Introducing the Firedancer Delegation Program

We're excited to announce the launch of our Firedancer Delegation Program, designed to support validator operators who adopt Frankendancer and contribute to the Firedancer ecosystem. This initiative represents our commitment to supporting validators who are helping to advance Solana's performance and client diversity.

In this initial phase, which is scheduled to begin in a couple of weeks, we aim to delegate over 2 million SOL to approximately 100 selected validators.

Eligibility Requirements

To participate in this first iteration of the program, validators must:

• Be part of the Solana Foundation Delegation Program (SFDP) and maintain good standing
• Have a minimum of 50k SOL already delegated
• Run Frankendancer on Mainnet (Testnet is appreciated but not a requirement at this time)

Selection Process and Priorities

Given our limited stake allocation, our selection process prioritizes validators based on several key factors:

Early Supporters: Validators who demonstrated their commitment by running early versions of Frankendancer will receive priority consideration. Your willingness to test and provide feedback is the kind of partnership we value.

Ecosystem Contributors: We're particularly interested in supporting validators who are actively contributing to the Firedancer ecosystem through project development, code contributions, or other meaningful participation.

Community: Our decision-making process is influenced by active involvement in the Firedancer community and the broader Solana ecosystem.

You can apply by filling this form: https://delegation.firedancer.io/delegation-program

Program Terms and Flexibility

We want to be transparent about how this program operates:

• The Firedancer team reserves the right to delegate or revoke stake based on our assessment of each validator's contribution, fit with program goals, and other factors at the team’s discretion.
• No validator should expect automatic inclusion or feel entitled to stake through this program.
• Each iteration of the program will run for approximately three months. Between iterations, the Firedancer team may adjust program parameters and rebalance delegations.
• Delegations are provided to encourage network deployment and client diversity. Validators remain solely responsible for their own operations and bear all risk associated with their staking activities; Firedancer does not guarantee any specific level of staking rewards, yield, or profitability.

If you aren’t selected in this initial round, please don’t be discouraged. The validator landscape is constantly evolving, and we anticipate new opportunities may arise. Participation in the program may change over time based on performance and other factors. Most importantly, your ongoing commitment to running Firedancer and supporting the ecosystem will be recognized and taken into consideration for future delegation decisions. We appreciate your dedication and look forward to building a stronger, more diverse Solana network together.