana aims to cut it down to 200 milliseconds in four stages of 50 milliseconds each. Validators can pause the sequence at any point if too many blocks start getting skipped.

According to the live tracker on solana.com/200ms, 96.7% of stake is already running the required software, with 690 validators and 435 million SOL in active stake behind the upgrade.

The network's speed has been compared to other major cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum. Solana currently produces about 144 blocks per minute, or roughly two and a half every second, which would double to 300 blocks a minute at 200ms.