Overview
Cardano Single Pools is the directory for the Cardano Single Pool Alliance, a group of operators who all promise to run just one stake pool each. The directory lets delegators see who has made that promise, browse the member pools, and pick one to delegate to. The goal is plain: more independent pools means a healthier, less-concentrated Cardano.
There is no boss or company behind the alliance. It is volunteer-run, with no board and no fees. When a member pool fills up, the operator points new delegators toward other alliance pools instead of opening a second pool of their own.1
New operators join by adding their pool details to a public file on GitHub, which keeps the membership transparent and easy to verify.2 That same list feeds into popular explorers like Cexplorer, so delegators can filter for alliance members when they are choosing where to stake.
Key Features
- One pool per operator. Every member promises to run only one Cardano pool, which keeps any single entity from quietly running many pools and gathering too much stake1.
- Open, public membership list. Joining is done out in the open through a GitHub pull request, so anyone can see who is in, when they joined, and what their pool ID is2.
- No second pools when full. When a member pool gets close to its capacity, the operator sends new delegators to other alliance members instead of spinning up another pool1.
- Built into the main explorers. The alliance's membership list is consumed by Cexplorer, so delegators can filter for single-pool operators while browsing pools2.
- Recognised by the Cardano Foundation. The alliance has been profiled in the Cardano Foundation's stake-pool spotlight series and is referenced in Essential Cardano, the educational site run by IOG3.
What to Expect
Cardano Single Pools is a community group, not a polished app, so the experience is more about discovery than slick design. The homepage shows a live table of member pools pulled from Cexplorer, listing each pool's active stake, blocks produced, operator pledge, and fees. Delegators can browse this table to compare alliance operators side by side before delegating their ADA.
Operators who want to join follow a short GitHub flow: fork the membership file, add their pool details, and submit the change for review. The alliance has an active Telegram group where members coordinate, swap tips, and welcome new operators. Because there is no formal hierarchy or fees, taking part is fully voluntary and driven by the shared belief that more single-operator pools makes Cardano stronger.
