Solana Foundation Announces End of Tour de Sun 22 Program

The Solana Foundation is committed to supporting the security and evolution of the Solana network and fostering a robust community of validator operators. As both the network and validator community continue to mature, the Foundation is undertaking a comprehensive reassessment of its incentive structures and programs to facilitate responsible growth into the next phase of development. In light of recent modifications to the Solana Foundation Delegation Program, the Foundation has made the strategic decision to revisit and fundamentally rethink its approach to testnet incentives.

As of March 31, 2024, the Solana Foundation announced the conclusion of the Tour de Sun 22 program. This transition marks a shift toward a more streamlined and focused testnet incentive program that will operate as an integrated component of the Solana Foundation Delegation Program. Active participants in Tour de Sun 22 retained their eligibility for the existing incentive structure through the end of March 2024, with final incentive payments scheduled for distribution by April 8, 2024. The program is closed to new applicants, and all outstanding support requests related to previous months' incentives were resolved by the close of business on Friday, March 22, 2024.

Why did the Foundation make this change?

Tour de Sun 22 was originally established to create an incentivized testing environment for emerging validator operators to contribute meaningfully to testnet development. Participation in testnet has consistently remained a fundamental requirement for any operators seeking consideration for stake delegation from the Foundation on their mainnet validator. The sun22 program and the Foundation's Delegation Program on mainnet were designed to operate synergistically; however, operational challenges such as excessive queue times prompted a comprehensive evaluation of these programs' effectiveness in the network environment.

The Solana Foundation Delegation Program for mainnet validators has undergone restructuring to establish more balanced incentive alignments with the validator community and the decentralized network infrastructure. The revised Delegation Program criteria now provides time-limited support covering a new validator's voting costs and offers Foundation delegation proportional to the amount of external stake a node successfully attracts. This framework actively encourages operators to cultivate external stake from third parties and stake pools, reducing dependence on the Foundation as the primary stake source—a critical shift for fostering healthy long-term network decentralization.

Have testnet incentives continued?

Yes, testnet incentives have continued under a new framework. Testnet incentives for eligible participants are administered as an integrated component of the Foundation's Delegation Program rather than as a standalone initiative. This integration ensures alignment between testnet performance metrics and long-term validator success on mainnet.

What is the testnet incentive structure under the Delegation Program?

Validators who enroll in the Delegation Program (or are already enrolled) and have not yet achieved eligibility for mainnet delegation may qualify to receive up to $250 USD in value of 12-month locked SOL per month. This incentive is available for up to a maximum of six months for operating a testnet node that meets the program's established performance criteria.

The testnet incentive is distributed to eligible operators once they achieve eligibility for mainnet delegation from the Foundation and successfully operate a well-performing node on mainnet for ten epochs. It is important to note that ongoing testnet participation remains a mandatory requirement for continued eligibility to receive stake delegation from the Foundation on mainnet, even after the six-month testnet incentive period concludes.

This structure strategically aligns positive long-term testnet performance and operator behavior with validators who demonstrate commitment to running performant mainnet nodes, while simultaneously providing a structured onboarding pathway for new operators seeking to acquire operational experience on testnet before deploying production infrastructure on mainnet.

When did the new testnet incentive begin?

Testnet incentive tracking as a component of the Foundation's Delegation program commenced on April 1, 2024. For Tour de Sun 22 participants who enrolled in the Delegation Program but were not yet eligible for mainnet stake from the Foundation, participants maintaining good testnet node performance were eligible for testnet incentives from April 1 through September 1, 2024—a six-month eligibility window.

Node operators currently receiving stake from the Foundation on mainnet are not eligible for testnet incentives following the final sun22 payment; however, testnet operation and performance remain mandatory requirements for maintaining mainnet delegation eligibility. Validators who enrolled in the Delegation Program on or after April 1, 2024 are eligible for testnet incentive support for six months from their enrollment date.

Conclusion

The Solana Foundation's transition from the Tour de Sun 22 program to an integrated testnet incentive model represents a strategic evolution in supporting validator community growth. This restructuring emphasizes sustainable long-term network health by encouraging validators to develop diverse stake sources and maintain consistent high-performance standards across both testnet and mainnet environments. The new sun22 framework preserves onboarding opportunities for emerging validators while establishing clearer performance-based pathways to mainnet delegation, ultimately fostering a more resilient and decentralized validator ecosystem.

FAQ

What is SUN22? What are its main features and uses?

SUN22 is a governance and incentive token featuring automated market maker (AMM) functionality and stablecoin swaps. Main features include liquidity mining, staking rewards, veSUN governance, cross-chain capabilities, and fee-sharing mechanisms for token holders.

Is Sun22 safe? What risks and points should be noted when using it?

Sun22 demonstrates strong security protocols with blockchain verification and smart contract audits. Monitor transaction volume carefully, diversify holdings, and use secure wallets for storage. Stay updated on protocol changes.

What are the development prospects and application prospects of sun22?

Sun22 demonstrates strong growth potential across blockchain and decentralized finance sectors. With expanding technological innovation and increasing market adoption, sun22 is positioned for significant long-term appreciation and widespread industry integration.