An automated method to verify a block record for a digital ledger involves a first validation node (FVN) which receives a block record from a second validation node (SVN). The block record comprises a digital signature for the block record. In response to receiving the block record, the FVN automatically obtains a node identifier for the SVN, based on the digital signature for the block record. The first validator node uses the node identifier for the SVN to determine whether the SVN belongs to a validation group that comprises the FVN. The FVN uses an attestation service to determine whether the node identifier for the SVN belongs to a node with a trusted processor. The FVN determines whether the digital signature for the block record was created with a private key that corresponds to the node identifier for the SVN.