Will the Radix Foundation operate validator nodes?

Yes, Radix Tokens (Jersey) Limited (RTJL), which is a subsidiary of the Radix Foundation, intends to operate validator nodes to provide support to network reliability and security. These nodes are not special in any way - they are simply nodes that RTJL will operate as part of its mission to support Radix and the Radix ecosystem – especially in the early stages of the network. They are intended to provide a multi-region, redundant set of high-reliability nodes alongside other nodes run by the community. RTJL’s nodes will not accept any community stake - only its own.

However, RTJL also does not wish to compete with good, reliable community validator nodes. Therefore RTJL is adopting a 2-tier policy of staking to its own nodes that will allow those nodes to naturally transition out of the validator set when they are not needed.

RTJL will begin by operating 6 nodes in each of 4 geographical regions, for a total of 24 nodes. The majority of RTJL’s total stake (no more than 25% of network stake) will be delegated to just 2 nodes in each region (8 total) - with a relatively small amount of stake then spread across the remaining 4 nodes in each region (16 total).

This means that there will be a low bar for community node-runners to attract stake delegation and push most of RTJL’s nodes out of the validator set, reducing its number to just 8 (2 in each region). As more community XRD flows into the network and is staked, we then anticipate that these remaining 8 will also be naturally pushed out of the validator set when they are no longer providing any value over community nodes.

Further reading:

• What is the Radix Foundation’s policy on staking & node-running?
• Will the Radix Foundation stake its own XRD holdings? To which validators?
• Will Radix receive incentive rewards from staking and validator node-running?
• Will Radix-operated validator nodes accept delegated stake from the community?