V5 Key Features & Updates

Reputation: Overview

Below are the must-know’s of the v5 Reputation enhancements. The team is currently working on more detailed documentation for the Lava Docs site.

What It Is

‍Previously called “QoS Excellence”, Reputation evaluates Providers based on three core performance metrics:

• Latency: How quickly a Provider responds.
• Sync: Whether the Provider is serving the latest block data.‍
• Availability: How reliably a Provider stays online and delivers data.

Why It Matters

‍Better performance in these metrics translates to a stronger reputation score. This score is reported by the network’s consumers - meaning it’s based on real interactions, not self-reported data.

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‍Reputation: Tier-Based Pairing in v5

With the new Reputation system, Providers are grouped into tiers based purely on their performance. Once tiers are determined, stake also comes into play within each tier.

We’ll begin rolling out this new pairing approach gradually, giving Providers time to review and improve their scores before it takes full effect.

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Reputation: Viewing & Improving Your Score

Providers can see their current reputation tier and score through dedicated queries. The lower the score, the higher the tier. If your score is low, you can improve it by:

• Keeping your data fresh (staying in sync with the latest blocks relevant to hardware and geoloaction).
• Minimizing downtime for higher availability.
• Reducing latency with optimal configurations.

Because older performance data is gradually de-emphasized, ongoing improvements will boost your score more quickly.

Learn more about Reputation and QoS.

Daily Credits

• Prevents Reward Manipulation:
  By using daily snapshots to allocate credits, we eliminate the incentive to jump from one Provider to another to exploit quick gains at the end of a reward period.‍
• Fairer Distribution:
  Rather than a single snapshot, Restakers are rewarded for average participation over time.‍
• Alignment with Network Incentives:
  Continuous staking is rewarded, reducing behaviors like last-minute redelegation to avoid penalties.‍
• Consistent Participation Matters:
  Staying with the same Provider throughout the month yields daily accrued credits that reflect your full commitment.‍
• Monthly Reset:
  Credits accumulate daily and reset at the end of each distribution cycle, starting fresh for the next month.

V5 Bug Fixes & Improvements

• Single Provider Delegation Bug:
  Fixed issues around selection logic for simpler, more transparent delegation.
• ‍New Chain Support:
  UTXO based chains, SVM, and EVM integration for both live and historical data queries.
• QoS Reputation Overhaul:
  More accurate scoring for Provider performance, now renamed “Reputation.”
• Optimized Relay Distribution:
  Even faster and more efficient relay allocation to top performers.
• Cosmos Compatibility:
  Includes support for Cosmos V50 and V47 block events.
• Provider Verification:
  Improved probing features and detailed failure indicators.
• Client Upgrades:
  Latest Ethereum client version for improved stability.
• Solana Enhancements:
  Bug fixes and updated chain specs for a smoother Solana experience.‍
• WebSocket Authentication:
  New config in Provider YAML for streamlined WebSocket auth.

What’s Coming Next?

We’re just getting started! Additional refinements are ongoing and you can expect the following in coming update:

• Traffic routing for Providers based on reputational elements 
• Tooling for Providers to improve their ranking 
• Foundation restaking delegation increase round based on reputation
• Updated Lava Info page and staking partner support to reflect reputation and Provider ranking 

V5 is paving the way to better QoS for ALL Lava users and partners, allowing lower-staked but higher-quality providers to shine, and increasing the options for Stakers to get better rewards based on more educated decisions.

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A detailed roadmap based on community feedback will be published soon!

A huge thank you to our community for your continued support. We’re on a mission to create the best, most transparent, and highest-performing network possible.‍

Welcome to Lava v5.