Flowra launches Open Orderflow Auction for Solana to boost validator revenue

Open auction system for transaction inclusion

The OOA enables registered searchers—entities that observe blockchain transactions for profit opportunities—to compete in an open auction for transaction inclusion, rather than relying on closed channels for orderflow. This model is designed to foster transparent price discovery and allow validators to capture a greater share of MEV-related value.

Flowra stated that its OOA setup outperformed previous solutions during early tests. With just a single validator, the compute units processed per block increased by 20.6%, raising the validator’s activity from 84% to 101% of the network average. In addition, block fees were higher than those of similar validator clients, and block production attained 100%, with block engine uptime reaching 99.999%.

Flowra reported that the OOA achieves higher compute utilization and block fees compared to other validator software, while maintaining exceptional uptime metrics.

Programmable Block Policy and compliance integration

Alongside the auction framework, Flowra introduced the Programmable Block Policy feature. This allows validators to set custom transaction inclusion rules at the block-building layer, enhancing flexibility for regulatory and institutional compliance—without making changes to Solana’s underlying protocol.

To strengthen compliance, Flowra formed a partnership with Honeypot, a company that specializes in blockchain regulatory infrastructure. This collaboration brings sanctions and risk screening directly into the block-building process.

Mini dictionary: Honeypot is a compliance infrastructure provider that assists blockchain projects and validators in meeting regulatory obligations such as sanctions screening and risk assessment of on-chain transactions.

Adopting competitive models from Ethereum

Flowra’s approach draws inspiration from Ethereum’s block-building ecosystem, where open bidding for block proposals has led to increases in validator revenue through a similar MEV auction mechanism. The company noted that Solana’s high-throughput and low-latency characteristics should support a market-driven model in line with Ethereum’s.

Solana’s network performance allows for open and competitive block-building strategies, aiming to mirror the benefits seen in the Ethereum ecosystem.

Currently, Flowra is onboarding institutional validators—large, often organizational participants responsible for validating Solana transactions—to the OOA system. The broader rollout is planned as the network’s capability to support larger participation grows.

Availability and next steps

The Open Orderflow Auction is now available to both validators and searchers within the Solana ecosystem. Flowra expects that as adoption widens, the network will continue to see increasing competition among block builders and further improvements in validator profitability.