What Is a Validator?
The computers that keep a blockchain honest — and how they earn their keep.
Updated April 2026
A validator is a computer that helps run a blockchain network. Its job is to check that transactions are real, put them in order, and add them to the permanent record. In exchange for this work, validators earn rewards paid in the network's native token.
What Do Validators Actually Do?
Every time you send crypto, trade on a decentralised exchange, or use a DeFi app, that action creates a transaction. Validators collect thousands of these transactions, bundle them into a block, and propose that block to the rest of the network. Other validators then double-check the work. If everyone agrees the block is correct, it gets added to the chain. Each chain — Ethereum, Solana, Cosmos and others — has its own validator set and consensus rules.
This process is called consensus — the mechanism that lets thousands of strangers agree on a single shared history without trusting each other.
Why Do Validators Need a Deposit?
To become a validator, you must lock up — or stake — a minimum amount of the network's token. On Ethereum, for example, that minimum is 32 ETH. On smaller networks it might be only a few tokens.
This deposit acts as a security bond. If the validator tries to cheat — for example, by approving fake transactions or going offline for too long — the network can destroy part of that deposit. This penalty is called Slashing, and it is the main reason validators have a strong incentive to behave honestly.
How Do Validators Earn Money?
Validators earn rewards from two sources:
- Newly issued tokens — the network prints a fixed amount of new tokens every day and distributes them to validators as a salary.
- Transaction fees — every transaction includes a small tip paid by the sender. Validators collect these tips for the blocks they process.
How Do I Choose a Validator?
Unless you plan to run your own server, you will stake your tokens through a validator operated by a staking provider. When comparing validators, look at four things:
- Uptime: A validator that goes offline misses rewards and may be slashed. Look for 99%+ uptime history.
- Commission: The provider keeps a percentage of your rewards. Lower is better, but not if it comes at the cost of reliability.
- Total stake: Extremely large validators can slow the network. Diversifying across medium-sized validators is often healthier.
- Slashing history: Has this validator ever been penalised? One previous slash is a red flag.
Bottom Line
Validators are the backbone of any proof-of-stake blockchain. They do the work, take the risk, and earn the rewards. When you stake through a validator, you are betting on their honesty and competence — so choose carefully.
Chains with the highest live staking rates
Each chain runs its own validator set. Pick one to see its native asset and live yields.
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between a validator and a staking provider?
A validator is the computer running on the network — software that proposes and votes on blocks. A staking provider is the company operating that validator on customers' behalf. One provider may run many validators across many chains.
Can a validator steal my tokens?
If you use a non-custodial staking flow, no. The validator only has the technical key to sign block proposals — not the spending key for your tokens. Custodial staking on a centralised exchange is different: there the exchange holds your keys, so they can move your tokens.
How is a validator paid?
Two sources: newly issued tokens (the network mints them as a reward), and transaction fees that users pay to get their transactions included. The split varies by chain — Ethereum, for example, leans heavily on transaction fees post-merge.
What is slashing in plain English?
Slashing is the network destroying part of a validator's deposit as a penalty for breaking the rules — going offline for too long, double-signing blocks, or signing conflicting attestations. The amount slashed depends on the chain and the offence.
How many validators does Ethereum have right now?
Ethereum has hundreds of thousands of active validators (32 ETH each). Solana, Cosmos, and other PoS chains have their own validator counts in the hundreds to low thousands. More validators generally mean better decentralisation but the same reward pool split more ways.