MPIP-26: Why Meta Pool is Rewriting the Rules for NEAR Validators

The NEAR ecosystem is navigating a significant shift. Between the inflation halving and the prolonged market downturn, protocol revenues have dropped by about 85%. In response, MPIP-26 has been introduced—a proposal that fundamentally changes how Meta Pool operates.

As a small validator running on Node Studio hardware, we’re looking at these changes from the front lines. We aren't the biggest players in the room, but we represent the decentralization that makes NEAR work. Here is our breakdown of what these changes actually mean for the network.

The Reality of the Internal Validator

The most debated part of MPIP-26 is the creation of a Meta Pool-operated validator, which would take on 35% of the total stake.

In the proposal discussions, several established validators pointed out that this moves value away from independent operators and centralizes a large portion of NEAR under the core team. These are serious points; a liquid staking protocol’s primary job is usually to spread stake, not collect it.

Our Perspective: The math is hard to ignore. If the protocol treasury runs out of funds, Meta Pool disappears - taking the delegation for all 220+ external nodes with it. This internal node is a pragmatic move to double the DAO's monthly revenue and ensure the protocol remains solvent. While it’s a departure from the ideal model, securing the protocol’s survival is the priority. Importantly, 50% of the stake is still reserved for external node programs like ours, which keeps the validator base diverse.

The 20% Fee Cap: What It Means for Your Rewards

The proposal suggests raising the maximum validator fee to 20%. On paper, this might look like it makes $stNEAR less competitive against other liquid staking options.

However, for a Node Studio operator, there are two key takeaways:

1. Fixed Agreements: The proposal explicitly states that Node Studio participants must honor their current 7% fee agreements. If you are staking with a smaller node like ours, your rewards won't be slashed by a sudden fee hike.

2. A Higher Ceiling: For the rest of the network, a higher cap gives operators more breathing room to cover hardware and labor costs when the price of NEAR is low. It makes validating a viable business for more people, not just those with massive economies of scale.

Accountability via the Incubator

The shift from a broad Grants Program to a structured Incubator is a major change in how Meta Pool grows the ecosystem. Past grants were often one-off payments with little oversight. The new model is much more rigorous:

• 20% token equity goes back to the Meta Pool Treasury, diversifying the DAO's holdings.
• Milestone-based funding ensures that projects actually deliver results before receiving more support.

As validators, we want the protocol's resources used to build a portfolio of successful projects that drive long-term value, rather than spending capital on projects that may not stay in the ecosystem.

The Verdict

MPIP-26 is a move away from "business as usual." It centralizes more stake than we’d like to see in a perfect market, but we are currently in a cycle that demands sustainability over idealism.

We back the community suggestion for a 12-month review period. This keeps the implementation transparent and ensures that as the market recovers, we can move back toward a more distributed delegation model. For now, this plan provides the stability needed to keep the protocol - and small nodes like ours - running.

About the author

coffee-crusher is a member of the Arteria Nodes validator team and an active delegate in NEAR's House of Stake and other blockchain ecosystems. While she has been deeply involved in DAOs and crypto projects since 2023, she brings over 20 years of experience in Web2 marketing and operations to the table. You can follow her journey and insights on X at @coffee-crusher.

Thank You for Supporting Arteria Nodes

As we grow our presence as a validator on NEAR, our mission remains the same: to expand the economic, financial, and social power of women in the blockchain space.

The best way to support this mission is to stake with our node. By depositing your tokens through Meta Pool and selecting Arteria Nodes, you are directly powering our infrastructure and our work in the ecosystem. You can participate using $NEAR, USDC, or USDT from the NEAR chain.

In return for your support, you receive $mpDAO. This is the governance token that allows you to influence voting mechanisms and participate in community-governed protocol decisions alongside us.

We invite you to join us. Every contribution - regardless of size - strengthens our voice within the Meta Pool community and allows us to keep building a more inclusive and diverse validator set. We are incredibly grateful for the trust you place in us.

Ready to make an impact? Follow our step-by-step guide to staking with Arteria Nodes here: 👉 Stake for Impact: Supporting Women-Led Infrastructure on NEAR or directly with the Meta Pool App.

We appreciate your support in helping us diversify the NEAR ecosystem!

About Arteria Nodes

Arteria Nodes is a women-founded and women-led collective dedicated to increasing the economic, financial, and social power of women in Web3. Running a validator on NEAR is our first collective step in expanding women’s presence in decentralized blockchain infrastructure, serving as a foundation for greater on-chain participation and cross-ecosystem governance.