What Is a Validator in Proof of Stake?
A proof-of-stake validator proposes blocks and votes on them, locking up crypto it can lose for breaking rules. Ethereum requires a 32 ETH deposit.
Vahe HakobyanEditor-in-chief
Updated Oct 6, 20263 min readFact-checked
On this page
- Validators are chosen in proportion to the crypto they stake.
- Ethereum asks for a 32 ETH deposit to run one.
- Slashing burns part of the stake and ejects the validator.
Proof-of-stake chains use validators instead of the miners that proof-of-work chains rely on. Validators check each other's work and earn rewards for following the rules.
How does a validator work?
The network picks validators in proportion to the crypto they stake, so a bigger stake brings more chances. In Ethereum, one validator is picked at random to propose a block for each 12-second slot, and a committee votes on whether the block is valid.
- Propose a block: the chosen validator builds it.
- Attest: a committee votes on the block's validity.
- Raise the odds: a bigger stake means more selections.
How do you become a validator?
Ethereum asks for a 32 ETH deposit into a smart contract, while other networks set their own minimums and rules. The stake stays locked while the validator runs, and Ethereum releases it through a queue at exit. Rewards come from proposing and attesting, and they are not guaranteed.
What are the risks for validators?
A validator that signs two blocks that conflict can be slashed, which burns part of the stake and ejects the validator from the network. Staying offline is milder, costing rewards and a small part of the stake.
How is a validator different from a miner?
Miners spend computing power to solve a puzzle, and the fastest one adds the block, while validators are picked in proportion to their stake. A delegator hands crypto to a validator someone else runs and shares in the rewards.
Frequently asked questions
A full node stores the blockchain and checks every block. A validator runs that software too and also stakes crypto, so it can propose blocks and vote.
Usually yes. The validator software needs a computer that stays online, though some people pay a service to run it for them.
In Ethereum, one validator is chosen to propose a block for each 12-second slot, so a single validator proposes rarely and votes far more often.
