R RPCLAW

Run a Node

One command. Base node running. Earn 80% of every fee your node serves.

Requirements

Hardware

  • 4+ CPU cores
  • 16 GB RAM
  • 500 GB NVMe SSD
  • Node uses snap sync (~48h window, ~20 GB active data)

Software

  • Ubuntu 22.04+ / Debian 12+
  • Docker (installed automatically)
  • Open ports: 8545, 30303, 9222

Install

Run this on your server. It's idempotent — safe to run multiple times.

curl -sSf https://rpclaw.net/install.sh | bash

Or review first, then run:

# Download and inspect

curl -sSf https://rpclaw.net/install.sh -o install.sh

less install.sh

bash install.sh

What the installer does

1

Checks prerequisites

Installs Docker if missing. Warns about low CPU/RAM/disk.

2

Generates operator identity

Creates a unique operator ID and JWT secret. Stored in ~/rpclaw-node/.

3

Writes config & docker-compose

Creates .env and docker-compose.yml for a Reth Base node with op-node consensus.

4

Registers with the RPCLAW gateway

Calls /v1/operators/register so the network knows your node exists.

5

Starts the node

Pulls Docker images, starts containers, installs a systemd service for auto-restart on boot.

After installation

# Check sync status

~/rpclaw-node/healthcheck.sh

# Watch logs

cd ~/rpclaw-node && docker compose logs -f

# Check your operator status

OPID=$(cat ~/rpclaw-node/.operator-id)

curl -s https://rpc.rpclaw.net/v1/operators/$OPID

# Send heartbeat (keep active status)

curl -s -X POST https://rpc.rpclaw.net/v1/operators/heartbeat \

-H "Content-Type: application/json" \

-d "{\"operatorId\": \"$OPID\"}"

Rewards

80% of every RPC fee goes directly to the node operator who served the request. Rewards accumulate on-chain in the RewardDistributor contract. Claim anytime — no vesting, no lockups, no minimum.

80%

To you

20%

Protocol treasury

Updating

Just run the installer again. It pulls the latest images and restarts.

curl -sSf https://rpclaw.net/install.sh | bash

FAQ

How long does sync take?

Initial sync takes 12-24 hours depending on your hardware and internet speed.

How much disk does it use?

~50 GB with 48-hour pruned mode keeps ~10K blocks (~50 GB maximum with 48-hour retention). Full/archive mode needs 2+ TB.

Do I need to stake tokens?

No. Just run the node and register. No staking, no bond, no slashing.

Can I run this on a VPS?

Yes. Any Ubuntu/Debian VPS with 4 cores, 16 GB RAM, and 500 GB NVMe will work. Hetzner, OVH, and Contabo all work well.