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The Solana Foundation has launched the official Solana Governance Proposals (SGP), a move that highlights the importance of the network’s role in decision-making.
SGP vs. SIMD: “Because” vs. “how”
To understand SGP, you must first understand what it is not. Many people compare it to the existing Solana Improvement Document (SIMD), but it serves two different purposes:
SIMDs and technical plans: They answer “how” technical changes should be implemented. This is tested by the core developers to ensure the integrity of the protocol.
- The SGPs are the facilitators: They answer “should we do this?” This is about community interests and high standards. Think of it this way: SGP is political will, while SIMD is an engineering project.
A good example of this is the “Alpenglow” concept. In the past, the community tried to port this through the SIMD process before the technology was ready. It caused controversy because developers needed a “green light” on ideas before spending time building the plans. It’s SGPthe community can now cast a “yes” vote first, confirming the guidelines before they begin to promote the rich engineers.
| Part | SGP (Solana Governance Proposals) | SIMD (Solana Improvement Documents) |
|---|---|---|
| First Question | “Should we do this?” | “How can we do this?” |
| Height | Classy, straightforward | Protocol details |
| He thought | Weighted votes on the chain | Technical review by core developers |
| Maturity is Required | A clear idea worthy of a public label | Complete, actionable design |
“Pressure Valve,” Not Power Handling
A common misconception is that the SGP replaces the original manufacturer. It is not. The SGP process is best described as a disruptive process. The standard development process – where manufacturers build SIMDs – continues to work as it always has. The SGP only begins when the community feels that the proposal is important enough to require a formal, weighted vote.
- The Threshold: In order to initiate the SGP vote, the request must be supported by at least 15% of the total online value.
- Purpose: This upper limit ensures that the network is not overloaded with small votes. It’s a “pressure valve” that’s kept in place for long-term financial problems while the community wants a seat at the table.
How It Works
Once the SGP is established, it follows a formal, transparent process. Each concept consists of an identity document (a detailed description) and an on-chain record associated with a specific, immutable SHA. This ensures that the proposal being voted on cannot be changed in the middle of the process.
Voting Rules:
- Submission: Requires a guarantor with at least 100,000 SOL in value.
- The trigger: 15% of the active parties must show support to go to the official vote.
- Consent: Requires a majority of two-thirds (66.67%) of the votes “For” and “Against” the participants (abstentions are not included).
- Time: The entire cycle takes about 22 days (11 epochs) from the time the supporting phase reaches its end.
The Big Picture: Governance Maturity
Over the years, Solana’s opposition has been to his rule it was very averagerelying heavily on the expertise of the core founders. While this approach allowed for incredible speed and performance, it left stakers and sponsors feeling like they were riding someone else’s bus.
SGP changes the situation by documenting the voice of the community. It does not provide the keys to the kingdom in the DAO, nor does it reduce the complexity of engineering. Instead, it creates a formal system for making economic and strategic decisions that previously depended on informal consensus.
The real test will be in the coming months. We will be watching to see how many times the 15% is reached and whether the controversial financial reforms are successfully managed through this new system. For now, it represents a mature, measured evolution for Solana. a way to balance the need for rapid, expert-led engineering with the need for public-supported governance.
