Validator
A participant in a proof-of-stake network who stakes tokens and is responsible for proposing and attesting to new blocks.
In-Depth Explanation
Validators replace miners in PoS systems. They stake tokens (32 ETH for Ethereum) as collateral, propose blocks when selected, and attest to others' blocks. Validators earn rewards for honest participation and face slashing for misbehavior. Running a validator requires technical setup and uptime commitment.
Related Terms
Proof of Stake
PoSA consensus mechanism where validators are chosen to create blocks based on the amount of cryptocurrency they've staked as collateral.
Staking
Locking tokens in a protocol to earn rewards, secure a network, or gain governance rights.
Slashing
A penalty mechanism that destroys a portion of a validator's staked tokens for malicious or negligent behavior.
More in Infrastructure
View all →Gas Fees
Transaction fees paid to validators/miners for executing operations on a blockchain.
Gwei
A denomination of Ether equal to one billionth of an ETH, commonly used to express gas prices.
Layer 2
L2Scaling solutions built on top of a base blockchain (L1) that process transactions off-chain while inheriting L1 security.
Layer 1
L1The base blockchain that provides security and consensus, such as Ethereum, Bitcoin, or Solana.