Figment, a prominent independent provider of institutional staking infrastructure, has been awarded Full Certification under the Node Operator Risk Standard (NORS) for Ethereum, marking it as the first entity in North America and Europe to achieve this status.
The NORS framework is an independent, industry-recognized standard designed to assess node operators’ security, operational resilience, and governance practices. This certification represents a key step in Figment’s objective to provide staking infrastructure that adheres to institutional diligence standards.
Annalea Sanders, Figment’s Chief Operating & Information Security Officer, stated, “Institutional staking requires more than strong performance claims — it requires objective, independently validated operational excellence. Achieving Full NORS Certification demonstrates that our systems, controls, and governance processes are not only robust, but proven through evidence-based verification.”Developed collaboratively by industry leaders and risk experts, NORS is the first certification framework specifically for Ethereum node operator risk management. It establishes enterprise-grade criteria across critical validator operations, including slashing prevention, validator diversity, key management practices, and operational security and resilience. Unlike self-attested best practices, NORS requires operators to demonstrate real operating procedures through audited documentation, technical evidence, and validated controls to enhance transparency and trust in staking infrastructure.
Chris Matta, CEO at Liquid Collective, commented, “NORS was created to provide institutions with a consistent, independently validated framework for assessing staking infrastructure. Figment’s Full Certification demonstrates the maturity of its controls and the rigor of its operational practices in meeting enterprise-grade expectations.”Figment sought NORS certification to offer institutions a clear, objective framework for evaluating staking providers. This standard introduces a unified, evidence-based control framework via a standardized Risk Control Matrix (RCM), enabling institutions to assess node operator risk with enhanced clarity and confidence. The Full NORS Certification also signifies operational maturity in managing risks associated with large-scale staking, such as relay failures, MEV complexity, validator churn, and slashing events.
The NORS certification complements Figment’s existing portfolio of independently verified standards. These include SOC 1 Type I for Rewards Reporting, which was extended this year to cover staking rewards operations; SOC 2 Type II, a multi-year audited program for infrastructure and services; ISO 27001, a global information security standard encompassing Figment’s Information Security Management System (ISMS); and OFAC-Compliant MEV Relays, which enable MEV-optimized performance alongside sanctions-screening controls. These certifications collectively provide layered assurance across Figment’s infrastructure, governance, and institutional client servicing.
As institutional capital continues to enter staked digital assets, the industry’s infrastructure must evolve in both scale and operational discipline. Figment plans to continue its role in advancing institutional-grade staking by contributing to higher standards and operationalizing them through independently validated controls.
Figment is the leading independent provider of staking infrastructure, serving over 1000 institutional clients including asset managers, exchanges, wallets, foundations, custodians, and large token holders. It is recognized as the largest non-custodial staking provider for staked Ethereum (ETH) and Solana (SOL). The Node Operator Risk Standard (NORS) promotes enterprise-grade security and operational excellence for Ethereum node operators through rigorous staking risk management standards and third-party certification. More information on NORS is available at nors.global, and on Figment at figment.io.
