What is Solana?

Solana is a public blockchain network designed to process a high volume of transactions at low cost. Launched in 2020, it uses a combination of proof-of-stake consensus and a novel timestamping mechanism called Proof of History to achieve fast block times — typically around 400 milliseconds.

Why speed matters

Traditional blockchains often process transactions in batches every 10 to 15 seconds. Solana’s architecture aims to handle thousands of transactions per second by allowing validators to process transactions in parallel rather than sequentially. For readers, this means lower fees and faster confirmation times when interacting with applications on the network.

The accounts model

Unlike account-based systems where balances live inside accounts, Solana stores data in accounts that programs can read and write. Every transaction specifies which accounts it will access, allowing the runtime to schedule non-conflicting transactions simultaneously. This is a key concept to grasp before reading developer documentation.

Proof of History explained simply

Proof of History is not a consensus mechanism on its own. It is a cryptographic clock that creates a verifiable sequence of events. Validators can trust the order of transactions without waiting for network-wide agreement on timestamps, which reduces communication overhead and speeds up processing.

What you can do on Solana

The network hosts a wide range of applications: decentralised exchanges, lending protocols, NFT marketplaces, gaming platforms, and payment tools. Each operates through programs (similar to smart contracts on other networks) deployed on the Solana Virtual Machine.

Getting started as a reader