The Solana team has implemented the first phase of reducing the average slot time from 400 ms to 350 ms on the mainnet as part of the improvement proposal SIMD-0525.
Solana validators on the Agave v4.2 client activated the first of four stages to reduce slot time. This marks the first reduction in slot length since the network’s launch.
A slot is a fixed window during which a leader validator forms a block. Shortening the slot is expected to speed up transaction confirmations. Future plans include reducing the slot time to 300, 250, and 200 ms.
Each subsequent phase has its own activation mechanism and is implemented sequentially in later epochs. One epoch in Solana lasts 432,000 slots, or approximately two to three days. The approved schedule allows for halting the upgrade if the percentage of missed blocks increases.
At the time of writing, the average slot time is 370 ms, with a 10-minute timeframe showing 366 ms.
The Solana Foundation cites reducing latency and increasing censorship resistance as goals of the upgrade. A shorter slot reduces the time a single leader controls block assembly. The Solana team has also linked these changes to previously implemented improvements, including Turbine and Replay, which optimized block propagation and client reprocessing.
The price of SOL rose nearly 4.5% in a day, approaching $95. The token outperformed Bitcoin (+1.6%) and Ethereum (+2.6%) but lagged behind XRP and Dogecoin, which saw gains of 21% and 10%, respectively.
Earlier in August, Solana was close to halting transaction finalization when validators with a combined stake of 28.83% SOL were simultaneously disconnected, nearing the critical threshold of 33.34% in staking.
