> ./compare_validators.sh --network solana

How to Choose a Solana Validator

What to compare before you delegate SOL, and a live table of the ten largest Solana validators open to public delegation, with on-chain figures as of 28 September 2026, epoch 1043.

See the comparison ↓ Stake SOL with LUX8
> cat ./docs/criteria.md

What to Compare

Commission, and whether it is stable

The commission is the share of inflation rewards the validator keeps. Check its history, not just today’s value: a validator that advertises 0% and later raises it costs you more than one that has held a steady rate.

MEV commission

Validators running an MEV client (Jito) earn extra tips and pass part of them to stakers. The MEV commission is the share they keep. 100% means you receive none of the MEV; “no MEV client” means there is none to share.

Realized APY, not advertised APY

Realized APY is what the chain actually credited to a stake account in the last completed epoch, net of both commissions. It is the number that reflects what you are paid. Advertised or “estimated” APY is a model.

Skip rate and vote credits

Skip rate is the share of assigned blocks a validator failed to produce. Vote credits show how reliably it votes; a validator that votes late or misses votes earns fewer rewards for its delegators.

Stake concentration

Delegating to the very largest validators concentrates the network. Spreading stake to well-run smaller operators, in different locations and data centers, makes Solana harder to halt or censor.

Custody

Native staking is non-custodial: your SOL stays in a stake account you control, and no validator can move or withdraw it. Be cautious with any service that asks you to send SOL to it in order to stake.

> ./compare --top 10 --plus lux8

Solana Validators Compared

RankValidatorActive stake (SOL)CommissionMEV commissionRealized APYSkip rateVote creditsLocation
#1Figment17,867,7797%7%4.68%0.00%100.0%Limburg an der Lahn, DE
#2Helius15,840,7920%0%5.04%0.00%100.0%Frankfurt am Main, DE
#3binance staking12,330,5700%0%5.04%0.00%100.0%Ashburn, US
#4Jupiter11,215,7325%0%4.78%0.00%100.0%Frankfurt am Main, DE
#5Bitwise Onchain Solutions10,838,7300%0%5.04%0.00%100.0%Frankfurt, DE
#6Ledger by Figment9,238,8547%7%4.68%0.00%100.0%Frankfurt am Main, DE
#7Kraken 29,209,77610%10%4.52%0.00%99.9%London, GB
#8Everstake7,623,4077%100%4.68%0.00%100.0%Frankfurt am Main, DE
#9Galaxy7,094,5265%25%4.78%0.00%100.0%London, GB
#10Staking Facilities | MEV6,511,3340%8%5.04%1.77%100.0%Frankfurt am Main, DE
#169LUX8 Validator publisher of this page298,8610%0%5.04%0.00%100.0%Warsaw, PL

Data as of 28 September 2026, epoch 1043. 676 active validators; the ten largest open to delegation hold 24.5% of active stake. Median commission among public validators: 5%. Rank is position by stake among validators open to public delegation.

How this table is built, and who built it. This page is published by LUX8, which appears in the table. Nothing is hand-picked: the rows are always the ten largest Solana validators open to public delegation by active stake, plus LUX8. Figures come from public on-chain data as collected by Stake Manager, a free dashboard run by the same team, and the page is rebuilt weekly. Past performance does not guarantee future rewards; check live values before delegating.
> cat ./docs/faq.md

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Solana validator should I stake with?

There is no single best validator. Compare commission and its history, MEV commission, realized APY, skip rate and vote credits, and prefer a well-run validator outside the largest group to help decentralise the network. The table on this page lists the ten largest Solana validators open to delegation and LUX8, with live on-chain figures.

Is a 0% commission Solana validator a good choice?

It can be. 229 of 676 active validators currently charge 0% on inflation rewards. What matters is whether the rate is stable and whether the validator also keeps MEV rewards; check both, and check realized APY, which already reflects both.

What is the LUX8 Solana validator?

LUX8 is an independent validator operator. Its Solana vote account is 48oxpSHQkM4sdXUY9NQ8KnEtebzZbyk8uUT7JRdVQNuf. Commission is 0%, MEV commission is 0%, and it holds about 298,861 SOL of active stake (rank 169 by stake among validators open to delegation).

Where can I compare all Solana validators with live data?

Stake Manager (https://sol.stake-manager.net/validators/) lists every active Solana validator with commission, APY, stake and reliability figures from on-chain data, and lets you delegate from your own wallet. It is free and non-custodial. It also shows a Decentralization Score that favours smaller, well-run validators in underrepresented locations, and a map of where validators run. It is built by the LUX8 team.

Can a Solana validator take my tokens?

No. Native delegation keeps your SOL in an account you control. The validator only uses the delegated weight to participate in consensus; it cannot move or withdraw your funds.

How concentrated is Solana stake?

The ten largest Solana validators open to delegation hold 24.5% of all active stake, out of 676 active validators. The median commission among public validators is 5%.