Validator and Staking Rewards
How to become a validator, delegated staking and differences between networks.
A validator is a node participating in Proof-of-Stake consensus — confirms transactions and receives staking rewards.
Validator types:
1. Active validator • Runs full node software • Requires technical knowledge and server infrastructure • High stake requirement (Ethereum: 32 ETH ~$100k) • Risk: slashing if offline or dishonest
2. Delegated staking (common) • "Delegate" stake to chosen validator • Receive share of rewards (without technical hassle) • Validator takes commission (5-15% typically)
By network:
Ethereum:
•32 ETH = solo validator
•Rocket Pool: mini-pool with 8 ETH
•Lido stETH: delegated without minimum
•APY: ~4%
Solana:
•Delegated staking has no minimum
•Phantom, Solflare: directly from wallet
•APY: ~7%
Cosmos/ATOM:
•Delegated, minimum 0.1 ATOM
•Keplr wallet: integrated staking
•APY: ~15-18%
Polkadot:
•Validator nomination
•Minimum varies (nomination)
•APY: ~13%
Caution:
•Delegated staking = not your key for staking
•Slashing risk of validator shared with delegators
•Choose validator with high uptime (99%+) and low slash history