Validator Eligibility
This guide explains who can become a Pilier validator.
Reading time: 5 minutes
Eligible Entity Types
Pilier validators must be non-commercial, institutional entities.
✅ Universities & Research Institutes
Examples:
- University of Lyon (France)
- INRIA (French National Institute for Research in Digital Science)
- Technical University of Berlin (Germany)
- Delft University of Technology (Netherlands)
Why eligible:
- Public mission (education, research)
- Long-term institutional stability
- Technical expertise
- Alignment with EU innovation goals
✅ Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs)
Examples:
- Ocean Cleanup Foundation (environmental transparency)
- Transparency International (anti-corruption)
- Open Knowledge Foundation (open data)
- Restart Project (circular economy)
Why eligible:
- Public benefit mission
- Non-profit status
- Civic trust & legitimacy
- Alignment with sustainability values
✅ Public Bodies
Examples:
- Prefecture of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes (France)
- City of Lyon IT Department
- Ministry of Digital Affairs departments
- National Archives (preservation institutions)
Why eligible:
- Government backing
- Public accountability
- Long-term operational stability
- Symbolizes EU sovereignty
✅ Chambers of Commerce
Examples:
- Lyon Chamber of Commerce and Industry
- German Chambers of Industry and Commerce (IHK)
- Eurochambres (European level)
Why eligible:
- Represent SME interests (Pilier's target market)
- Non-profit mandate
- Economic legitimacy
- Bridge between public and private sectors
✅ Standards & Certification Bodies
Examples:
- AFNOR (French standards body)
- ISO technical committees
- CEN (European Committee for Standardization)
- National metrology institutes
Why eligible:
- Technical credibility
- Neutral arbiters (no commercial bias)
- Expertise in compliance & auditing
- Alignment with DPP standardization
Ineligible Entity Types
❌ Commercial Companies (For-Profit)
Not allowed:
- Tech companies (Google, Microsoft, SAP)
- Consulting firms (Accenture, Capgemini)
- Blockchain companies (Consensys, Parity)
- Any entity with profit motive
Why ineligible:
- Conflicts of interest (profit vs. public good)
- Contradicts "civic trust" narrative
- Risk of validator set capture
- Undermines EU sovereignty positioning
Alternative participation:
- ✅ Use Pilier as client (via pilier.org)
- ✅ Build connectors (grants from Ecosystem Fund)
- ✅ Participate in governance (hold tPIL, vote)
❌ Individual Persons
Why ineligible:
- Lack institutional backing
- No legal entity for liability
- Limited operational continuity
- Harder to enforce accountability
Alternative participation:
- ✅ Technical operator (hired by eligible entity)
- ✅ Consultant (advise validators on setup)
- ✅ Governance participant (hold tPIL)
❌ Anonymous Entities
Why ineligible:
- No public accountability
- Cannot verify mission alignment
- Impossible to enforce Charter compliance
- Undermines trust layer
Requirements: All validators must have:
- Public legal registration
- Verifiable mission statement
- Published contact information
- On-chain identity (via
identity.setIdentity)
❌ Entities Under Investigation
Temporarily ineligible if:
- Under criminal investigation (fraud, corruption)
- Subject to sanctions (EU, UN)
- Bankruptcy proceedings
- Loss of non-profit status
Process:
- Validator must disclose immediately
- Graceful exit (30-90 days)
- Can reapply after resolution
Geographic Diversity
Target Distribution (10 validators by 2028)
| Country | Validators | Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| 🇫🇷 France | 3-4 | Pilier HQ, French Tech ecosystem |
| 🇩🇪 Germany | 2 | Largest EU economy, SME hub |
| 🇳🇱 Netherlands | 1 | Digital infrastructure leader |
| 🇪🇸 Spain | 1 | Southern Europe representation |
| 🇮🇹 Italy | 1 | Manufacturing & design heritage |
| 🇵🇱 Poland | 1 | Eastern Europe inclusion |
| 🇧🇪 Belgium | 1 | EU institutions (Brussels) |
Why Geographic Diversity Matters
Resilience:
- Regional power outages don't take down network
- Infrastructure independence (different ISPs, datacenters)
- Natural disaster protection
Regulatory Independence:
- Not all validators under same jurisdiction
- Reduces risk of coordinated intervention
- Multiple legal systems = harder to shut down
Symbolic Representation:
- Represents EU member states
- Legitimacy for national regulators
- Encourages cross-border adoption
Entity Requirements
Legal Registration
Must have:
- ✅ Legal entity in EU member state (SAS, GmbH, Stichting, etc.)
