Public Node is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit charity that brings a trusted, meaningful public voice to open and inclusive blockchain networks through public education, infrastructure funding, awareness, and advocacy. Its core activity is funding and operating full validator nodes, which the organization considers the single best way to support a blockchain network's health and resilience. Membership fees (which are tax-deductible in the United States) and one-time donations fund this infrastructure, and members in turn get a voice in Public Node's governance, including the ability to register a Stellar wallet address and vote on proposed Stellar protocol changes that Public Node then submits on the network. The organization is community-run, coordinating primarily through Discord, and is led by a small volunteer board (President/Treasurer, Secretary, and an Infrastructure Adviser). It also accepts corporate sponsorships and highlights sponsor and validator news (e.g., a Stellar validator called Hercules) on its blog. Its typical constituents are individual crypto/blockchain enthusiasts and community members, plus occasional business sponsors, rather than institutional or enterprise clients.
