- MESA lets Solana validators vote across a range, not just yes or no on proposals.
- SIMD-228 didn’t pass despite strong turnout, showing deep community split on inflation changes.
- Some worry MESA could lead to strategic voting instead of honest community input.
Galaxy Research has outlined a new method for voting on Solana’s token issuance policy, following the rejection of SIMD-228. The failed proposal aimed to adjust SOL’s inflation model using a dynamic system that reacts to staking levels. In contrast, Galaxy’s new idea — called Multiple Election Stake-Weight Aggregation (MESA) — proposes a more open-ended, range-based voting format.
Instead of casting a simple “yes” or “no,” validators would choose from multiple inflation options. Their selections would be weighted by the size of their stake, and a final value would be calculated using a method that blends these inputs. The company said the goal is to better understand community sentiment and avoid repeated voting cycles.
Galaxy Research said in its announcement,
“Rather than vote on one number at a time, we believe it’s more practical to let the community point to where they stand across a range and decide based on everyone’s weighted preference.”
Why MESA Differs From Previous Proposals
The MESA system keeps Solana’s current disinflation schedule in place. At present data, SOL’s inflation rate starts at 8% and drops by 15% each year until reaching a 1.5% minimum. That curve adjusts automatically with every epoch.
SIMD-228 had introduced a more reactive approach, linking token issuance directly to the amount of SOL staked. The community showed interest in reducing long-term inflation, but the voting result was too divided to push the change forward. Galaxy Research pointed to this as a flaw in the binary format.
The new approach gives validators multiple choices and calculates the final figure using a weighted average based on stake. Galaxy believes this would provide a clearer outcome that reflects collective intent, without the need for multiple revisions of a single proposal.
Concerns About Strategic Voting and Outcomes
Not everyone agrees that MESA would solve the problems faced during SIMD-228. Max Resnick, an economist with the Solana development group Anza, shared concerns about how voters might react to a multi-option ballot.
Resnick noted in response to the proposal,
“If someone thinks 25% is ideal, they might vote for an extreme figure just to nudge the final average in their direction. That distorts honest input.”
He added that people often try to influence the final outcome based on expectations, which could make the process more complicated than intended.
Still, Resnick supported the general idea of opening up more choices. He said that binary voting splits the room into sides. Giving people options might encourage more useful discussion. He also reaffirmed his position that a responsive, market-linked emissions model would better balance network security and long-term sustainability.
Anatoly Yakovenko, one of the founders of Solana Labs, offered an alternative version of Galaxy’s proposed model. Instead of using an average to determine the final outcome, he proposed using the median of stake-weighted responses, which may be less influenced by extreme values.
Large Ethereum Transfer by Galaxy Draws Attention
Galaxy Research’s introduction of the MESA proposal coincided with a notable transaction by its parent company, Galaxy Digital. Over a three-day period this week, the firm moved 25,000 Ethereum (ETH)—valued at over $40 million—to Binance. While no official explanation has been given, the size and timing of the transfer have caught the attention of market participants.
