Sentiment
Founding Node Operator Program

Run one of the first nodes on the Reality network

We're opening a limited cohort of 20–30 technical operators to run a validator node, stress-test consensus, and help us catch what's broken before the network opens more broadly. It's a hands-on founding phase. People never need a node just to take part — they join through the apps that integrate Sentiment — but node operators are the network those apps run on.
Apply to the programSee how the protocol works
20–30founding operator spots in this initial cohort
Foundingthe first operators, before the network opens more broadly
Directline to the founding team during setup and testing
Four steps

How the program works

  1. 01

    Apply

    Tell us about your technical background — OS, command-line/Docker comfort, and why you want to help validate the network.

  2. 02

    Get onboarded

    Accepted operators get a private network invite and setup scripts directly from our team — not a public download.

  3. 03

    Run your node

    Install Java 17, connect to the private network, and run one script to generate your validator key and join consensus.

  4. 04

    Operate & give feedback

    Keep your node running, take part in verifying submissions and responses, accrue $SENT milestone rewards, and tell us what breaks.

Requirements

What you'll need

A supported OS

win · mac · linux

Windows, macOS, or Linux — we have setup scripts for all three.

Modest hardware

2+ cpu · 4+ gb

2+ CPU cores and 4+ GB RAM is enough to run a validator node.

Command-line comfort

terminal

You'll run a setup script and follow prompts — no coding required, but you should be comfortable in a terminal.

About an hour

~60 min

First-time setup, including the Java install and key generation, typically takes under an hour.

Why founding operators

Why founding operators matter

Sentiment plugs into apps people already use, so the people answering never have to run a node. The network underneath still needs real operators to validate consensus, surface bugs, and prove the protocol holds up outside a single machine. Founding operators get direct input into what we fix first — and recognition as the people who got the network running first.

Want the protocol details first? Reality's developer docs ↗

FOUNDING COHORT20–30 seats

A small, hands-on group. Solid seats are the core cohort of 20; dashed ones are the extra room up to 30.

Apply

Apply to the Founding Node Operator Program

Applications take about 5–7 minutes. We're reviewing for technical readiness, not first-come-first-served — accepted operators hear back directly from our team.

Want to understand the protocol first?

See exactly what your node would be verifying and how consensus works under the hood.

Explore the Reality protocolLearn about Sentiment