Polkadot System Parachains Collator Bounty #32 Top-Up Proposal - Jan/2025
Beneficiary:Proposal: Additional Funding for Polkadot System Parachain Collators
Requested allocation: 21,504.94 DOT
Bounty #32 DOT address: 13UVJyLnbVp9RBZYFwHYxaA7NBbKRCL4bLMscV5JwwLTVE6j
This proposal seeks additional funding to support the operational status and provide a bounty top-up budget for collators on Polkadot's System Parachains. Collators are essential for maintaining network security, decentralization, and performance. While previous referenda have successfully provided the necessary resources for their effective operation, additional funds are required to sustain these efforts and adapt to the expanding network demands.
This proposal will focus on the operational status and the bounty top-up budget, while more detailed information can be found under the bounty page and in earlier proposals, as listed below.
Full Proposal: Google Document
The history of initiatives for Polkadot System Chain collators dates back to mid-2023. They have provided vital support for maintaining the network’s stability, security, and decentralization.
- Referendum 156: Polkadot System Parachain Collators - Tips, August 2023
- Referendum 288: Polkadot System Parachain Collators - Tips Q4/2023, September 2023
- Referendum 363: Funding of Polkadot System Parachain Collators, December 2023
- Referendum 1006: Proposal for Top-Up for Funding of Polkadot System Parachain Collators, June 2024
Thank you!
Comments (8)
Proposal Passed
3
of 3Summary
0%
Aye
0%
Nay
Aye (85)0.0 DOT
Support0.0 DOT
Nay (10)0.0 DOT
Voting Data
Approval%
Support%
Threshold0.00%
Threshold0.00%
Polkadot's system chains are controlled by a small number of operators, with just four holding 33% of the 139 system collators. These big operators run 3 invulnerable spots each (where no deposit is required and spot is guaranteed) and increase the bids in permissionless spots in order to kick new validators who want to make the ecosystem more decentralised.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/161nT5NWLF0s1lGlOLPttuFAESkjwA6zDMG6znTEDc64/edit?usp=sharing
A WFC is needed at a protocol level in order to have a fair distribution of invulnerable collator slots and increase descentralization in the system chains with a rotating a system like DN.
Hi Faraday,
When Polkadot's system chains were first launched, several collators collaborated with the Parity team to bootstrap these networks, often running infrastructure without compensation. Since then, these early collators have provided continuous service, with no outages or downtime. They were included in the default system chain specifications and approved through referenda (Gov1 and OpenGov).
Out of the 35 invulnerable collator slots on Polkadot system chains, 12 are reserved by Parity collators. The remaining 23 slots are distributed among 19 different teams, demonstrating a great level of decentralization.
Here is a list of the current collators:
It's also worth noting that Faraday currently holds four permissionless slots across Polkadot and Kusama system chains. His preference for no-bond slots raises questions about his intentions, especially considering that he has just recently started collating on the system chains.
While permissionless slots are open to all, they come with opportunity costs; bids above the minimum bond amount are not compensated. Anyone can register as a collator and, by submitting a higher bid, replace an existing collator to secure a slot. Once part of the active set, collators are compensated from the bounty for their contributions (signed blocks).