The concentration in Europe is particularly evident in the region between Amsterdam, Frankfurt, and London. This distribution presents a remarkable picture in terms of geographical centralization and connection delays in the Solana network infrastructure.
According to the Bitwise report, the reduction in slot times has exacerbated regional disparities. This is because Solana gradually reduced slot times from 400 milliseconds to 250 milliseconds between August and September 2026 in an effort to increase network processing speed and reduce finalization times.
According to Bitwise, this change has contributed to faster transaction finalization while also reducing the time validators have to receive blocks, verify them, and submit votes.
The concentration of staking in Solana within Europe raises questions about the impact of MiCA regulations on staking services. However, the mere presence of a validator in Europe does not automatically necessitate licensing. According to ESMA, companies offering staking and custody services must comply with the relevant MiCA regulations, but neither Bitwise nor the Solana Foundation have provided an assessment of the direct regulatory implications of this concentration in Europe.
*This is not investment advice.
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