Espresso Network
Espresso is a shared sequencing layer that provides fast finality and data availability for rollups. The Espresso Network uses a decentralized set of validators running the HotShot consensus protocol.
Mainnet 1 Overview
Mainnet 1 is the production deployment of the Espresso Network with a dynamic, permissionless validator set of up to 100 nodes. Each epoch (roughly 24 hours), the 100 nodes with the most delegated stake form the active participation set.
| Component | Details |
|---|---|
| Network | Espresso Mainnet 1 |
| Consensus | HotShot BFT |
| Container Image | ghcr.io/espressosystems/espresso-sequencer/sequencer:20260407 |
| Source Branch | release-mainnet-1.0.1-rc |
| Stake Table Contract | 0xCeF474D372B5b09dEfe2aF187bf17338Dc704451 |
| ESP Token Contract | 0x031De51F3E8016514Bd0963d0B2AB825A591Db9A |
| Genesis File | /genesis/mainnet.toml (built into Docker image) |
Node Types
| Type | Description | Hardware | Storage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular Node | Participates in consensus, does NOT store DA data | 1 Core CPU, 8GB RAM | Negligible (kilobytes) |
| DA Node | Stores and serves data availability blobs; requires Postgres | 4 Core CPU, 8GB RAM + DB (2 Core, 4GB) | 1.2 TB SSD (archive) or 100 GB (pruning) |
info
Most operators should run a Regular Node. DA nodes are only needed if you are specifically included in the DA committee.
Key Concepts
- Stake Table: An on-chain contract on Ethereum where validators register their consensus keys and receive delegations
- Consensus Keys: BLS and Schnorr key pairs used for consensus participation
- Delegation: ESP token holders can delegate to registered validators to earn staking rewards
- Commission: Validators earn a configurable percentage of rewards; remaining rewards go to delegators
- Epoch: Approximately 24-hour period during which the validator set is fixed
Useful Links
| Resource | URL |
|---|---|
| Official Docs | https://docs.espressosys.com/network/guides/node-operators/running-a-mainnet-1-node |
| GitHub Releases | https://github.com/EspressoSystems/espresso-network/releases |
| Staking CLI README | https://github.com/EspressoSystems/espresso-network/blob/main/staking-cli/README.md |
| Delegation UI | https://docs.espressosys.com/network/references/delegation-ui |
| Network Explorer | https://explorer.main.net.espresso.network |