At karpatkey, we approached the Obol RAF1 funding round with a clear focus on strengthening Obol’s distributed validation ecosystem. We believe that infrastructure scalability is one of the most pressing challenges in staking adoption, focusing our investments on projects that provide tangible, scalable improvements in validator infrastructure. Instead of dispersing votes across all categories, we concentrated our support on initiatives that drive measurable improvements in validator infrastructure, integrations, and operational accessibility.
Technical Infrastructure & Integrations
We prioritized projects that provide tangible enhancements by improving node management, monitoring capabilities, and interoperability within the ecosystem. In selecting projects, we considered their potential to increase staking accessibility through technical innovation, their ability to enhance validator security and decentralization, and their alignment with Obol’s mission of strengthening Distributed Validator Technology (DVT).
Accordingly, we supported:
- Obol DVT Integration into Stereum Open Source Node Operation Software – This initiative simplifies the deployment and management of Obol DVT, reducing complexity for solo stakers and institutions while improving network resilience.
- Eth-Docker ↔ Obol ↔ Lido Integration – A critical integration effort enhancing Ethereum staking reliability by connecting Obol’s DVT with the Lido ecosystem, ensuring greater redundancy and security in staking operations.
- Mission Control: One-Click Obol DVT Deployment & All-In-One Observability – By simplifying deployment and providing real-time observability, this initiative significantly lowers the barrier for validators to run DVT clusters efficiently, reducing the risk of misconfigured nodes.
- Commit-Boost – A project dedicated to improving validator efficiency and yield optimization, ensuring a more sustainable staking ecosystem.
- DAOstar – An initiative focused on standardizing DAO governance frameworks, fostering interoperability within decentralized ecosystems.
Core Ethereum Infrastructure & Ecosystem Development
Beyond DVT-focused improvements, we recognize the importance of funding initiatives that contribute to Ethereum’s broader staking ecosystem. Sustainable development requires continuous upgrades to protocol tooling and research efforts that push Ethereum’s staking technology forward. To this end, we supported:
- Protocol Guild – A long-term funding mechanism ensuring that Ethereum’s core contributors are resourced to maintain and enhance the network’s foundational infrastructure.
- Research and Specification for Obol V2 – An essential step in refining the next iteration of Obol’s protocol, focusing on scalability, security, and decentralization improvements.
Strategic Community & Staking Accessibility
While our primary focus remains on infrastructure, we also supported initiatives that enhance staking accessibility and empower solo stakers. These include:
- SEEDNodes – A grassroots initiative that fosters engagement and knowledge-sharing within the validator community, expanding the reach of DVT technology.
- Chainnodes’ Management of Operation Solo Staker – This initiative directly supports solo stakers by providing critical educational resources, troubleshooting support, and operational assistance, ensuring a more decentralized validator set.
- Dappnode – A platform that enables seamless home staking and node management, playing a key role in decentralization by allowing users to self-host validators.
- cp0x – A community-driven initiative dedicated to educating and onboarding new participants into Ethereum staking, ensuring a wider and more informed validator base.
Conclusion
karpatkey’s vote allocation reflects our commitment to funding impactful, infrastructure-driven projects that advance staking decentralization. By prioritizing technical advancements over general awareness efforts, we ensure that Obol’s infrastructure remains resilient and scalable. Our votes in Obol RAF1 reflect this commitment, ensuring that the projects we support continue to push the boundaries of decentralized staking and validator innovation.