At BLOCKSIZE, we believe that strong security practices are the foundation of trust and reliability within the Solana ecosystem. Operating a validator node is not just about uptime - it’s about ensuring the safety of network participants and maintaining operational integrity. Here’s how we meet industry security standards to protect our infrastructure and stakeholders.

Is Solana staking dependent on private key storage?

Solana staking itself doesn’t rely on storing or exposing private keys in a way that directly impacts the staker. Validators need private keys to sign blocks and participate in consensus, but these keys are validator keys, not the private keys of stakers. Delegated stakers' funds are never directly accessible to the validator.

Validators secure their validator private keys because these keys enable participation in the consensus mechanism, and any compromise could lead to double-signing, slashing penalties, or loss of node integrity.

Key Management

Protecting our validator and associated keys is critical:

• Vote Account Key: Operates as a hot wallet for participation in the consensus mechanism, following Solana’s requirements.
• Withdrawer Key: This highly sensitive key is never stored on the validator. Instead, it is securely managed over a multisig setup, ensuring it remains isolated from the validator environment.

These practices minimize risks and align with Solana’s guidelines for secure key handling.

Infrastructure Security

We implement a multi-layered security strategy to protect our server infrastructure:

• Controlled Access: Only authorized personnel have access to our systems, enforced with role-based permissions and multi-factor authentication (MFA).
• Server Protection: Firewalls, intrusion detection systems (IDS), and regular security updates shield our servers from vulnerabilities and external threats.
• Continuous Oversight: Regular security assessments and real-time monitoring allow us to identify and address potential risks promptly.

This comprehensive approach ensures the integrity and reliability of our validator node.