Validator node
Operating as a validator on the Polygon Network involves playing a pivotal role in validating transactions within the blockchain. This guide provides details on how to run a Validator Node (including Sentry and Validator components) on the Polygon Network, the responsibilities involved, and the technical and operational aspects to consider.
Eligibility and responsibilities¶
To qualify as a validator on the Polygon Network, participants must:
- Stake a minimum of 1 MATIC token in the ecosystem.
- Fulfill various responsibilities, including technical operations and effective communication.
Key responsibilities include:
- Technical Node Operations: These are largely automated by the node software.
- Operational Duties:
- Ensure high uptime.
- Conduct daily checks of node-related services and processes.
- Implement node monitoring.
- Maintain an Ethereum (ETH) balance of approximately 0.5 to 1 ETH in the signer address for transaction fees.
- Delegation Management:
- Be open to accepting delegations.
- Transparently communicate commission rates to delegators.
- Communication:
- Promptly report any issues.
- Offer feedback and suggestions to the Polygon team.
- Rewards: Earn staking rewards and transaction fees for validating blocks.
Technical Node Operations¶
These operations are automatically executed by the nodes:
- Block Producer Selection: A subset of validators is chosen periodically to form the block producer set.
- Validating Blocks on Bor: Validators independently validate block data on Heimdall.
- Checkpoint Submission: Proposers among validators create, validate, and submit checkpoints to the Ethereum mainnet.
- State Sync: Contract state data is synchronized between Ethereum and Polygon, particularly through Bor.
Operational guidelines¶
Maintaining high uptime¶
- Validators must sign checkpoint transactions approximately every 34 minutes.
- Failure to sign these transactions affects node performance.
- Node health maintenance and monitoring are crucial for uninterrupted operations.
Daily checks and monitoring¶
- Regularly check and prune Heimdall and Bor services and processes.
- Utilize Grafana Dashboards or alternative monitoring tools.
- Monitor the Ethereum endpoint used on nodes to stay within request limits.
ETH balance management¶
- Adequate ETH balance is required for checkpoint transaction fees.
- Fluctuations in Ethereum network gas prices must be considered.
Earning rewards¶
Validators stake MATIC tokens for network security and receive rewards:
- Staking Rewards: Validators are compensated for their contributions to network security.
- Transaction Fees: Validators earn a portion of the transaction fees from the blocks they produce.
Reward distribution¶
- A portion of Polygon’s total token supply is allocated for staking rewards.
- Rewards are designed to gradually shift from staking to transaction fee-based as the network matures.
Incentives for validators¶
- Validators earn rewards from both staking and transaction fees.
- The reward structure is designed to balance the payout between staking and fees over time.
Delegation¶
Validators should:
- Be open to delegations from the community.
- Clearly communicate their commission rates.
Effective communication¶
- Report issues promptly on platforms like Discord, the Polygon Forum, or GitHub.
- Provide constructive feedback and suggestions.
System requirements¶
Minimum requirements¶
- RAM: 32 GB
- CPU: 8-core
- Storage: 2.5 TB SSD
- AWS Equivalent: c5.2xlarge for Sentry, c5.4xlarge for Validator node (with unlimited credits).
Recommended requirements¶
- RAM: 64 GB
- CPU: 16-core
- Storage: 5 TB SSD
- Bandwidth: 1 Gbit/s
These specifications ensure that your nodes are well-equipped for current and future network demands. Separate machines for Sentry and Validator nodes are advised for optimal performance and security.