Caldera, a Rollup-as-a-Service platform, is introducing Guardian Nodes, a system allowing network users to validate rollup blocks and earn rewards. HYCHAIN, the pioneering team to utilize this system with Caldera, raised $8 million through their initial node sale. Currently, Caldera powers over fifty EVM rollups, securing approximately $1 billion in total locked value, including projects like Manta, Injective inEVM, Kinto, Treasure, and ApeChain.

In addition to its core rollup infrastructure, Caldera provides a range of integrations and user-facing tools for chains. Guardian Nodes represent the latest addition to this lineup.

Background:

Traditionally, most Layer 1 blockchains operate on a proof-of-stake model, incentivizing participants to validate the chain through network rewards. This structure promotes decentralization by rewarding honest validators and penalizing dishonest ones, creating a high cost to attack a network.

Decentralizing Rollups:

While EVM rollups have largely solved scalability issues, there's a lack of incentives for honest participants to monitor them. Caldera's Guardian Nodes address this by allowing users to verify blocks and secure the network for rewards. This is achieved by introducing a "light verifier" to Arbitrum rollups, enabling Guardian Node operators to verify Nitro batches on standard hardware without running a full node.

Teams can distribute Guardian Node keys through a "Node Sale," granting purchasers eligibility to operate a Guardian Node and earn rewards on a specific rollup. HYCHAIN's successful launch, raising over $8 million across 16,000+ node keys in two weeks, highlights the potential of this system to strengthen community engagement and project revenue.

By involving more parties in rollup monitoring, network security improves, enhancing trust in the chain's integrity. This, in turn, increases demand for the rollup's native token, essential for participation and providing practical security for the network.

Guardian Nodes represent another milestone in Caldera's infrastructure solution, with more teams expected to leverage this innovative product in the future.