Running a Relayer Node

There are three ways to run a relayer, from easiest to most advanced:

Option 1: Run on the Web

The simplest way to get started. Use the Relayer Dashboard to register and run a relayer directly from your browser — no installation, no server, no command line.

1. Connect your wallet

2. Register as a relayer

3. Start the relayer from the dashboard UI

Best for: trying it out, small-scale operation, non-technical users.

Option 2: Run with Docker

Run the official relayer node image locally or on a server. Reliable, always-on, no code to manage.

docker run -d \
  -e MNEMONIC="your twelve word mnemonic phrase here" \
  -e RELAYER_NETWORK=mainnet \
  --restart unless-stopped \
  vechain/vebetterdao-relayer-node

Environment variables:

Variable	Required	Description
MNEMONIC	Yes (or RELAYER_PRIVATE_KEY)	Wallet mnemonic
RELAYER_PRIVATE_KEY	Yes (or MNEMONIC)	Wallet private key
RELAYER_NETWORK	Yes	mainnet or testnet-staging
RUN_ONCE	No	Run once then exit (useful for cron)
DRY_RUN	No	Simulate without sending transactions

Best for: reliable 24/7 operation on a VPS or home server.

Option 3: Fork and Optimize

Fork the relayer node source code and build your own optimized version.

git clone https://github.com/vechain/vebetterdao-contracts
cd relayer-node
yarn install
yarn start

The default node discovers users, batches votes and claims, and loops every 5 minutes. By forking you can:

• Optimize batching strategies and gas usage

• Implement custom user prioritization

• Add monitoring, alerting, and logging

• Run multiple instances with load balancing

• Integrate with your app's backend

Best for: competitive relayers, apps running relaying as a service, maximizing profitability.

Gas Costs & Profitability

Action	Gas	VTHO Cost	B3TR Equivalent
Vote (5-8 apps)	~441,000	~4.41 VTHO	~0.075 B3TR
Claim	~208,000	~2.08 VTHO	~0.035 B3TR
Total per user per round		~6.49 VTHO	~0.11 B3TR

Average user earns ~90-190 B3TR/round. At 10% fee: ~9-19 B3TR per user into the pool. Relayer cost per user: ~0.11 B3TR. Margin: ~8.9-18.9 B3TR per user.

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