Validator Onboarding

Distributed validators are overseen within clusters, which are composed of the operators chosen to oversee them. For a user to operate a validator via the RADIUM network, they need to distribute their validator key to their designated cluster and register it with the network's smart contract.

Operators Selection

To form your cluster, you must select your preferred group of operators to manage it.

The number of operators you select must be 3f+1 compatible, whereas f is the number of faulty operators that your cluster could endure (more operators, greater fault tolerance).

Supported cluster sizes:

Cluster Size (# of operators)	Fault Tolerance
4	1
7	2
10	3
13	4

Stakers have the freedom to select and customize the group of operators that will manage their validator cluster according to their own preferences:

Considerations for cluster formation include:

1. Reputation: RADIUM operates as a permissionless network, welcoming operators of all backgrounds, from professional companies with extensive node operation experience to individual operators managing their infrastructure. To aid stakers in distinguishing between them, the DAO maintains a curated list of "Verified Operators."

2. Performance: Evaluating both current and historical performance metrics of operators serves as a strong indicator of their reliability. Stakers can track operator performance through RADIUM explorer to assess their track record and continuously monitor their validators.

3. Diversification: The diversity of the cluster's technology stack enhances resilience against individual hardware or software failures. This diversity ensures that distributed validators can continue operating even in the event of a component failure. To mitigate single points of failure, stakers should aim for diversification across various aspects, including execution and consensus clients, cloud providers, and geographical locations.

4. MEV (Miner Extractable Value): Each time a validator is tasked with proposing a block, one operator within its cluster is chosen to lead the block proposal. MEV-enabled blocks are transmitted through relays, and only operators supporting the relay chosen by the leader can broadcast it to the network. Therefore, it is in the best interest of stakers to form their validator cluster with operators who exhibit a greater correlation in the relays they support:

• Full Relay Correlation: When all operator nodes support the same relays, every node will broadcast the block, exceeding the industry standard for liveness.

• Partial Relay Correlation: In cases where overlap is limited, only operator nodes supporting the relay selected by the leading operator will broadcast the proposal.

• No MEV Support: If a non-MEV operator leads the block proposal, the proposal will proceed without any MEV rewards.