Validator’s Note 15 — SSV Network: How Did We Get Here?
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and should not be taken as financial advice. No information contained within this article is a recommendation to invest in any of the assets mentioned. All investors are advised to thoroughly conduct their own research before making any financial decisions.
Brace yourselves y’all– ssv.network is in the process of shipping Mainnet! A protocol that implements the groundbreaking Distributed Validator Technology (DVT), ssv.network essentially enables a group of individuals or operators to collectively run validators for Ethereum on a cluster of nodes. This ensures that the validator can continue operating even if one of the nodes is offline or faulty, while also hindering operators from making one-sided decisions for a validator. DVT not only enhances the decentralization of staking infrastructure but also improves its resilience and security.
The ssv.network consists of two parts:
- SSV P2P Network Layer
Operators run ssv-node software with a diverse combination of Execution Layer and Beacon Node clients. This software reads the current operator list and validator KeyShare assignments via smart contracts and performs the role of a validator client.
2. Ethereum Contract Layer
When it comes to network governance, SSV’s Ethereum-based smart contracts manage a number of actions, e.g. adding an operator, creating a validator, sharing validator keys, and distributing fees.
Road to Mainnet
Recently, ssv.network completed a successful Limited Mainnet Launch with 20 Verified Operators (VOs) — carefully selected by a Verified Operator Committee (VOC) — and 200 validators staked by the core team. While not yet permissionless, we are well on our way to a Permissionless Mainnet Launch!
The ssv.network was tested for over two years before being released onto mainnet. Our DSRV validator team has been actively involved in this process since then, starting with the testnet phase two years ago. In celebration of SSV’s successful Limited Mainnet Launch, today we’d like to look back on our journey with ssv.network– what we experienced, how it evolved, and how the network was tested over time.
Public DVT Testnet
2 years ago: our first encounter with ssv.network. We were fascinated by the concept of DVT and the potential of distributing the operation of an Ethereum validator, which we got to explore more closely through SSV.
Primus Incentivized Testnet
Our first proper involvement with ssv.network was via the Primus Incentivized Testnet. As this was open to everyone for stress-testing, all our team members did their best to enroll as many validators as possible.
Shifu Testnet
The Shifu Testnet brought about a big change in ssv.network’s P2P protocol structure. While SSV used to directly connect and maintain all subnet peers, from Shifu, it began using pubsub (gossip approach) when broadcasting messages to subnet peers to avoid overhead. Shifu also marked the start of ssv.network’s collaboration with staking services (including Lido), which could now integrate SSV to enhance decentralization. We ran one operator for Lido for this testnet.
Jato Testnet
On the Jato Testnet, that same set of operators became a set of clusters, which made it easier to manage clusters and fees. Lido joined in testing this Pilot 2 phase, which we participated in by running 3 operators. We tested out using DKG in lieu of Web UI, which didn’t quite go as planned and was put on hold for now.
Jato-V2 Testnet
Jato V2 was the final testnet deployed in preparation for the Mainnet Launch. We focused on maintaining an uptime of over 99% to enable seamless onboarding to Mainnet. Note that this testnet will continue to run in parallel with the Mainnet.
And finally…Limited Launch!
And here we are– celebrating SSV’s Limited Mainnet that recently launched with Verified Operators(VOs). The VOs are the network’s top 20 operators, evaluated and selected based on expertise and track record in order to ensure the best performance for users and future launch partners. As a VO, we seek to promote operator diversity and network resilience while boosting fault tolerance and redundancy. This phase will also see efforts to integrate MEV, to be tested on the Jato-V2 Testnet. And guess what? Once the Limited Launch was announced, 30 validators were finally onboarded to our operator on 8/9. Our performance was rated at 99.97%, which you can view here.
We’re absolutely stoked to be a part of this new and thriving ecosystem. Starting from the early days and now being able to witness SSV’s hard work pay off as we get closer to the Permissionless Launch– what a ride!
Written by
Youngbin Park, Research Engineer, DSRV Validator Team (Twitter @bin0_0bin)
Edited by
Domitille Colin, Brand Communications Manager (Twitter domitille_marie)