- ✅ Non-profit or public sector status (documented)
- ✅ Active registration (not dissolved, not bankrupt)
- ✅ Registered address (no P.O. boxes)
Verification (during application):
- Certificate of incorporation
- Statute/bylaws (proving non-profit mission)
- Most recent annual report (if applicable)
- Proof of address (utility bill, lease)
Mission Alignment
Entity's mission should align with Pilier values:
| Pilier Value | Example Missions |
|---|---|
| Transparency | Open data advocacy, anti-corruption, investigative journalism |
| Sustainability | Environmental protection, circular economy, climate research |
| Education | University research, digital literacy, public archives |
| EU Sovereignty | Tech autonomy, digital rights, GDPR advocacy |
| SME Support | Chambers of commerce, business associations |
Red flags:
- 🚩 Mission contradicts values (e.g., fossil fuel lobbying)
- 🚩 Recent controversies (fraud scandals, data breaches)
- 🚩 Political partisanship (validators should be neutral)
Financial Stability
Must demonstrate:
- ✅ Operational budget for validator costs (~€500/month)
- ✅ IT department or technical staff
- ✅ Continuity plan (what if key person leaves?)
If budget is tight:
- Infrastructure grants available (see compensation)
- Up to €1,000 hardware subsidy
- Up to €200/month hosting subsidy (12 months)
Technical Capability
Minimum requirements:
- Team with Linux administration experience
- 24/7 monitoring capability (or willingness to set up)
- Emergency contact (phone + email)
Not required:
- Blockchain expertise (we provide training)
- Prior validator experience
- Large IT department
See also: Technical Requirements (in Nodes section)
Self-Assessment Checklist
Before applying, ask yourself:
Entity Type:
- We are a university, NGO, public body, chamber of commerce, or standards body
- We are NOT a commercial company or individual
- We have legal registration in an EU member state
Mission Alignment:
- Our mission aligns with transparency, sustainability, education, or EU sovereignty
- We have no conflicts of interest (no profit motive in validator role)
- We can publicly represent Pilier's values
Operational Capacity:
- We can cover ~€500/month operational costs (or apply for grant)
- We have (or can hire) technical staff for Linux administration
- We can provide 24/7 emergency contact
Commitment:
- We commit to 99% uptime target
- We will participate in governance (vote on proposals)
- We will respond to security incidents within 2 hours
If you checked all boxes: ✅ You're likely eligible!
If you missed some: Review specific requirements or email validators@pilier.net for clarification.
Application Process (Overview)
Step 1: Submit Expression of Interest (EOI)
- Email: validators@pilier.net
- Include: Entity info, mission, technical capacity, motivation
Step 2: Technical review (~30 days)
- Hardware verification
- Testnet trial (30 days shadow validator)
- Security audit
Step 3: Governance vote (14 days)
- Proposal submitted to tPIL governance
- 75% approval + 20% quorum required
Step 4: Onboarding (~30 days)
- Sign Validator Charter
- Generate session keys
- Gradual activation (shadow → full validator)
Full process: See Onboarding Guide
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can we apply if we're based outside the EU? Not at this stage. Validators must be EU-based for regulatory alignment. Non-EU entities can participate as clients or integrators.
Q: What if our organization has both non-profit and commercial arms? The validator entity must be 100% non-profit. If you have a commercial subsidiary, only the non-profit entity can apply.
Q: Can multiple entities from the same country apply? Yes, but geographic diversity is a factor in governance votes. If France already has 3 validators, a 4th French application faces higher bar.
Q: What if we don't have technical staff? You can hire external operators (consultants, managed services). The legal entity remains the validator, but operations can be delegated.
Q: Is there a minimum organization size? No. Small NGOs (5-10 staff) are welcome. What matters is mission alignment and operational commitment, not size.
Next Steps
If you're eligible:
- Read Responsibilities (understand what's expected)
- Read Compensation (understand economics)
- Read Legal & Compliance (understand obligations)
- Prepare EOI (see Onboarding Guide for template)
- Email: validators@pilier.net
If you're unsure:
Email validators@pilier.net with:
- Brief description of your entity
- Your mission
- Why you want to become a validator
We'll provide guidance on eligibility.
Support
📧 Email: validators@pilier.net
💬 Forum: forum.pilier.net/validators
📄 Full Charter: validator-charter.md