The job of an Ethereum node operator is critically important: running validators with the engineering precision needed to maximize returns for stakers.
In the first version of Swell, we have carefully curated a permissioned group of professional node operators. Subsequent iterations will then see Swell's operator set expand to securely become permissionless in line with the protocol’s values, using risk mitigation technologies such as distributed validator technology (DVT).
This first set of node operators have been selected for two characteristics:
- Technical expertise and commercial experience, as demonstrated by a solid track record of security, stability, and on-chain performance, plus clear risk management practices.
- The ability to help Swell maximize diversity and decentralization across different domains; including geographies, servers, and client types.
The resulting eight node operators are all industry veterans with direct experience of liquid staking and exceptional track records of providing institutional-grade staking infrastructure:
Blockscape
Established: 2019
Based: Switzerland
Blockscape provides secure and reliable validator services on more than 20 networks, with 24/7 support and monitoring; high-speed business internet access; and multi-region and multi-client infrastructure. The team is also involved in blockchain development, including the creation of the gravity bridge between Cosmos and Ethereum.
DSRV
Established: 2019
Based: Seoul, South Korea
Stake under management: $500m+
Led by a team of former Samsung engineers and crypto exchange operators, South Korean firm DSRV has a spotless reputation as a leading Proof-of-Stake (PoS) validator for over 20 blockchains.
Hashquark
Established: 2018
Based: Hong Kong
Number of validators: ~10,000
Based in East Asia and serving markets around the world, HashQuark, is a staking service provider which has run a cumulative total of more than 18,000 nodes with zero security issues on record.
InfStones
Established: 2018
Location: Texas, USA
Stake under management: $500m+
American blockchain infrastructure provider InfStones supports tens of thousands of nodes on more than 70 major blockchains, and provides services to institutional clients around the globe.
Kiln
Established: 2018
Location: Paris, France
Number of ETH validators: 10,000+
Stake under management: $1B+
French enterprise-grade staking platform Kiln is responsible for around 2% of all staked ETH. The platform leads the node operator industry in terms of security, stability, and uptime, and has never been subject to a slashing event. Their approach to monitoring Ethereum at scale and anti-slashing strategies has been endorsed by the Ethereum Foundation and is widely followed in the industry.
RockX
Established: 2018
Location: Singapore
Number of ETH validators: 7,500+
Stake under management: $900m+
One of Asia’s blockchain infrastructure providers, RockX has extensive staking experience and also works at the forefront of cryptographic innovation; leading the charge on technologies like multi-party computation (MPC), Distributed Key Generation (DKG), and Distributed Validator Technology (DVT).
Stakely
Established: 2018
Location: Spain
Number of validators: 8000+
Stake under management: $500m+
Stakely is a Spanish node operator notable for its efforts to pioneer greater levels of diversity and security. These include running ten different implementations of consensus and execution clients, distributing servers between different providers, and deploying nodes and validators in regions where the node concentration is low, such as Asia and Eastern Europe.
SNC.xyz
Established: 2022
Based: Netherlands
Big believers in self-custody and deeply involved in blockchain development, snc.xyz provides non-custodial staking infrastructure with a strong commitment to geographical and client diversity.
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