Short Description
I propose unifying the collator infrastructure of Polkadot’s System Chains — Polkadot Hub, Bridge Hub, People, Collectives, etc. — into a single shared pool of 64 active operators.
Instead of maintaining separate collator sets for each System Chain, all operators would be capable of supporting the entire System Chain ecosystem. The protocol could then dynamically assign block production responsibilities across the pool.
The goal is to reduce infrastructure fragmentation, improve hardware utilization, simplify operations, and increase the resilience and decentralization of the System Chains.
1. The Problem with the Current Model
Different System Chains maintain separate collator sets, which fragments infrastructure and increases operational complexity.
Operators may need to maintain different environments, configurations, updates, and monitoring systems for different chains. At the same time, computing resources remain divided across independent sets.
This can also create unnecessary infrastructure redundancy and increase the impact of failures affecting a particular group of operators or providers.
2. The Proposal: Unified Pool of 64 Collators
The proposal is to create a Unified Pool of 64 active operators shared across all System Chains.
All 64 active operators would maintain the infrastructure required to support the System Chain ecosystem. The protocol would determine which operator produces blocks for which chain at any given time.
This means that instead of having:
System Chain → independent collator set
the model becomes:
System Chains → Unified Pool of 64 operators
The number 64 is an initial reference point, intended to balance decentralization, redundancy, infrastructure requirements, and efficiency. It could be adjusted in the future through governance based on real-world performance.
3. Unified Collator Node
Operators would use a unified software stack capable of supporting the different System Chains from a common infrastructure.
The goal is to reduce the need to maintain multiple independent installations and configurations, making upgrades, monitoring, and day-to-day operations simpler.
From the operator’s perspective:
One operator → one unified infrastructure → all System Chains.
4. Shared Infrastructure Utilization
One of the main advantages of the unified model is that computing capacity can be shared across the entire System Chains.
Instead of having separate groups of operators dedicated to individual chains, all 64 operators would be capable of supporting all System Chains.
When an operator is not currently producing a block for one System Chain, its available capacity can be used to support another.
Conceptually:
Current model:
System Chain A → dedicated operators
System Chain B → dedicated operators
System Chain C → dedicated operators
Proposed model:
64 operators → shared capacity → all System Chains
This can reduce idle infrastructure and improve overall hardware utilization.
The objective is not simply to reduce the number of collators, but to turn fragmented computing capacity into a shared resource for the entire System Chains.
5. Permissionless Entry and Selection
Access to the pool would be permissionless, provided that an operator meets the minimum hardware, connectivity, and self-bond requirements.
The 64 active operators would be selected using cryptographically secure random selection weighted by self-bond.
A higher self-bond would increase the probability of selection, but with diminishing returns. This allows economic commitment to matter without allowing large amounts of capital to completely dominate the active set.
Operators with smaller bonds would still have a chance to participate as long as they meet the technical requirements.
Performance and availability would also influence an operator’s ability to remain active.
6. Automatic Chilling
Active operators would be required to maintain an adequate level of performance and availability.
If an operator persistently fails to meet the required standards, it would automatically be removed from the active set and moved to a passive pool.
Another eligible operator could then take its place.
This creates an automatic rotation mechanism and prevents operators from retaining an active position indefinitely without providing the required service.
7. Indicative Treasury Budget
As an initial reference point, the proposal suggests an indicative annual budget of approximately $300,000 USD equivalent from the Treasury to remunerate the 64 active slots.
This represents approximately $4,700 per slot per year.
This figure is indicative and subject to governance review.
8. Key Benefits
- Less fragmentation: one shared pool instead of multiple independent collator sets.
- Better hardware utilization: computing capacity can be shared across all System Chains instead of remaining tied to individual chains.
- Lower operational complexity: a unified infrastructure and software stack simplifies maintenance and upgrades.
- Greater resilience: all active operators can support the entire System Chain ecosystem.
- Greater rotation: new operators can compete for active positions.
- Economic decentralization: self-bond increases selection probability without giving capital absolute control.
- Aligned incentives: operators must maintain good performance to remain active.
- Infrastructure diversity: the selection process can reduce excessive concentration in a single provider or region.
- Predictable cost: the Treasury budget remains limited and transparent.
- Automatic self-regulation: underperforming operators can be removed and replaced automatically.