🚨 Band BCIP-17: The “Active Validators Set” 🚨 aka: Who’s Actually Carrying BandChain to 1-Second Blocktime Band v3 is here. Faster. Cheaper. Scalable AF. Everyone loves the “10x faster” line, but here’s the reality check: none of it matters if validators are mid. They’re the backbone of BandChain. No validators = no chain. Just vibes and empty promises. So what’s new? We’re introducing the Active Validators Set, 53 validators who actually know what they’re doing. Why 53? Because 50 is too basic and 54 was one too many. Selection wasn’t random. To get in, validators had to flex: - Stick around long-term (no summer internship validators). - 99%+ uptime (no grandma WiFi downtime). - Actually engage with the community (not just ghost stakers). - Prove multi-chain experience (this ain’t their first rodeo). - Attract a strong staker base. - Have enough stake to show they’re serious. Basically: only the committed. No tourists. Why this matters: BandChain is now ~1s blocktime. If validators flinch, the whole chain lags. Reliability is king. That’s why this new validator squad gets: - Closer comms with Band Foundation - Faster coordination on upgrades - More responsibility, more incentives The final Active Validator list drops after the vote passes. Think of it like the All-Star reveal, but instead of dunks, it’s uptime. Big picture: this isn’t just about speed. It’s about building a validator ecosystem that actually works. Band v3 is now pushing toward being the decentralized data layer for Web3, real-time, reliable, and coordinated. It's not just about running a chain. We’re building the future of decentralized data. Powered by validators who can actually keep up. Pay attention or ngmi.