DFINITY’s Internet Computer (IC) has long promoted the vision of a decentralised global compute platform, but concerns have surfaced over how node providers are selected and whether the system is as open as it claims. Community discussions have intensified, with accusations that a handful of players may be consolidating power in ways that undermine the project’s fundamental principles.
Recent forum posts titled “Drain the Swamp” and “Sybill Nodes” have raised the issue of centralisation, alleging that five node providers—Artem Horodyskyi, Bohatyrov Volodymyr, Ivanov Oleksandr, Maksym Ishchenko, and Vladyslav Popov—registered in November 2023, each operating seven nodes across various European cities. The authors claim these providers, along with figures such as George Bassadone and groups linked to GeoNodes LLC, Waterneuron, and Aviate Labs, control approximately 200 active nodes in the Network Nervous System (NNS). Waterneuron, while presenting itself as a transparency advocate, is accused of managing 84 nodes via two team members, while Aviate Labs affiliates allegedly exert control over 100 nodes.
In light of these claims, the authors of the posts proposed immediate deregistration of the five identified providers and a wider investigation into Sybil attacks and collusion among node operators. Additionally, they accused DOLR.AI of orchestrating a scheme to manipulate ICP’s price. However, the proposal (#135635) to deregister these entities was rejected, allowing them to continue operating. Notably, investigative contributor Lorimer voted in favour of deregistration, yet vpGeek revealed that his companies, D-QUORUM and CO-DELTA, voted against the proposal, aligning with the DFINITY Foundation’s position. Waterneuron also opposed the move, while Aviate Labs abstained.
The DFINITY Foundation is responsible for onboarding new node providers, but critics argue that its tight control has resulted in a system where participation is limited. Conversations in the community, such as those in the thread titled “Enhancing Network Decentralization,” suggest alternative mechanisms to make node onboarding more inclusive. The March 13 post, “Fake growth to onboard new node providers,” questioned why a related discussion had been buried, raising concerns over transparency in the voting process and hinting at possible manipulation.
In response to mounting pressure, new transparency initiatives have been introduced. The DFINITY Foundation has proposed updates to improve node provider identity verification, independence assessment, and algorithmic subnet allocation, aiming to enhance decentralisation and security. Ironically, amid accusations of control and opacity, Waterneuron announced new tools for tracking node provider activity. The tools include a Summary Page and a Transaction Graph, designed to offer insight into node distribution and operations.
Despite these measures, scepticism remains. Some argue that the core issue is not a lack of information but rather the concentration of power within the DFINITY Foundation itself. While transparency tools may provide a clearer view of network activity, they do little to address the fundamental issue of centralised control over approvals.
The NNS currently lacks authority over node provider onboarding, and many believe shifting this responsibility to the NNS would foster a more community-driven process. As it stands, the DFINITY Foundation not only approves node providers but also holds over 23% of voting power, with additional votes delegated to it. This means that, in practice, it has significant influence over who is allowed to participate in the network.
For a system that prides itself on decentralisation, this concentration of power has become a growing concern. Whether the recent developments will lead to meaningful change or serve as a smokescreen remains an open question, but the debate over control and governance within the Internet Computer is unlikely to die down anytime soon.
Source : The Canister News
