Introduction
Validator Nodes are network participants that run the Cerberus consensus protocol to propose and validate transactions on the Radix network. They are selected through a Delegated Proof of Stake (DPoS) mechanism where XRD holders delegate their tokens to validators they trust.
The top 100 validators by total delegated stake form the Active Validator Set at the start of each epoch. Only active validators participate in consensus and receive network emissions.
Consensus & Epochs
Consensus proceeds in epochs, each consisting of 10,000 rounds. In each round, one validator is the "leader" responsible for proposing consensus. Validators take turns as leader with probability proportional to their stake.
If a validator is offline during its leader rounds, those rounds fail — blocking transaction commitment until the next healthy validator's round begins. Validators must maintain at least 98% uptime; below this threshold, the protocol provides zero emissions rewards to that validator and its stakers for the epoch.
Revenue Sources
- A share of network emissions proportional to stake
- A configurable validator fee (percentage of staker emissions)
- A portion of transaction fees and tips
Registration & Operation
Anyone can register as a validator by running a full node and submitting a registration transaction. Validators are on-ledger Components with configurable metadata (name, URL, icon), a fee percentage, and optional staker acceptance rules.
A validator enters the Active Set only if it accumulates enough delegated stake to rank in the top 100. Validators below this threshold remain registered but do not participate in consensus or earn rewards.
When XRD holders stake to a validator, they receive Liquid Stake Units (LSUs) — fungible tokens representing their staked position — which can be traded, used as collateral in DeFi, or unstaked (subject to a delay period).
External Links
- Validator — Radix Documentation
- How Should I Choose Validators? — Radix Knowledge Base
- Network Staking Dashboard — Radix Dashboard
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