Validator

A validator is a proof-of-stake participant that proposes or attests to blockchain updates after committing stake and meeting protocol requirements.

Validators earn rewards for correct participation and may miss rewards or face penalties when they are offline or violate consensus rules. Users can operate validators directly or use custodial, pooled, or delegated services that add operator, smart-contract, and fee risks. Validator performance affects staking outcomes, but rewards also depend on network-wide participation and protocol rules beyond one operator’s control alone.