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title: Mara Validating Notes

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# Mara Validating Notes

### 1-minute intro to the Mara chain: 
* Leveraging the Ethermint SDK supporting Cosmos and Ethereum address schemes.
* TBD Initial modest performance objectives 1000 TPS with a ceiling of 100 validators in African and European data center locations and 5-7 seconds latency.
* TBD The Mara token is inflationary.
* TBD, Future evolutions of the network would likely include IBC connectivity, Cosmovisor, Axelar bridging, etc.

### Testnet Validator Onboarding
* Node repo at github.com/mara-labs/mara-chain
* Networks repo at http://github.com/mara-labs/networks
* Validators channel in keybase.io/team/mara_validators. 
* Iris keybase validator avatar guide [github.com/irisnet/How to use keybase.md](https://github.com/irisnet/testnets/blob/master/fuxi/How%20to%20use%20keybase.md).
* Cosmos infrastructure recommendation at [docs.tendermint.com/v0.34/tendermint-core/validators.html](https://docs.tendermint.com/v0.34/tendermint-core/validators.html#network-layout) for a hybrid on-prem validating node with a USB HSM, i.e., ledger. [Visual options of layered topologies](https://github.com/stakefish/cosmos-validator-design). Optional KMS option [github.com/iqlusioninc/tmkms](https://github.com/iqlusioninc/tmkms)
* Mara is setting up a cloud-based validating node complementary to an on-prem node. An MPC (software) or HMS-based KMS solution is suggested to secure the keys.

### Uptime and redundancy
* Cosmos suggested monitoring, alerting solution: [blog.solarlabs.ee/cosmos-how-to-monitoring-your-validator](https://blog.solarlabs.ee/cosmos-how-to-monitoring-your-validator-892a46298722) 
* Experience has shown that double signing is more likely to result from loose redundancy setups or misconfiguration rather than malicious intent.

### Community etiquette
* Most validators, particularly multi-chain participants, demonstrate high professional and ethical standards, even contributing to the community.
* Even reputable members may demonstrate a lapse of ethical judgment.
* Both of the following profiles in practice have been effective:
    * Public branded validator profile with an accompanying website and development presence.
    * Private with a reliable historical record. 
* Cosmos validators [faq](https://hub.cosmos.network/main/validators/validator-faq.html)