Infrastructure

Nodes

Node is a single participant in a network. The nodes communicate with each other according to the protocol and in a peer-to-peer manner forming the whole blockchain network.

Different kinds of nodes serve different purpose:

• Validator nodes secure the network by proposing new blocks and voting on the validity of new blocks.
• RPC (Remote Procedure Call) nodes do not participate in voting, they query the network and post new transactions.

Validator clients

The software that runs on validator nodes is called validator client. If all validators used the same client, a bug or exploit within that client could compromise the whole network. By using different clients, we spread out the risk. This way, if one client has an issue, the network can still stay safe and keep running smoothly.

As of now, there are four validator clients (some in development):

• Agave
• Jito Labs
• Firedancer
• Sig

Protocol

Protocol is a common set of rules network nodes must follow. It defines things like:

• Communication between P2P (peer-to-peer) nodes.
• Transaction format for network participants.
• Any special features.
• Everything else for the network to operate correctly and for the users to know how to transact over the network.

An essential part of a good protocol for a decentralized blockchain network is the proper incentive setup, which creates the need for its native coin.

Coin

Coins are used to motivate participation in the network. They are usually awarded to miners or validators with every new block for their role in securing the network and validating transactions. Without the proper incentives, any decentralized blockchain network falls apart.