The Index Power Score (IPS) is how Phase Delegation evaluates validators. Each component below measures a different dimension of how a validator contributes to the network and the ecosystem.
Validators must show ongoing ecosystem contributions such as:
Contributions are reviewed quarterly.
Missing one update sets this score to zero until reinstated. Missing two updates removes the validator from the program entirely.
Sustainability measures how much support a validator needs to operate sustainably. It's calculated from each validator's simulated annual returns in USDC — block rewards, MEV, and SFDP compensation, minus voting and server costs.
The closer a validator's simulated annual profit is to $0, the higher their sustainability need. A higher sustainability need means a higher sustainability score, which means more stake from us.
The goal is simple: delegation should flow to the operators who most need it to keep the lights on, so contributors can focus on building rather than chasing breakeven.
Validators that satisfy the Phase Partners Pillars will get higher scores here.
A healthy network depends on validators spreading across different software clients and different network infrastructure. This component rewards operators who contribute to that diversity on two axes:
The two scores are averaged into a single Infrastructure Diversity score, so a low score signals concentration on either a majority client, a majority ASN, or both — and a high score signals the validator is helping decentralize the network.