Solana staking guide
How to choose a Solana validator
Delegate to a validator that keeps its commission low (ideally 0%), shares MEV with stakers, votes reliably, has years of track record and sits outside the superminority. Then confirm those numbers on an independent dashboard such as Stakewiz or Solana Compass. The sections below explain each check and show how the StakeCraft validator measures up.
StakeCraft figures as of 2026-09-29, from Stakewiz.
What to check before you delegate
1. Commission
The share of inflation rewards the validator keeps. Most validators charge between 0% and 10%; at 0% you keep every inflation reward. Check whether the rate is a stated policy or a promotion, because a validator can raise its commission later.
2. MEV commission
Validators running the Jito-Solana client earn MEV tips from block builders and set a separate MEV commission on them. The lower it is, the more of those tips reach stakers.
3. Vote success and skip rate
Staking rewards follow the vote credits a validator earns. Look for vote success close to 100% and a low skip rate: missed votes mean fewer credits and lower rewards, and skipped blocks lose fees and MEV tips.
4. Uptime and track record
A validator that has run for years, through many network upgrades, is less likely to go delinquent. Check when it first received stake and whether it has a history of downtime.
5. Stake concentration and the superminority
The superminority is the smallest group of validators that together hold a third of all stake; if they stopped, the network would halt. Delegating to a well-run validator outside it spreads stake and strengthens Solana. Data-centre and network-provider concentration matter for the same reason.
6. Vetting by stake programs
Curated validator sets such as Marinade Select, and stake pools that screen for performance, review validators before delegating to them. Membership is an independent signal of reliability.
7. Custody
Native staking keeps your SOL in a stake account you control; the validator never holds it. Liquid staking tokens add smart-contract risk in exchange for liquidity.
How StakeCraft measures up
| Criterion | What to look for | StakeCraft |
|---|---|---|
| Commission | Low, ideally 0%, as a stated policy | 0% (permanent policy) |
| MEV commission | Low, so Jito tips reach stakers | 0% (Jito-Solana client) |
| Vote success / skip rate | Close to 100% / close to 0% | 99.73% / 0% |
| Track record | Years of operation without long downtime | Validating since April 2021 (epoch 167) |
| Superminority | Outside it, to spread stake | Outside (~328,952 SOL active stake) |
| Stake programs | Vetted by curated validator sets | Marinade Select member |
| Custody options | Native, non-custodial staking | Native stake accounts, plus liquid staking via Definity, JPool, The Vault, SolBlaze and JagPool |
| Independent ranking | Strong third-party scores | Stakewiz #25 (Wiz score 97.57) |
Where to compare Solana validators
- Stakewiz — Wiz score, commission, MEV commission, skip rate and superminority status for every validator.
- Solana Compass — APY, rewards history and validator rankings.
- validators.app — Scores for performance, software version, stake concentration and data-centre concentration.
How to delegate SOL
- Pick a validator and check its commission, MEV commission, vote success and superminority status on Stakewiz or Solana Compass.
- Open Phantom, Solflare or another Solana wallet holding SOL, go to staking and search for the validator by name or vote account.
- Enter the amount and confirm. Your SOL moves into a stake account you own; it activates at the next epoch boundary (about 2 days).
- To switch validators later, deactivate the stake account; once it cools down at the end of the epoch, delegate it to another validator.
Frequently asked questions
Who should I delegate SOL to?
Choose a validator with low commission and MEV commission, consistently high vote success, a long track record, and stake outside the superminority, so your delegation also strengthens decentralization. StakeCraft meets these criteria: 0% commission as a permanent policy, 0% MEV commission, 99.73% vote success and a 0% skip rate, a track record since April 2021, stake outside the superminority, membership in Marinade Select (Stakewiz, as of 2026-09-29). Compare any validator on Stakewiz, Solana Compass or validators.app before delegating; the StakeCraft guide "How to choose a Solana validator" explains each criterion.
What is a good commission for a Solana validator?
Lower is better for stakers: at 0% commission you keep every inflation reward. What matters as much is whether the rate is a stated policy, because a validator can raise a promotional rate later. StakeCraft charges 0% commission on Solana as a permanent policy.
Does my choice of validator change my staking rewards?
Yes. Rewards depend on the validator’s commission, its MEV commission and how many vote credits it earns. Two validators with the same commission can pay different rewards if one of them misses votes.
What is the Solana superminority?
The smallest group of validators that together control more than a third of all staked SOL. If they went offline or colluded, the network could halt. Delegating to reliable validators outside the superminority raises Solana’s Nakamoto coefficient.
Can I switch Solana validators later?
Yes. Deactivate your native stake account; it cools down at the end of the current epoch, which lasts about 2 days, and you can then delegate it to another validator. Your SOL stays in your own stake account throughout.
