In the world of blockchain, you often hear about miners, stakers, nodes… and validators. But who are these validators, what role do they play in the network, and why are their functions so important for the security of decentralized systems?
In this article, we will look at who validators are, how they work, and what technical and business risks are associated with their use.
What is a validator?
A validator is a node in a blockchain network that participates in verifying transactions and creating new blocks. Unlike classic mining (like Bitcoin), validators are more often used in Proof-of-Stake (PoS) systems or PoS consensus options.
Validators do not compete in computing power, but receive the right to create blocks based on their share (stake) of cryptocurrency in the network.
The main functions of validators:
1) Confirming transactions: checking the legitimacy of transactions between network participants.
2) Creating new blocks: forming a block from transactions and adding it to the chain.
3) Participating in consensus: participating in voting for the correct version of the blockchain.
4) Security: preventing double spending and attacks on the network.
How to become a validator?
In most PoS networks, to become a validator, you need to:
1) Freeze a certain number of tokens (stake).
2) Launch a highly reliable server with a permanent connection to the Internet.
3) Install and configure specialized software.
4) Ensure the security of keys and configuration (otherwise, funds may be lost).
Examples of entry thresholds:
Ethereum 2.0 - 32 ETH
Solana - no fixed threshold, but server performance is important
Polkadot - from 10 DOT and above
Why are validators important for a blockchain?
Validators are the basis for the stability and decentralization of the network. The more independent validators, the harder it is to carry out an attack (e.g. 51% or transaction censorship).
They also affect:
1)Network throughput
2)Transaction confirmation speed
3)Data storage reliability
Risks and errors of validators
1) Low availability (downtime)
If a validator is unavailable or disconnects from the network, it loses income and can be excluded from the set of active nodes.
Solution: use reliable data centers or colocation solutions with redundancy.
2) Protocol violations
Incorrect operation of a node (e.g. signing two blocks) can lead to slashing — a fine with partial or complete loss of collateral.
Solution: monitor updates, use proven software, set up alerts and monitoring.
3) Infrastructure attacks
Validators can be the target of DDoS attacks, key hacking, or vulnerability exploits.
Solution: Store private keys in secure HSM devices or use remote signer, restrict IP access, use firewall and VPN.
4) Insufficient performance
In some networks (for example, Solana), validators must process thousands of transactions per second. Insufficient performance will lead to loss of trust and income.
Solution: Use dedicated servers with high CPU, RAM and SSD drives.
Why delegate tokens to validators?
Not every user can be a validator - it is expensive, complicated and risky. But in almost every PoS network, you can delegate your tokens to validators, receiving a part of the income for staking without participating in the technical part.
It is important to choose:
1) A reliable validator
With a clear reputation and transparent commission
With minimal incidents in history
The future of validators
With the growing interest in scalable and energy-efficient blockchains, the role of validators will only grow. They are already becoming not just technical operators, but important participants in the ecosystem, influencing the development of protocols, voting and management.
Conclusion
Validators are key actors in the decentralized networks of the new generation. Trust in the blockchain, asset security and the success of the ecosystem as a whole depend on their stable and secure operation.
If you are planning to launch your own validator, approach it as if you were launching a serious business: with a well-thought-out infrastructure, monitoring, protection and a team.
Our site: https://vilengy.com/en/
Phone number: +972-555-077-265
Email: info@vilengy.com
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