Solana Network Sets New Throughput Record with Over 100K Transactions per Second

Solana's network processed over 100,000 transactions per second in a live stress test, exceeding Visa's benchmark and 25x its normal throughput. The test used "no-op" transactions, empty instructions that don't represent real-world transfers or swaps. Actual economic activity on Solana averages closer to 1,000–1,400 TPS. Upcoming upgrades, such as Alpenglow and Firedancer, could improve throughput and decentralization.

Solana's network recently achieved a remarkable milestone by processing over 100,000 transactions per second (TPS) in a live stress test. This feat not only surpassed Visa's benchmark of 65,000 TPS but also exceeded Solana's normal throughput by a factor of 25. The test utilized "no-op" transactions, which are essentially empty instructions that do not represent real-world transfers or swaps.

The stress test, conducted over the weekend, involved flooding the Solana blockchain with a large volume of these no-op transactions. This type of transaction requires less compute than more complex transactions but still demands signature verification and virtual machine instantiation, making it a significant challenge for the network.

While the actual economic activity on Solana averages closer to 1,000–1,400 TPS, the successful completion of this stress test lends credibility to the network's ability to scale significantly under high demand. The test was designed to push the network's limits and validate its theoretical throughput capabilities.

Solana's supporters have long touted a theoretical TPS ceiling in the hundreds of thousands, but actual usage generally hovers between 3,000 and 4,000 TPS. Excluding vote transactions, this number falls to less than 1,000 TPS. The brief moment of hitting 100,000 TPS underscores the network's potential for high scalability, although sustained performance at that level under real-world conditions remains to be validated.

Transaction throughput is a critical metric for blockchain viability, particularly for large-scale consumer applications. High TPS means faster confirmations, lower fees per transaction, and greater capacity to support demanding use cases like micro-payments, gaming, and real-time data feeds. For Solana, showcasing this capability helps attract developers and users seeking speed and scalability.

Upcoming upgrades, such as Alpenglow and Firedancer, are expected to further improve throughput and decentralization. These upgrades aim to enhance the network's performance and resilience, making it a more attractive option for developers and users alike.

References:
[1] https://www.ccn.com/news/technology/solana-surpasses-100000-tps-stress-test/
[2] https://decrypt.co/news-explorer?pinned=1132723&title=solana-tops-100k-transactions-per-second-in-stress-test