Ghost Logs Unveils New Validator Scorecard

Another Solana validator ranking system has just dropped, scoring the stewards of the network against each based on their behavior and performance.

While Ghost Logs new methodology draws heavily on Jito’s IBRL scorecard, the newcomer implements slight changes to the rubric. Ghost Logs co-founder Chris Chang has also hinted that the Solana Foundation could introduce their own scoring system in the near future.

What changes has Ghost Logs factored into its methodology, and who are operating the network’s “best” validators?

How is the ‘Ghost Score’ Different from Jito’s IBRL?

Ghost Logs, a research and development firm specialized in MEV analytics, has followed in the footsteps of Jito Labs and Solana Compass, releasing a scorecard measuring the behavior and performance of network validators.

According to Ghost Logs, the provisional “Ghost Score” is largely derived from Jito’s existing IBRL score. However, instead of relying on PoH (Proof of History) ticks, Ghost Logs ingests shreds, or small pieces of individual blocks, from multiple independent feeds to derive the earliest timestamp when transactions can be reconstructed.

As a result, Ghost Logs claims this methodology allows them to analyze around 500 timestamps per slot, rather than the 20-35 typically found in other systems.

Additionally, Ghost Logs has opened access to the system’s raw data, encouraging Solana-based researchers and developers to build their own rubrics using the same dataset. 

Co-founder Chris Chang hinted that the Solana Foundation is developing their own validator scoring system, which is expected to replace the provisional Ghost Score when it goes live. 

Given recent controversies surrounding the Foundation’s growing product line and existing tensions around the “correct” method of Solana block building, it is possible that a Foundation-endorsed scoring system could spark further conflict among network participants.

Bitwise Ranks Highest Among Network’s Largest Validators

Ghost Logs' scoring system naturally delivers very similar results to Jito’s IBRL, which penalizes late vote-packers and slot laggers.  As one could expect, validators that score well on IBRL will also have a high Ghost Score.

Measuring transaction arrival time instead of PoH ticks, the Ghost Logs system ranks Bitwise as the “best” validator among the top 50 operators by stake weight. 

Bitwise’s high score in Ghost Logs rankings is an encouraging sign for Solana's growing institutional footprint. 

Centralized validator scoring rubrics are an imperfect way of measuring validator behavior. However, a strong showing from Bitwise, an asset manager commanding over 71% of $SOL ETF dominance, indicates that institutional players are directionally aligned with the long-term health of the network.

Rakurai Gains Market Share in Client Race

As tensions flare across Solana over the “best” way to build blocks, an emerging software client is steadily gaining market share. According to Blockworks data, Rakurai has attracted a total of 5.78% of network stake, up from 1.58% since the end of February.

Elsewhere in the block building race Jito maintains its strong lead. Over 60% of network stake collectively runs either Jito Block Engine or Jito BAM, while Harmonic continues to grow its share, rising 14 percentage points YTD.

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