Smaller Validators Need a Bigger Voice

Smaller Validators Need a Bigger Voice

Smaller validator operators are at risk. We're at risk of extinction in these early staking days. Larger validator companies dominate many of today's staking networks. They command disproportionate stake holdings and with it, control of these networks. Their business models depend on it. Yet smaller validator…

The Chainflow Livepeer Orchestrator Seed Program

The Chainflow Livepeer Orchestrator Seed Program

We're feeling excited to launch the Chainflow Livepeer Seed Program today. Through this program, Chainflow will delegate 2000 LPT to 2-4 new Livepeer Orchestrators. The Livepeer Streamflow upgrade completed on January 13, 2020. As a result, the active Orchestrator (formerly Transcoder) set expanded from 25 to 100. Chainflow&…

Proof of Stake Incentivized Test Net Examples

Proof of Stake Incentivized Test Net Examples

Most staking networks today view running an incentivized testnet as a key step toward a mainnet launch. Here's a list of incentivized testnet examples.…

How to Build a Better Game of Stakes

How to Build a Better Game of Stakes

The Cosmos Game of Stakes broke new ground. Staking networks often ask me how it could be improved. These are my suggestions to build a better one.…

Chainflow Validator AMA Notes - 11 June 2019

Chainflow Validator AMA Notes - 11 June 2019

Thanks to everyone who attended my first validator AMA. Most of the questions this time focused on how to become a validator. Here are the notes as transcribed by James Moreau. My hope is this becomes one of a series of AMA's. Contact me here and I'…

Criteria for Choosing Networks to Validate On

Criteria for Choosing Networks to Validate On

Selecting a network to validate on is a form of investment analysis. As validators, we're investing time, attention and capital into supporting the networks we choose to validate on. Smaller validators have less margin for error in this analysis, because our resources are more limited than larger, well…

Initial Thoughts on Harmony's Staking and Incentive Design

Initial Thoughts on Harmony's Staking and Incentive Design

The Harmony team asked me to provide feedback on their staking and incentive design. Here are my initial thoughts. They're based on reviewing this post and other background information. Lot's of Validators Harmony is a sharded proof of stake blockchain. At mainnet launch, they're…

Staking Observations from NYC Blockchain Week 2019

Staking Observations from NYC Blockchain Week 2019

Staking felt like a popular topic during NYC Blockchain Week 2019. I attended three staking events during the week. I spoke to many people representing proof of stake networks and staking companies along the way. The first event was a staking panel discussion hosted by Solana. I also contributed questions…

Announcing the Decentralized Staking Defenders

Announcing the Decentralized Staking Defenders

Proof of stake is starting to hit critical mass. The Cosmos mainnet launch seems to have opened to door for a flood of staking networks to come online in 2019. It's also at risk from the outset. Proof of Stake is Already at Risk Stake on these networks…

Cosmos Network Stake Analysis

Cosmos Network Stake Analysis

This analysis shows how many validators can shut the network down and control governance.…

Cosmos Delegator Survey Results

Cosmos Delegator Survey Results

Updated 17 April 2019 I first circulated this survey before the Cosmos Network launch. I circulated it again a week or so after launch. Here's a summary of the 55 responses it received. (Learn more about the Chainflow Cosmos validator and how to delegate to it here.) A…