  InfStones was proud to participate in the Staking Summit 2024, held on November 8-9 in Bangkok, Thailand. Rudy, our Director of Product, represented InfStones, engaged with the Proof of Stake (PoS) blockchain community, and returned with valuable insights. About the Staking Summit Staking Summit is an annual event organized by Staking Rewards for the Proof of Stake (PoS) blockchain ecosystem. Since its inception in 2022, it has become a platform for validators, protocols, institutions, and blockchain enthusiasts to connect and discuss the future of staking. Previous editions were held in Lisbon, Portugal, and Istanbul, Turkey, with this year’s event drawing over 1,000 attendees from around the globe. Highlights of 2024 This year’s summit featured 80+ distinguished speakers, including industry leaders like Vitalik Buterin, Sunny Aggarwal, Fisher Yu, Keone Hon, and Tarun Chitra. Discussions covered a wide range of critical topics, such as: Bitcoin Staking: Exploring staking opportunities in the Bitcoin ecosystem. Restaking: Unlocking new layers of utility and security in staking mechanisms. LSTfi (Liquid Staking Tokens Finance): Advancing liquid staking solutions and their impact on DeFi. Governance and Staking Challenges: Addressing scalability, decentralization, and security in PoS networks. InfStones at the Summit Throughout the event, we actively connected with the community, built new relationships, and strengthened relationships with our existing partners. We also attended side events to discuss blockchain infrastructure, validator performance, and protocol advancements. These conversations further strengthen our focus on improving the PoS ecosystem with reliable staking infrastructure. Looking Ahead Undoubtedly, the insights and connections gained at Staking Summit 2024 inspire us to contribute to the evolution of staking technologies. We’re excited to bring these ideas into our product innovations and collaborations as we move forward. Thank you to the organizers, speakers, and attendees for making this year’s summit such a remarkable event. We look forward to seeing everyone at the next Staking Summit!

InfStones Attends Staking Summit! 

On Tuesday, November 12, 2024, we co-sponsored the Validator & Node Operator Summit with bloXroute at DevCon in Bangkok. Our Director of Product, Rudy, represented InfStones and joined a panel to discuss "Scaling the Validator Ecosystem: Opportunities and Challenges." The panel discussed several issues, including recent developments, current challenges, and the role of validators in the Ethereum ecosystem. Preconfirmations A key topic of discussion was preconfirmations and their impact on transaction speeds. Rudy and the other panelists explored how preconfirmations benefit both validators and users in that validators are rewarded by delivering preconfirmation. In contrast, users get to experience a significant decrease in transaction latency—from 12 seconds to 0.1 seconds. This progress also makes Ethereum much more practical for high-frequency applications and use cases. Centralized vs. Decentralized Models The panel also revisited the ongoing debate between centralized and decentralized approaches. They acknowledged that while centralized models tend to dominate in the early stages of adoption due to their speed and efficiency, decentralized models hold greater long-term potential once they overcome their coordination challenges. Challenges and Future Innovations in Scaling Validator Networks Scaling challenges were also mentioned. The panel discussed how Ethereum's staking 32 ETH requirements, for example, can limit participation. This part of the conversation also extended beyond Ethereum and explored the progressing role of validators. Protocols like EigenLayer and oracles now depend on validators for tasks beyond transaction validation, such as price reporting and executing decentralized workloads, which further emphasizes validators' role as the backbone of various decentralized systems, not just blockchain networks. Looking forward, the panel explored how newer technologies like preconfirmations, sidecars, and re-staking could reshape validator infrastructure. While third-party providers like MEV-Boost and bloXroute often drive these innovations, there was an emphasis on validators effectively integrating these technologies to ensure optimal integration for their users.  Final Thoughts The session provided valuable insights into the opportunities and challenges that validators face today. For InfStones, it was also an opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to supporting the validator ecosystem with scalable and future-proof infrastructure. As validators take on more critical roles in decentralized systems, we look forward to continuing our work in building solutions that meet both current and future demands.

Scaling the Validator Ecosystem: Opportunities and Challenges at DevCon Recap 

On November 14, 2024, we hosted an AMA session with 0G to explore their advancements in decentralized AI, the possibilities of their AI alignment nodes, and how InfStones supports node holders through our Node Launch Pool. Here’s a detailed recap of the key takeaways from the event.

AMA RECAP: 0G Node Sale & InfStones Launch Pool Rewards

We were thrilled to be part of Permissionless III. Blockworks has been hosting the Permissionless conference since 2022, and it quickly became one of the largest DeFi and Web3-focused events. This year's event, Permissionless III (co-hosted by Bankless), was no different. It brought together the brightest minds in the blockchain space from October 9 to 11, 2024, in Salt Lake City, Utah, with over 7,000 attendees.

InfStones Attends Permissionless III!

CARV Mainnet Launch AMA Recap

We had an incredible time at TOKEN2049 Singapore 2024! As one of the world's largest Web3 and blockchain conferences, this year's event, held from September 18-19 at the iconic Marina Bay Sands, drew over 20,000 attendees from 150 countries to explore and discuss the most recent innovations in the crypto and Web3 space.

InfStones Attends Token2049 Singapore 2024!

On August 23, 2024, InfStones marked a significant milestone with the launch of our new Node Sale DApp. To celebrate this, we hosted an AMA, where we introduced our community to this exciting new platform designed to simplify the process of buying and interacting with nodes.

