Node Operator Admission: DSRV as stVault Basic Operator

Node Operators stVaults Identification
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Node Operator Admission: DSRV as stVault Basic Operator

1. Identification

DSRV is South Korea’s leading blockchain and digital asset infrastructure provider and has been a Lido Curated Node Operator since 2021. Founded in 2019, DSRV stands as the only actively operating, licensed VASP validator in South Korea, supporting over 70+ blockchain networks.

DSRV offers a comprehensive ecosystem ranging from staking infrastructure and high-performance RPC services to institutional-grade custody and stablecoin-based payment orchestration that facilitates seamless value movement between traditional and decentralized networks.

Beyond infrastructure, DSRV plays a central role in the Korean regulatory landscape. Supported by strategic investors including Samsung Next, KB Investment, Hanriver Capital, and Intervest, DSRV is led by a team of former regulators and TradFi experts. We currently serve as the Vice President of the Korean Fintech Industry Association, playing a central role in shaping the regional regulatory landscape and digital asset standards.

2. Business Case

DSRV seeks to participate as a Tier-1 stVault Basic Operator. Our objective is to build the compliant bridge required to transition East Asian institutional ETH into the Lido stVault ecosystem, positioning DSRV as the exclusive gateway for regulated capital in the region.

Transforming stETH into an Institutional Asset:

  • While the local digital asset framework has begun to mature, specific provisions for staking and LSTs remain largely undefined. The South Korean market is currently characterized by significant latent institutional demand alongside a measured pace of deployment as the industry awaits formalized guidance. DSRV is leveraging this period to define the standards for institutional Ethereum participation. By establishing legally vetted workflows, we are transforming stETH into a compliance-ready asset that meets the strict internal audit and asset safety mandates of risk-averse corporate treasuries. Rather than a passive wait, we are structuring the safe passage for institutional ETH to ensure all future inflows are tax-compliant and risk-managed.

VASP-Licensed Infrastructure & stVault Integration:

  • DSRV has successfully launched a VASP-licensed Custodial Staking, creating a production-ready environment for regulated financial entities. Leveraging our strategic relationships with leading securities firms and financial institutions, including our key investors, DSRV is positioned at the forefront of the institutional ETH market. We are currently executing the technical and operational integration of stVaults into this platform, establishing a structural foundation that secures the primary pipeline for South Korea’s largest financial groups. This ensures that as these institutions transition toward liquid staking, DSRV is the only pre-vetted partner capable of managing their assets through the Lido ecosystem.

3. Ops & decentralization

DSRV operates a regulation-friendly Ethereum validator setup, prioritizing strong client and geographic diversity to ensure a secure and compliant network.

Client Mix & Versions

  • General Infrastructure

    • EL: Geth, Nethermind

    • CL: Prysm, Lighthouse, Nimbus

  • DVT Infrastructure (SSV, Obol)

    • EL: Geth, Nethermind

    • CL: Lighthouse, Grandine, Teku, Lodester

Infrastructure Footprint & Geography

  • Infrastructure is distributed across multiple cloud providers.

  • Ethereum nodes and validators are distributed across five regions (Paris, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, London, Seoul).

Key Management & Security

  • Utilizes Vault for enterprise-grade secret management, ensuring robust encryption and access control for all validator keys.

  • Key generation and storage operations are fully compliant with ISMS and VASP standards, adhering to strict security protocols and institutional requirements.

MEV Posture

  • A regulation-compliant, safety-first MEV stance that strictly adheres to compliance standards, prioritizing operational stability and asset security over profit maximization.

4. Links

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Hi! Thanks for applying, it’s great to see you moving forward with onboarding as a stVaults Node Operator.

The stVaults Committee has started the assessment process, and we’ll keep you updated as things progress.

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As a delegate of the stVaults Committee, I am posting to confirm that the relevant ET motion establishing DSRV’s status as an stVaults Identified Node Operator have now been enacted.

Following the committee’s assessment of DSRV’s application, DSRV’s has been assigned to the Basic Identified Operator Category under the stVaults framework, in line with the scope of its application.