Everything you need to know about validator nodes: a deep dive | nascom
In the fast-paced world of crypto investment, where risk assessment is paramount for everyone, traditional approaches such as farming, lending, borrowing, or dealing with multiple DeFi platforms may not fit the investment thesis of institutions. For those looking for a safe yet lucrative path to navigate the digital asset investment landscape, running validation nodes is a tempting frontier.
By delving into the intricacies of these nodes, we’ll explore how validator nodes work, the specific requirements to run them, and the potential rewards they offer. we will delve into how validator nodes differ from full nodes, exposing their unique role in securing blockchain networks. In the end, we’ll see how one can get their validator nodes up and running in less than 5 minutes, skipping all the complexity.
So, without further ado, let’s get right into it.
What is a validation node?
A validation node is a participant in the network that has the role of validating and relaying transactions. Validators are fundamental to the functioning and security of a blockchain network.
While the specific roles and responsibilities of validation nodes may vary depending on the specific blockchain protocol, they perform the following functions:
- Transaction validation: Validators review and verify the authenticity of transactions to be added to the blockchain. This includes checking the cryptographic signatures and making sure that the transactions are properly formed according to protocol rules.
- Block creation/proposal: In some blockchain networks, validators are responsible for creating or proposing new transaction blocks. This involves collecting a series of valid transactions, forming a block, and presenting that block to the rest of the network.
- Consensus participation: After a block is proposed, the network must agree to accept it and add it to the blockchain. Validators participate in this process by following the rules of the consensus mechanism to agree or disagree with the proposed block.
- Network security: By fulfilling the above roles, validators contribute to the security of the blockchain network. They help prevent double spending, ensure that only valid transactions are added to the blockchain, and contribute to the immutability of the ledger.
As a validator you often have to meet certain requirements. For example, you may need to have a certain amount of the blockchain’s original token and be willing to “stake” it. This commitment is a surety, which encourages honest behavior and discourages malicious actions. If a validator acts unfairly or fails to perform his duties properly, he may lose all or part of his interest.
How validation nodes work?
Let’s understand by taking the example of Ethereum. When a user on the Ethereum network initiates a transaction, the transaction enters a queue to be included in the next block. Validators play a key role in this process. To become a validator, a participant must deposit 32 ETH into a specific contract and use three types of software: an execution client, a consensus client, and a validation client. Once set up, the validator will start receiving transactions to verify and validate.
The process begins when a user creates and signs a transaction using their private keys, usually initiated through a wallet interface. This interface communicates with the network through the JSON-RPC API and specifies the base rate and tip to be paid to the validator. The transaction is then sent to the fulfillment client, which verifies that the initiating user has sufficient funds for the transaction. Once confirmed, the transaction is added to the mempool and broadcast to the network nodes.
A system called RANDAO, a random number generation authority, then selects validators to validate the transaction. The transactions from the mempool are bundled into an execution payload and sent to the chosen validators for verification. This block contains details about rewards, punishments, slashings and certificates.
After the validators receive this block, they verify it and update the state of the blockchain. This information is then passed to the consensus layer of the network, where the transactions are revalidated to ensure their order. If everything is correct, the validator confirms that the block is valid. This process continues in cycles, with the validation nodes constantly validating and verifying new transactions and blocks.
How do validator nodes differ from full nodes?
When it comes to blockchain nodes, we often hear two names: validation nodes and full nodes. While both are an integral part of a blockchain network, their roles, functionalities, and capabilities vary.
Let’s take a look at these differences:
- Roles in the network:
Validator Nodes are managed by a preset number of validators responsible for validating transactions. While Full Node can be run by any participant that meets the network access requirements, verifies transactions and maintains network synchronization.
- Transaction validation:
Validator Nodes validate transactions based on the rules and protocols of the blockchain.
And Full Nodes validate transactions through synchronization with the rest of the network, ensuring blockchain-wide consensus.
- Writes and reads:
Accepting Validator Nodes “writes” to the blockchain, processes and adds user transactions to the ledger. But Full Nodes mainly focus on “reads”, handling user queries and providing scalability to the validators by distributing read requests.
- State authentication:
Validator Nodes maintain signatures that validate the current state of the blockchain.
While Full Nodes rely on the signatures of the validators to verify the state of the blockchain.
Running a validation node: the requirements and the rewards
When you plan to run your own validation node, there are certain hardware requirements that you must meet. Check them out and you can also analyze the cost implications and the rewards to come to a conclusion whether you want to use the validation nodes in the first place or not.
Long-term efficacy of validator nodes
Diversification is key to limiting risk in your investment portfolio. Traditional means often suggest investing in bonds, which provide stable returns over a period of time. For example, bonds from economies such as the US, Canada, Germany and India yield returns of 3.52%, 2.85%, 2.25% and 7.33% respectively. But if you’re looking for higher returns, running a validation node on certain blockchain networks could be an intriguing addition to your portfolio.
Consider AVAX, which offers an 11% pay rate – a figure that exceeds the highest returns generated by bonds in several countries. Similarly, Polkadot yields a whopping 16% and Kusama 14.77%.
However, it is crucial to understand the economics of running a validation node to ensure its long-term profitability. A basic equation to calculate potential returns looks like this:
ROI = Validator Rewards + Network Cost – Cost of running a single validator node
Before you decide to run a validation node; it is essential to calculate based on this equation. You should also consider macroeconomic factors and current market conditions as they can greatly affect profitability.
The economic model of validation nodes incentivizes validators to stay active, increasing their chances of receiving rewards. For example, on Ethereum, one of the most prominent blockchains, validators have seen returns of 4.6% to 10%. Since January 2022, these numbers have increased by as much as 12% APY.
This may seem appealing and sparks the urge to jump in and earn. But before you do, here are a few things to consider.