Yakovenko Clarifies Solana Stance on External Projects
Solana co-founder Anatoly Yakovenko asserted that projects operating outside the primary blockchain are independent entities.
Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in Investing
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Solana co-founder Anatoly Yakovenko stated on October 29, 2026, that projects operating outside of the Solana main blockchain do not qualify as part of the Solana ecosystem. The clarification follows discussions regarding the trading platform BULK, which plans to connect its infrastructure across multiple networks.
Why it matters
The comments define the boundaries of the Solana network as it faces increasing competition from cross-chain trading systems. By distinguishing between internal and external projects, Yakovenko clarifies his vision for prioritized Solana development.
Anatoly Yakovenko maintains that layer-1 blockchains offer superior performance compared to alternative scaling networks. This perspective contrasts with platforms like BULK that utilize shared liquidity across multiple chains including Arc, Tempo, Arbitrum, and HyperEVM.
The players
Anatoly Yakovenko
He is a co-founder of the Solana blockchain and a prominent advocate for layer-1 optimization.
BULK
This is a decentralized trading platform designed for perpetual futures that aims to connect liquidity across multiple blockchains.
The details
BULK aims to facilitate trades for perpetual futures by connecting funds through its own matching engine and risk management system. While Yakovenko holds an investment interest in the platform, he maintains that the decentralized application remains an independent entity because it operates beyond the Solana layer-1 blockchain.
Timeline
March 2025: Yakovenko publicly argued that layer-1 blockchains provide better performance than scaling networks.
January 22, 2026: BULK founders discussed the platform development during a podcast interview.
October 23, 2026: Yakovenko announced priority applications including Phantom and Jupiter.
October 29, 2026: Yakovenko and a BULK founder held a public exchange regarding network status on X.
Market Dynamics
The dispute reflects an ongoing struggle within the blockchain industry to define the boundaries of network ecosystems. This tension pits proponents of integrated layer-1 performance against decentralized platforms seeking to leverage liquidity from multiple competing networks.
Users of multi-chain trading platforms should be aware that assets moving through external protocols may operate under different technical standards than those native to the Solana mainnet. This distinction is critical for investors managing risk across various decentralized ecosystems.
The takeaway
Blockchain investors should scrutinize whether a project is a native component of a network or merely an interoperable layer built on top. Understanding these architectural differences is essential for evaluating long-term network security and performance claims.
Further reading
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Source note: This article includes information reported by Crypto.
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