Cardano’s strength lies in its decentralization. However, increasing reliance on cloud-based infrastructure introduces centralization risks. CLYDE Stake Pool, established in Boulder, Colorado on February 2, 2022, operates a true bare-metal, independently hosted Cardano node. Despite running consistently, the pool has minted only eight blocks, and has been maintained at a financial loss to support Cardano’s mission. This proposal requests 500,000 ADA to upgrade hardware, improve network resilience, and ensure long-term, independent operation in support of Cardano’s decentralization.
The dominance of cloud-hosted pools threatens Cardano’s decentralization and resilience. Without support for independent, bare-metal operations, the network risks becoming vulnerable to censorship, outages, and third-party control. This proposal addresses the urgent need to protect and strengthen Cardano’s foundational principles.
By maintaining a truly independent, geographically distinct, bare-metal stake pool, this project strengthens the network's decentralization, resilience, and censorship resistance. The entire Cardano ecosystem benefits from a more secure, diverse, and sustainable blockchain infrastructure aligned with Cardano’s core values.
Requested Funding: 500,000 ADA (~$250,000 USD at $0.50/ADA)
The operator has been active in cryptocurrency since Bitcoin’s first year, with over 20 years of experience as a full-stack developer. They launched one of the first memecoins on Cardano and led the development of an NFT project bringing independent artists’ work to the blockchain. They have independently managed the CLYDE Stake Pool since 2022, with full expertise in server management, network engineering, and blockchain systems.
After the initial upgrade, the pool will continue under independent operation with self-sustained monitoring, regular hardware and software maintenance, and ongoing community engagement. Additional costs beyond the requested funding will be personally covered by the operator until delegation reaches sustainability through rewards.