Solana Must Continue to Develop - toly's Perspective on Vitalik's "Exit Test"

Recently, toly, co-founder of Solana Labs, posted on X platform to comment on Vitalik Buterin’s “Exit Test” theory. Instead of fully agreeing with the view that “Ethereum must pass the exit test,” toly proposed a different approach to the long-term development of a blockchain project. He emphasized that Solana cannot rely on any group or individual but must continuously innovate and develop according to the actual needs of the market.

Different Perspectives on Sustainable Development

Toly’s viewpoint stems from a fundamental principle: a blockchain project can only survive and thrive if it continuously listens to and responds to the community’s demands. This contrasts with the “Exit Test” approach—the idea that a project should verify its capability by operating independently without support from the founding team. Toly believes that Vitalik’s approach, while meaningful in the context of decentralization, does not capture the true essence of building a sustainable blockchain ecosystem.

When Solana Stops Responding to Needs - When the Project Loses Vitality

Toly clearly warns: if Solana ceases to adjust and improve based on the requirements of developers and users, the project will no longer exist. This is not a mild remark but a strong statement about the importance of maintaining a close connection between the project and its community. He points out that a blockchain project is only valuable if it addresses real-world problems, not just existing in theory.

Vitality in Practice - How Solana Builds a Strong Ecosystem

According to toly, Solana needs to have widespread and meaningful use cases in the real world. This requires a large number of developers using the platform, thereby generating significant revenue from on-chain transaction value. When this happens, it creates a positive feedback loop: high revenue leads to more resources invested in improving the core protocol (including linear parts like LLM token credit). This process creates a sustainable growth cycle rather than a system based on theoretical assumptions.

Toly also emphasizes that when making protocol changes, the main goal must be to solve the real problems faced by developers or users. Not all requests need to be satisfied, and knowing when to refuse is also important. But refusal must be based on valid reasons, not on philosophy or theoretical ideas.