The Story Network validator program has successfully concluded its testnet phases, Iliad and Odyssey, marking a significant milestone in the network’s development. Over the past six months, validators have demonstrated exceptional technical capabilities, operational resilience, and community-driven contributions. With this, we are excited to introduce Homer, our developer mainnet.
Before diving into the details, we would first like to express our gratitude to all validators for their dedication and consistency in maintaining the network. The journey began with a private testnet, launched in collaboration with 32 partners who either approached us directly or were referred by trusted sources.
During Iliad, more than 9,500 nodes were running. From this pool, we received over 500 applications, of which 200 validators were selected to join the Odyssey testnet. After a rigorous evaluation process, we have now finalized our initial active validator set, selecting 64 partners to support the next phase of Story Protocol.
The completion of Iliad and Odyssey underscores the strength and professionalism of the validator community. The selection process revealed a high level of technical proficiency and engagement, reinforcing the foundation of a robust and decentralized network.
Active set as follows: Coha05 | Spider Node,Grand Valley,STAKEME,*BlackNodes,*CoinHunters,*NodeStake,*republic-crypto,Chorus One,Everstake,J-Node,Stakecito,P-OPS Team,ContributionDAO,*OriginStake,*Mandragora,*Coinage x DAIC,*Pier Two,BlockPI Network,HashKey Cloud ,DSRV,KYVE_Foundation,Stakin,DragonStake 
,*Enigma,*StakingCabin,*CroutonDigital,*TTT VN,Nethermind,DTEAM,P2P.ORG,[NODERS],DeSpread,BlockHunters,*Nodeinfra,*Kiln,*F5 Nodes,*Chainflow,TrustedPoint,BwareLabs,Informal Systems,Lavender.Five Nodes,KysenPool,silent,*dylanisk,*Figment,*easeflow,*A41,Nodes.Guru,cipherowl_guardian,Metapool,Loudr,Unleash,MPCVault,PiperX,punkga.me,ZereBro
Here is an overview of the data we collected during 2 rounds of validator race:
Round 1
Round 1 ran from November 8 to December 5 (28days), during which 264 applications were received from the existing validator community. A total of 150 candidates were selected, with the first 100 validators assigned to participate in consensus.
The average uptime for the set was 99.38%, with a maximum uptime of 100%. Notably, 99 out of 112 validators (83%) achieved an uptime of 99.00% or higher, demonstrating strong network reliability.
A key milestone during this phase was the first Odyssey hardfork on November 27. To ensure a smooth chain operation, at least 66% of validator nodes needed to be upgraded. Impressively, the upgrade was completed within 23 seconds, with 84 out of 112 validators successfully upgrading their nodes, highlighting the efficiency and responsiveness of the validator community.
Round 2
Round 2 ran from December 12 to January 5th (28th), for round 2 we decided to accept another 50 sits due to the passion from the community. For round 2 submission, we received 249 applications. Then the remaining 50 validators from round 1 and newly selected validator formed up round 2.
The average uptime for the set was 98.11%, with a maximum uptime of 100%. Notably, 69 out of 112 validators (66%) achieved an uptime of 99.00% or higher. However, within round 2 we did experienced some glitch with various validators, 12 out of 112 (10%) validators experienced jailed situation, 5 out of 12 (41.67%) validators being jailed due to double signing issue.
Overall, 168 out of 200 validators (84%) achieved an uptime of 99% or higher. Following a rigorous selection process, here is a look at key performance metrics from the two rounds of validator delegation. These insights reflect the professionalism, resilience, and efficiency of the validator community.
Looking back, we gained valuable insights throughout this journey, collaborating with multiple stakeholders to refine and enhance the process. Here are some key learnings and reflections.
The Iliad phase provided critical insights into validator participation, leading to refinements in the selection process. During Odyssey, adjustments were made to broaden participation while maintaining decentralization and network security. This phase introduced a structured evaluation model, allowing validators to demonstrate their capabilities through uptime performance, stress tests, and hard forks. These measures ensured a fair, transparent selection process while strengthening overall network resilience.
The final validator selection was based on 5 factors, including technical performance, ecosystem contributions, past experiences, passion about story and active community engagement. This holistic approach ensures that the selected validators will play a crucial role in securing and maintaining the network.
This marks only the first phase of validator onboarding. As Story Protocol continues to grow, future network expansions will create additional participation opportunities, fostering a dynamic and evolving validator ecosystem. With mainnet on the horizon, the validator set will undergo continuous evaluation to uphold security and decentralization. Future expansions will recognize proven contributors while welcoming new participants.
Additionally, we want to emphasize that the network is permissionless. Anyone is welcome to operate a node, whether as an individual, an established team, or a professional group. Due to this permissionless nature, even with foundation delegation, validators in the current active set are not guaranteed a spot. New validators can enter the active set at any time if they accumulate enough stake, even without foundation delegation.
Huge thanks to everyone who took part! Your dedication, quick responses, and flexibility have been a big part of what made this program a success. We truly appreciate the validator community’s support!