Robinhood names two validator groups for new blockchain

Robinhood’s head of crypto, Johann Kerbrat, has explained why the company’s new blockchain network has “two wolves” at its core, telling Decrypt that the design is all about putting customer values first.

The move comes as Robinhood faces growing pressure from users who want more transparency and control over their crypto transactions. The Robinhood Chain, launched last month, uses two separate validator sets—an unusual setup for a blockchain. Kerbrat said this dual approach is meant to balance speed and security while giving users a say in how the network evolves. “We want to show customers that we care about what they care about,” he said, hinting that the design could eventually allow for community-driven governance.

Robinhood’s chain is built on the Solana codebase but operates independently, aiming to combine the low-cost, high-speed benefits of Solana with stricter compliance standards. The “two wolves” metaphor refers to two groups of validators—one internal, one external—that must reach consensus before transactions are finalized. This setup is rare in crypto, where most blockchains rely on a single validator set. Kerbrat argued that the split reduces the risk of centralization while keeping transaction fees low. So far, Robinhood has not disclosed how many validators are involved or how they are selected, raising questions about the network’s long-term decentralization.

The next step for Robinhood Chain is to open it up to more users beyond its initial test phase. If successful, the dual-validator model could become a blueprint for other exchanges trying to build trust in their blockchain projects. But critics say the approach could still centralize power if Robinhood controls too much of the validation process. For now, Kerbrat’s comments suggest the company is prioritizing user trust over pure speed—an unusual bet in an industry where speed often trumps everything else.