Introducing the First Cohort of Mezo Validators
Today, we are thrilled to announce the first cohort of validators joining Mezo’s mission to bring utility to Bitcoin.
Today, we are thrilled to announce the first cohort of validators joining Mezo’s mission to bring utility to Bitcoin.
Mezo launched in April 2024 and has already generated over $140 million in total value locked (TVL), supporting tBTC, wBTC, BTC, and stablecoin deposits. Our focus remains on expanding Bitcoin’s capabilities without sacrificing its core principles.
To that end, we’ve selected a set of experienced validators to run the infrastructure that powers the network.
Meet Our Inaugural Validators
We are proud to welcome the following exceptional validators to our network:
The first validator cohort for Mezo combines technical expertise, geographic diversity, and infrastructure resilience to create a foundation of security and operational stability.
Baseline Requirements for Validators
Mezo validators must meet stringent technical requirements to ensure the smooth operation of the chain. These include:
- Proven track record as seasoned operators in proof-of-stake ecosystems
- Running a Mezo validator node and a full Ethereum node (for bridge validators).
- Meeting hardware requirements, including at least 4 physical CPU cores, 500GB NVME SSD storage, 32GB of RAM, and 100mbps network bandwidth.
- Maintaining over 96% uptime to ensure reliability and service quality.
Validators must also lock 10 BTC for 12 months to demonstrate their commitment to the network's security and their stake in its success. As the network evolves, validators must stay prepared for system upgrades, expecting updates to be implemented within 24 hours of notification.
Mezo Validators will need to run a few primary software components:
- Mezo Node: This will allow you to run a light node responsible for data availability sampling.
- Mezo Validator: This will enable you to run a consensus node, participate in block validation, and earn rewards. Validators will also provide RPC endpoints for other applications to interact with the Mezo network.
- Bridge Sidecar: This component handles the processes for validating and transferring assets between Mezo and external networks, such as Ethereum.
Mezo's Next Steps: Incentivizing Validators
The Mezo Validator Program is designed to incentivize validators. Mezo uses BTC as the gas token, and validators earn a percentage of total fees, ensuring they are rewarded for their critical role in maintaining the chain’s security.
In Q1 2025, Mezo will transition to a dual-token locking model and introduce the MEZO token. This will enable further rewards and validator participation, marking another step toward building a self-sustaining, decentralized Bitcoin economic system.
Join the Mezo Validator Community
If you’re an experienced validator and want to participate in Mezo’s exciting journey, we invite you to apply for the Mezo Validator Program. With the public testnet launching soon, there's never been a better time to help shape the future of Bitcoin’s economic layer.
Links
👾 Discord: https://discord.mezo.org
🕊 X: https://twitter.com/MezoNetwork
🏦 Deposit Portal: https://mezo.org/hodl
ℹ️ Docs: https://info.mezo.org