Decentralized Nodes
The Decentralized Nodes program is sunset.
See this announcement for more information.
Program goals
The program aimed to select validators that:
Selection Criteria
The operator could apply with up to two nodes on Polkadot and four nodes on Kusama.
Web3 Foundation selected the validators based on the below criteria.
Each cohort was nominated for a four-month term.
Application & Interview
Answers to the technical questions in the application and during a potential interview (if one is performed)
Prior Experience & Performance
Prior experience in running validators in the Polkadot and/or other ecosystems with good performance
Institutional staking providers
Legal entities with high experience and expertise that provide professional staking services
Hardware Specs
The node must meet the minimum hardware requirements at all times
Diversification
The selected nodes will have diversity in location, provider, and hardware
Operations & Responsiveness
The operator should apply good monitoring and security practices, session key management, and be responsive
Ecosystem Contributions
Overall contributions to the ecosystem and active community engagement
Technical Contributions
Contributions to issues, core tech, or to the program itself
On-chain Governance
Meaningful historical participation in OpenGov
