What is Validator?

A validator is a network participant in a Proof of Stake blockchain who proposes and attests to blocks in exchange for rewards. They stake cryptocurrency as collateral, creating a financial incentive to remain honest.

How does Validator work?

A participant locks up the minimum required stake to register as a validator.
The protocol randomly selects validators to propose new blocks.
Other validators attest to the block's validity.
Honest validators earn staking rewards; malicious or offline validators are slashed.

Why does Validator matter?

Validators replace miners, reducing energy consumption by over 99 percent. Security comes from economic stake rather than electricity, making attacks financially ruinous rather than just wasteful.

Key features of Validator

Stakes collateral as proof of honest intent
Earns rewards for proposing and attesting to blocks
Subject to slashing for double-signing or prolonged inactivity
Lower hardware requirements than mining

Examples of Validator

Ethereum solo validators stake 32 ETH and run client software to earn roughly 3 percent APY. Lido pools smaller ETH holders together to operate validators, distributing rewards minus a service fee.