SenseiNode Expands Proof-of-Stake Validator Infrastructure in Latin America
Decentralization is crucial for Bitcoin and other blockchains. Bitcoin miners are encouraged to operate in various jurisdictions to avoid regulatory capture, a trend amplified by China's 2021 crypto ban that diversified mining locations.
In contrast, Proof-of-Stake networks like Ethereum and Solana see less emphasis on decentralization. Staking firm SenseiNode aims to enhance resilience by establishing validator infrastructure across Latin America.
- 99% of nodes were previously concentrated in Europe, the US, and Asia.
- SenseiNode is the 15th largest global staking firm with $800 million in assets staked.
- Largest competitor, Kiln, manages over $7 billion.
- Operations span Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Chile, Costa Rica, and Colombia, with additional nodes in the US and Germany.
- Utilizes local data centers, unlike many US and European nodes hosted on Amazon Web Services, which centralizes operations.
Data centers in Latin America are developing, requiring SenseiNode to educate and build necessary infrastructure for staking services.
- Running costs vary: $300 per month for an Ethereum validator; $800 for Solana.
- Ethereum validators limit delegation to 32 ETH; Solana has no such limits.
- SenseiNode operates about 9,000 Ethereum nodes compared to just two or three for Polkadot and Avalanche.