Validators process transactions and receive fees from users (supply-side fees).

Solana is a smart contract platform for decentralized applications (a blockchain). Solana was founded by Anatoly Yakovenko, Greg Fitzgerald, Raj Gokal, etc. and launched in 2020.

SOL holders own and govern the protocol. They currently take a cut of the transaction fees paid by users (revenue). Solana’s investors include Polychain Capital, ParaFi capital, Passport capital, etc.