Phase Delegation Is Live — Merit-Based Solana Validator Staking
Phase Delegation is a merit-based Solana staking program that allocates stake to validators based on their contributions, performance, and operational transparency.
Over the past year, it has grown alongside the Solana ecosystem.
With that growth came an important question: How should stake be allocated in a way that rewards validators who continuously help build the network?
That question led to the Index Power Score. And today, the new Phase Delegation website is live to support it.
This post covers what changed, what you need to do, and how the program works going forward.
What Is the Index Power Score?
The Index Power Score (IPS) is a scoring system that determines how stake is allocated within Phase Delegation. Every epoch, each validator receives a score based on five weighted metrics. That score determines their delegation. Better score, more stake.
Scores are calculated using a rolling 10-epoch window. This smooths out short-term volatility and prevents validators from gaming a single epoch to inflate their numbers. The system is built for consistency, not performance spikes.
To be eligible, validators must be part of the Solana Foundation Delegation Program, carry less than 300,000 SOL in total stake, and provide verifiable ecosystem contributions.
How the Score Works
Five metrics make up the IPS, each weighted to reflect what actually matters for a healthy Solana validator economy.
Contribution Review (25%) is binary. You either have verifiable contributions or you do not. Contributions include infrastructure improvements, open-source tooling, educational work, and community initiatives. Reviews happen quarterly. Miss two consecutive updates and this score drops to zero. Miss four and you are removed from the program entirely.
Sustainability (25%) evaluates validator economics: commission rates, margins, stakepool participation, and other factors that affect a validator's effective operations. Validators running lean, efficient setups score better here. Validators running DoubleZero Multicast also receive a bonus within this metric. We run our own validators on DoubleZero infrastructure and support what we build on.
Stake Weight (20%) intentionally favors small and midsize validators. Stake is distributed using an inverse weighting model so that smaller operators receive more support without creating abrupt distribution shifts.
Metrics and Telemetry (20%) rewards validators who provide transparent operational metrics and performance data. Transparency is not optional in a merit-based system. Validators that share real-time uptime reporting and reliability metrics through Index infrastructure receive additional credit.
Client and Infrastructure Diversity (10%) supports network health. Validators running diverse or up-and-coming client software help strengthen Solana's overall resilience. IPS rewards operators who contribute to that diversity.
Phase Bonds: How Validators Commit
Phase Bonds are how validators commit to Phase Delegation. They are fully refundable. This is a commitment mechanism, not a fee.
You purchase the bond, submit your contributions, and participate in the IPS framework. If you ever want to step away, head to the Members section and dissolve your bond. Your SOL will be claimable at the end of the epoch.
One thing to note: dissolving your Phase Bond will void your application and membership status.
The New Phase Delegation Website
The Phase Delegation website is now the central hub for managing your participation in the program.
This is where validators apply, submit contributions, and mint their Phase Bonds.
For Validators Already in the Program
Your two-week grace period has started. To remain in Phase Delegation, you must own a Phase Bond and submit your contributions through the new site before the window closes.
Head to the Apply section to mint your bond and submit contributions. The process is the same as a new application, but existing members will be auto-accepted on the backend since you are already in the program.
Once the window closes, unbonded validators will be removed from the pool.
For New Validators
If you are a Solana validator with under 300K SOL staked who is actively contributing to the ecosystem, applications are open again.
Apply through the website, purchase a Phase Bond, and submit your contributions.
For Pending Applications
Because the new system requires a Phase Bond and contribution submission through the new site, all previously pending applications have been voided. If you had an application under review, please reapply through the new website.
This ensures every validator enters the program under the same framework.
What This Means for Solana's Validator Economy
The goal of Phase Delegation is straightforward: support validators who continuously strengthen the Solana ecosystem.
By rewarding active contributors and supporting smaller operators, this model creates a healthier validator economy and a stronger network overall. Competence gets rewarded. Transparency gets rewarded. Consistent contribution gets rewarded. Showing up once and going quiet does not.
Phase Delegation currently manages over $700M in staked assets across the Solana network.
Expect your stake from Phase Delegation to shift over the coming epochs as the new framework takes effect.
Ready to apply? Visit Phase Delegation to mint your Phase Bond and submit your contributions.