What is a validator?
- Author
- CRYPTO PORT Editorial
- Published
- Updated
- Reading time
- 5 min
In short
A validator is a participant in a proof-of-stake network that checks transactions and proposes or attests to blocks. Taking part requires staking assets: behave correctly and you earn rewards, misbehave or stay offline and you face penalties. It is the proof-of-stake counterpart to a miner.
Key points
- An entity that stakes assets to take part in validation
- Proposes blocks and attests to blocks proposed by others
- On Ethereum the minimum stake per validator is 32 ETH
- Faults and downtime bring reduced rewards or slashing
Definition
In a proof-of-stake network, an entity that stakes assets in order to validate transactions and to propose or attest to blocks.
Where proof of work backs influence with computing power, proof of stake backs it with deposited assets. Running one Ethereum validator requires a 32 ETH deposit, a dedicated set of keys, and a consensus-layer client kept online continuously.
There are two jobs. When your slot comes up, you propose a block; the rest of the time you check other people's proposals and publish attestations. Proposal turns are rare on Ethereum, so nearly all day-to-day work is attesting.
Rewards depend on doing those jobs on time. A validator that goes offline cannot attest, so its rewards stop and its balance leaks away gradually. Clear faults such as signing two conflicting blocks draw a much heavier penalty — slashing — and forced exit.
Watch out for
- · Running the same keys in two places at once can produce a double signature and get you slashed
- · Staked funds are not instantly withdrawable; exiting involves a queue and a waiting period
- · If the operator you delegate to goes offline or misbehaves, your stake takes the hit too