Coinbase, Blockdaemon and Industry Leaders Introduce NORS Certification for Ethereum Node Operators

A group of cryptocurrency leaders including Alluvial, Blockdaemon, Chainproof, Coinbase, DV Labs, Eigen Labs, Figment, Galaxy Digital, Nexus Mutual, and others today announced the launch of the Node Operator Risk Standard (NORS) certification, a new benchmark for operational security and risk management within the ethereum ecosystem.

“The introduction of the Node Operator Risk Standard (NORS) marks a fundamental step forward for the institutional adoption of ethereum staking,” said Zane Glauber, Head of Blockchain Infrastructure at Galaxy Digital.

The NORS certification is designed to streamline the due diligence process for banks and large institutions, making it easier for them to trust and engage with ethereum staking services, the announcement notes.

According to Evan Weiss, COO of Alluvial, as large financial institutions become increasingly involved in public blockchain networks, having clear security standards is essential to attract them and facilitate the adoption of the technology.

“By establishing a robust, verifiable framework for validator risk management, coupled with the formal AICPA certification process known as SOC1 and other security standards, institutions will finally be able to assess the quality of staking infrastructure on a level playing field,” Weiss noted.

The introduction of the new certification aims to address critical areas such as outage prevention, validator diversity, and secure private key management, ensuring a high standard of operational security.

Konstantin Richter, CEO of Blockdaemon, believes that NORS will not only advance institutional ethereum staking but also establish a unified, shared standard for assessing the risks associated with validators, which benefits both institutions and node operators.

“NORS certification positions ethereum staking favorably for broader institutional adoption,” Richter said.

NORS certification is expected to provide a robust framework that enhances security, fosters trust, and supports the growth of ethereum as a trusted asset class for institutional investors.