InfStones AMA Recap: Launch of Node Sale Feature with DIN and Lumoz 

On August 21, 2024, InfStones co-hosted an AMA session with DIN on "Navigating the Node Market," attracting over 67,000 participants. The session brought together key players in the blockchain infrastructure space, including Node Terminal, Easeflow, NodeOps, Dappad, RapidNode, and EasyNode.  The AMA kicked off with introductions from all participants. Ann Jiang, representing InfStones, highlighted our extensive experience in blockchain since 2018, our support for over 80 protocols, and our status as the largest Aethir checker node provider in the market. The introduction session sets the stage for the main discussion on the rising trend of node sales as a means to decentralize networks and engage communities.

Navigating The Node Market AMA Recap 

On August 15, 2024, InfStones and SSV Network held an AMA session that spotlighted our ongoing collaboration, specifically focusing on integrating the SSV network into InfStones' SafeStake product. The session was hosted by Ranvir Rana, Product Marketer at SSV Labs, with discussions led by Sili Zhao, Director of Business Development at InfStones, and Ben Affleck, SSV DAO facilitator.

Future of Staked ETH - DVT Powered NOs & DVT as A Service AMA Recap

On August 2nd, InfStones co-hosted an AMA session with Gora and 01Node that explored the critical role of institutional validators in the blockchain ecosystem. The session featured insightful discussions from Adam Kinley, Enterprise Solutions Architect at InfStones, Gabriel Mateiciuc, DevOps at 01Node, and Norbi from Gora Network.

Institutional Validators A Force Behind Gora AMA Recap

We recently co-hosted an AMA Session with Stacking DAO! The AMA kicked off with an introduction to StackingDAO, the first and leading liquid staking token on Stacks, boasting a significant Total Value Locked (TVL) of around 60,000,000 STX. Arkadiko was also highlighted as the first DeFi protocol on Stacks, offering a crypto-backed stablecoin, USDA. Both projects continue to thrive, providing valuable opportunities for users to earn yields on their idle stacks.

Stacks DeFi Show: Signer Episode AMA Recap

Introduction On June 28, 2024, InfStones participated in an insightful AMA session with Router Protocol. The session focused on their upcoming mainnet launch and the difficulties of Proof of Stake (PoS) mechanics. It featured an engaging discussion on the global distribution of validator networks, the decentralization of the network, and the experiences of validators working with the Router Protocol. Key Discussion Points Key discussion points from the AMA are highlighted below. Introduction to Router Protocol and Validators The AMA started with an introduction to Router Protocol and a brief overview of all participating validators, including InfStones, Node Guru, and Forbole, setting the stage for an in-depth discussion of validators' role in ensuring the network's stability and security. Working with Router Protocol Validators, including InfStones, shared their positive experiences working with Router Protocol, emphasizing the protocol's seamless integration and robust support. The discussion highlighted the importance of decentralization, with validators showcasing the global distribution of their nodes.  Validators also discussed the technical aspects of their operations, including strategies to prevent slashing, the use of personal hardware and high-standard data centers, and the effective monitoring of node performance. InfStones, in particular, underscored its commitment to maintaining high availability and uptime through rigorous security measures and proactive support. Router Chain Mainnet Launch Announcement Router Protocol made a significant announcement during the session: their mainnet will officially launch on July 30, 2024. The team also outlined their future roadmap, which includes plans to expand support to new EVM and non-EVM chains, enhancing the interoperability and scalability of their network. Conclusion We encourage the community to actively engage with the Router network by staking their ROUTE tokens and participating in the upcoming mainnet launch with InfStones. Users can benefit from our extensive experience, robust infrastructure, network security, and performance commitment. InfStones' expertise in running multiple nodes across various networks ensures that stakers receive reliable and efficient service. Get started here. You can also listen to the entire AMA here.

News

InfStones Attends Staking Summit!

Scaling the Validator Ecosystem: Opportunities and Challenges at DevCon Recap

AMA RECAP: 0G Node Sale & InfStones Launch Pool Rewards

InfStones Attends Permissionless III!

CARV Mainnet Launch AMA Recap

InfStones Attends Token2049 Singapore 2024!

InfStones AMA Recap: Launch of Node Sale Feature with DIN and Lumoz

Navigating The Node Market AMA Recap

Future of Staked ETH - DVT Powered NOs & DVT as A Service AMA Recap

Institutional Validators A Force Behind Gora AMA Recap

Stacks DeFi Show: Signer Episode AMA Recap

InfStones AMA with Router Protocol Recap: Key Highlights and Insights

InfStones Attends Staking Summit!

Scaling the Validator Ecosystem: Opportunities and Challenges at DevCon Recap

AMA RECAP: 0G Node Sale & InfStones Launch Pool Rewards

InfStones Attends Permissionless III!

CARV Mainnet Launch AMA Recap

InfStones Attends Token2049 Singapore 2024!

InfStones AMA Recap: Launch of Node Sale Feature with DIN and Lumoz

Navigating The Node Market AMA Recap

Future of Staked ETH - DVT Powered NOs & DVT as A Service AMA Recap

Institutional Validators A Force Behind Gora AMA Recap

Stacks DeFi Show: Signer Episode AMA Recap

InfStones AMA with Router Protocol Recap: Key Highlights and Insights