How to Become a Block Producer on the XPR Network

The XPR Network, propelled by its dynamic community and decentralized network of Block Producers, has rapidly carved a niche for itself in the cryptocurrency landscape. Block Producers are integral to ensuring the seamless operation of the XPR Network, processing countless transactions swiftly and fortifying network security. If the role of a Block Producer intrigues you, here’s a detailed guide to embarking on this journey:

Temporary Pause on New Block Producer Submissions

XPR Network is temporarily pausing new Block Producer submissions while the network completes its transition to PulseVM.

This is a precautionary measure to protect network stability during a critical protocol upgrade. The transition will be handled by established Block Producers with demonstrated production, upgrade, monitoring, recovery, and incident-response experience.

During the pause:

No new BP Testnet or Mainnet onboarding applications will be accepted.
No new regprod permissions will be issued for BP candidates.
Existing active Block Producers and non-BP Testnet node operators are unaffected.
Current applicants will be contacted directly regarding their status.

The Consortium will use this period to complete the PulseVM transition and finalise strengthened BP admission standards covering manual KYB/KYC, sanctions screening, technical competency, operational accountability, and ecosystem contribution.

New BP submissions will reopen once PulseVM is deployed, stable, and the XPR Network Consortium has formally approved the reopening of onboarding.

Thank you for your understanding and for supporting a secure, reliable XPR Network.

The Rewarding Role of a Block Producer

Being a Block Producer (BP) on the XPR Network offers more than the technical responsibility of running nodes. Here are the benefits that come with it:

Daily Rewards: BPs earn daily rewards from system inflation in XPR. A designated 1% of the annual inflation rewards BPs for their efforts in maintaining the network’s optimal performance.
Developing in the Ecosystem: As a BP, you’ll delve deep into the XPR ecosystem, facilitating the development of rapid blockchain applications such as dApps, DEXs, NFT marketplaces, and more.
Access to XPR Grants and Bounty Projects: BPs often have a head start when it comes to paid development projects, whether through side contracts or bounties aiming to further the network’s development.

Steps to Become a Block Producer

Identity, business and operational-control verification: Before any Testnet access is granted, every applicant must complete required KYC verification. Applicants operating as or through a business must also complete a manual KYB review. A registered business is preferred but not required: individuals and sole traders may apply where their identity, verifiable online professional presence, operational control, and relevant IT and server-operating experience can be satisfactorily verified. Applicants who do not pass the required review will not be permitted to join, operate on, or request support for Testnet.
Operator Competency Assessment: After KYC and, where applicable, KYB approval, pass the XPR Network Operator Competency Assessment before Testnet onboarding.XPR Network Testnet Telegram access is provided only after these eligibility requirements are met.
Testnet Participation: Initiate and maintain a BP node on the XPR Testnet for at least two weeks.
Mainnet Onboarding: After successfully completing the Testnet period and maintaining approved KYC, any applicable KYB, competency, disclosure, and Code of Conduct status, activate your XPR Mainnet Block Producer and API nodes.

Pre-Testnet Operator Competency Assessment

Only applicants that have passed required KYC verification and, where applying as or through a business, the Consortium’s manual KYB review may take the written and practical XPR Network Operator Competency Assessment. Applicants must also demonstrate proven IT and server-operating experience. Passing this assessment is required before Testnet access. Reading documentation or running a copied configuration is not sufficient.

Use the XPR Explorer to find accounts, transactions, blocks, producer schedules, account permissions, and multisig proposals.
Deploy, update, and verify a basic smart contract on XPR Testnet and provide the relevant Explorer transaction links.
Run, secure, monitor, update, and troubleshoot producer, API, P2P, seed, and backup-node services.
Diagnose endpoint, peer-connectivity, performance, and block-production issues using logs, monitoring, API tools, and on-chain evidence.
Demonstrate a backup, snapshot, recovery, key-management, security, and incident-response plan, and maintain accurate, reachable public BP contact information.

Applicants must pass all critical practical tasks and meet the Consortium’s published assessment standard after KYC and, where applicable, KYB approval. Applicants who do not pass will not be admitted to Testnet and may reapply after further preparation.

Essential Requirements for Block Producers

Verification, operational control, and technical experience: A legally registered business is preferred, but it is not a mandatory condition of applying. Individuals and sole traders may apply if they pass KYC and can demonstrate a verifiable online professional presence, ownership and operational control of the BP account and infrastructure, and proven IT experience operating servers. Applicants operating as or through a business must pass manual KYB; the Consortium verifies the business registration, applicable tax/business registration or equivalent official identifier, the person authorised to bind the business, ultimate beneficial ownership, and operational control. All applicants must provide accurate ownership and operator disclosures.
Production Node Specifications:
- CPU: 3.5+Ghz Processor, performance mode.
- RAM: 64GB+
- Drives: 1TB+ SSD (NVMe preferred).
- Bandwidth: 50mbit/s+
Server Infrastructure:
- Hosting a standard v1 nodeos API.
- A dedicated API/P2P server without any exposed public services.
- Recommended backup producer in an alternate location.
- Load balancing and HA services, preferably via HAProxy/nginx.
Hyperion History Node (Optional): This mandates a state-history node and the infrastructure to run Hyperion services, encompassing ElasticSearch, RabbitMQ, and NodeJS indexer/api.
KYC and KYB verification: Every individual applicant, and every authorised representative and controlling beneficial owner of a business applicant, must complete KYC verification as part of the mandatory pre-Testnet eligibility review. Business applicants must also complete manual KYB. KYC and, where applicable, KYB information must match the applicant’s public ownership and operator disclosure. Complete KYC through identity.metalx.com.
Code of Conduct: It is mandatory for BPs to read and sign the XPR Network BP Code of Conduct v1.0, which sets expectations for behaviour, collaboration, and operations.
Public Name and Ownership Disclosure: BPs may choose their public name, but their bp.json must link to a public ownership disclosure that identifies the applicant, whether operating as a business, sole trader, or individual; the jurisdiction and registration number or equivalent official identifier where applicable; and the controlling owner(s) and responsible operator(s). Sensitive documents, tax numbers, identification documents, and home addresses must not be published. Material changes to ownership, management, legal status, or operating control must be reported to the Consortium within 7 days.

The XPR Network Consortium assesses applicants based on the mandatory KYC, any applicable KYB, and competency requirements above, the Code of Conduct, accurate public disclosure, endpoint uptime, performance, and block-production reliability. Passing Testnet does not guarantee Mainnet approval.

Important Links

Join the XPR Network Community

If blockchain technology captivates you and you’re eager to contribute actively to the XPR Network’s evolution, the Block Producer role beckons. Block Producers are the XPR Network’s pillars, and their efforts never go unnoticed.

For a deeper dive or to discuss your Block Producer aspirations, connect with the community on Telegram.

Welcome to the XPR Network community. Your participation will undoubtedly make a difference.