# Purpose

There will be a community-run validator conference directly before Breakpoint in Amsterdam. The goal is for the validator community to discuss the evolution of the network and reinforce the social layer.

# Date

October 30, 2023

This is also registration day for Breakpoint 2023. Block 0 will start in the morning. Breakpoint registration begins at 1500 local time.

Register for free [here](https://lu.ma/0k9m99s1).

# Venue

Block 0 will take place at the Breakpoint site. The selected on-site venue has capacity for 300+ including reception and breakout rooms. Since it’s setup for Breakpoint (+MEV day), logistics should be a breeze.

The Foundation has offered to run shuttles so transit will be easy. The Block 0 overlaps with the welcome reception, which is 1600-2100 local time that day and next door. This should increase attendance for the afternoon sessions.

Block 0 will [not be live-streamed or recorded](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1mF-vQdOWIUZl3RTmu7YvtQtexeOV7LVk8j93dlz2E98/edit).

# Attendees

Block 0 is free for all attendees, thanks to the sponsors listed below who will cover all costs. You do not need to have a ticket to Breakpoint 2023 to attend Block 0. Register to attend Block 0 for free [here](https://lu.ma/0k9m99s1).

Attendee count as of July 31, 2023: TBD

# Sponsors

Thank you to our sponsors for helping make Block Zero happen -

- [Block Logic](https://www.blocklogic.net/#staking)
- [Chainflow](https://solana.chainflow.io)
- [Cherry](https://www.cherryservers.com/)
- [Cogent Crypto](https://cogentcrypto.io/)
- [Fenwick](https://www.fenwick.com/)
- [Jito](https://www.jito.wtf/)
- [Laine](https://stakewiz.com)
- [Latitude](https://www.latitude.sh/)
- [Marinade](https://marinade.finance/)
- [Mulitcoin](htpps://https://multicoin.capital/)
- [Shinobi Systems](https://www.shinobi-systems.com/)
- [Staking Facilities](https://stakingfacilities.com/)
- [Teraswitch](https://teraswitch.com/)

# Speakers

We are also looking for community-members to present on topics of interest. Note, you don't have to sponsor the event to speak at it. Speakers can submit ideas [here](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScBxO4qE4WtpV0W1H0JLWTqp_8G76_flJkO7Tr5TqDzBT8e0g/viewform).

# Schedule / Agenda

- All times local Amsterdam time
- Breakpoint registration begins at 1500
- Block 0 attendees are able to register early at the Block 0 site
- Keep presentations that may be attractive to a wider audience for after 1500, more validator-specific topics should happen before 1500

## 0830-0930 Arrival and registration

## 0930-1000 Welcome

## 1000-1230 Workshops and Readout

- 1000 to 1130 conversation and recap
- 1130 to 1200 break
- 1200 to 1230 readouts

### Infrastructure Workshop

Moderator: Brian / Triton One and Block Logic (TBC)

- Validator performance
- Optimization (Suggestion)
- Quality of Service
- Troubleshooting (Suggestion)
- Monitoring and alerting (Suggestion)
- Running a Jito relayer (TBC)
- Archive storage (confirmed)
- Running your first validator (confirmed - possibly it's own breakout)

- RPC nodes
- Best practices
- Optimization

### Governance Workshop

Moderator: Chris / Chainflow or Michael from Laine

Discussion to be had in the context of the ongoing governance work being done by validators.

- Why
- Recap previous discussion
- Who
- Discuss current proposals to clarify, if necessary
- What
- Refine current proposals
- How
- Discuss and agree to interim process to vote on "Who"
- Vote?

### Decentralization Workshop

Moderator: Michael from Marinade

- Define decentralization
- What does further decentralizing Solana look like?
- How do we do it?
- Stake attraction strategies
- Foundation delegation program
- In-protocol incentives and disincentives (sticks and carrots)

## 1230-1330 Lunch

## 1330-1400 Roundtable Discussion #1: Infrastructure

- Roundtable discussion
- Brian from Block Logic - Moderator
- Teraswitch (Confirmed)
- Cherry (Confirmed)
- Latitude (Confirmed)
- Validator A (TBC)
- Validator B (TBC)

## 1400-1430 Roundtable Discussion #2: Governance

- Roundtable discussion
- Chris from Chainflow - Moderator
- Michael from Laine (Confirmed)
- Othman from Chainflow and Validator Commons (Confirmed)
- Kollan from Sentries (Confirmed)

## 1430-1500 Break

## 1500-1545 Roundtable Discussion #3: Regulation and Tax

- Regulation
- Amira from the Solana Foundation - Moderator
- Landon Zinda from Coin Center (Confirmed)
- Julius from Staking Facilities (Confirmed)
- Carol House (Confirmed)
- Tax
- Sean McElroy from Fenwick (Confirmed)
- David Forst from Fenwick (Confirmed)

## 1545-1615 Break

## 1615-1700 Roundtable Discussion #4: Staking and Delegation Debate/Roundtable

- Roundtable discussion
- Ben, Solana Foundation, Moderator
- Lucas, Jito Labs (Confirmed)
- Retail delegator (TBD)
- Institutional delegator (TBD)
- Validator (TBD)

## 1700-1900 Delegator & Validator Meet and Greet at Breakpoint Networking Happy Hour