Figment Achieves Full NORS Certification, Setting a New Benchmark for Institutional Ethereum Staking
Figment, the world’s largest independent provider of institutional staking infrastructure, has announced that it has achieved full certification under the Node Operator Risk Standard (NORS) for Ethereum. The certification marks a significant milestone for the company and highlights its commitment to building staking infrastructure that meets rigorous institutional-grade security, operational, and governance standards.
NORS is an independent, industry-recognized framework created specifically to evaluate the risk posture of Ethereum node operators. Unlike self-reported best practices, the certification requires detailed audits, technical evidence, and formal validation of operational controls. By successfully completing the process, Figment becomes the first company in North America and Europe to achieve full NORS certification.
According to Annalea Sanders, Chief Operating & Information Security Officer at Figment, institutional staking demands more than promises of performance. It requires verifiable operational excellence backed by independent assessments. She emphasized that the certification demonstrates the strength of Figment’s systems, controls, and governance processes, all of which have been validated through evidence-based audits.
A Purpose-Built Risk Standard for Ethereum Node Operators
NORS is the first formal certification framework designed specifically to address the risks associated with Ethereum validator operations. The standard establishes enterprise-grade criteria across all major aspects of staking infrastructure.
Key focus areas include:
- Slashing prevention mechanisms
- Validator diversity and distribution
- Secure key management practices
- Operational reliability and fail-safe architecture
The framework goes beyond high-level guidelines. Operators must provide detailed documentation, technical proof, and independently verified controls that demonstrate how their systems perform in real-world scenarios. This evidence-driven approach ensures that the certification reflects actual operational practices rather than theoretical policies.
The NORS standard was developed through collaboration among industry leaders and risk specialists, with the goal of improving transparency and trust across the staking ecosystem.
Chris Matta, CEO of Liquid Collective, noted that NORS was designed to give institutions a unified, independently validated method for evaluating staking infrastructure. He stated that Figment’s full certification reflects the maturity of its operational controls and its ability to meet enterprise-level requirements.
Raising the Bar for Institutional Staking
Figment pursued NORS certification to provide institutions with a clear and objective benchmark for evaluating staking providers. Historically, institutional investors have faced a fragmented landscape, with each operator presenting its own set of claims and standards. Without a unified framework, it has been difficult to compare providers on equal footing.
NORS addresses this challenge by introducing a standardized Risk Control Matrix (RCM). This evidence-based framework allows institutions to assess node operators using consistent criteria, improving transparency and enabling more informed decision-making.
Achieving full certification also signals a high level of operational maturity. It demonstrates that Figment has the systems and processes in place to manage complex, real-world risks associated with staking at scale. These include:
- Relay failures
- MEV (Maximal Extractable Value) complexities
- Validator performance fluctuations
- Slashing events
By meeting the NORS requirements, Figment shows that it can handle these challenges within a structured, audited risk management framework.
Part of a Broader Compliance and Assurance Strategy
The NORS certification adds to Figment’s growing portfolio of independently verified standards and compliance programs. The company has invested heavily in institutional-grade controls across its infrastructure and services.
Its current certifications and compliance initiatives include:
- SOC 1 Type I (Rewards Reporting): Recently expanded to cover staking rewards operations
- SOC 2 Type II: A multi-year audited program for infrastructure and service controls
- ISO 27001: A global information security standard covering Figment’s information security management system (ISMS)
- OFAC-compliant MEV relays: Designed to enable optimized performance while incorporating sanctions verification controls
Together, these measures create a multi-layered assurance framework that addresses infrastructure security, governance, and customer-facing operations.
Outlook: Building the Next Phase of Institutional Staking
As institutional capital continues to enter the digital asset market, the expectations for staking infrastructure are evolving. Scale alone is no longer sufficient. Institutions increasingly demand demonstrable operational discipline, standardized risk controls, and independent verification.
NORS represents a step toward that future by establishing a unified, auditable benchmark for node operators. With full certification, Figment positions itself at the forefront of this shift toward institutional-grade staking.
Looking ahead, the company plans to continue contributing to the development of higher industry standards. Its strategy focuses on not only helping define these frameworks, but also operationalizing them through independently validated controls and transparent governance practices.
By combining scale with rigorous certification, Figment aims to reinforce trust among institutional clients and play a leading role in shaping the next phase of secure, compliant, and resilient staking infrastructure.
About NORS
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 certifications. For more information, visit nors.global .
About Figment
Figment is the leading independent provider of staking infrastructure. Figment offers a complete staking solution to over 1,000 institutional clients, including asset managers, exchanges, wallets, endowments, custodians, and large token holders, enabling them to generate returns on their digital assets. Figment is the largest non-custodial staking provider for staked Ethereum (ETH) and Solana (SOL). Figment’s institutional staking services include seamless point-and-click staking, portfolio reward tracking, API integrations, audited infrastructure, and slashing protection. All of this contributes to Figment’s mission to support the adoption, growth, and long-term success of the digital asset ecosystem. To learn more about Figment, please visit figment.io .
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