Validator
A network participant in a Proof of Stake blockchain that is responsible for proposing new blocks, attesting to the validity of blocks proposed by others, and maintaining the integrity of the network. Validators must stake a minimum amount of the native token as collateral and run node software continuously. They earn rewards for honest participation and face slashing penalties for misbehavior.
“Running an Ethereum validator requires staking 32 ETH and maintaining a node with high uptime. Validators are randomly selected to propose blocks and must attest to blocks proposed by others, earning ~3-5% APY in rewards.”
Proof of Stake (PoS)
A consensus mechanism where validators are selected to propose and attest to new blocks based on the amount of cryptocurrency they have staked as collateral. PoS replaces energy-intensive computational competition (PoW) with economic stake as the security mechanism — validators risk losing their staked tokens (slashing) if they act maliciously. PoS is significantly more energy-efficient than PoW and is used by Ethereum, Solana, Cardano, and most modern blockchains.
Staking
The process of locking up cryptocurrency as collateral to support blockchain network operations — specifically validating transactions and producing blocks — in exchange for rewards. Staking is the core economic mechanism of Proof of Stake blockchains. Stakers earn yield from block rewards and transaction fees but risk slashing (losing a portion of their stake) for misbehavior or extended downtime.
Slashing
A penalty mechanism in Proof of Stake networks that destroys a portion of a validator's staked tokens for malicious behavior or severe negligence. Slashable offenses include double-signing (proposing two different blocks for the same slot), surround voting (contradictory attestations), and prolonged downtime. Slashing creates strong economic disincentives against attacks, as validators risk permanent loss of capital.
Node
A computer that maintains a copy of the blockchain and participates in validating and relaying transactions. Full nodes store and verify the complete blockchain history independently. Light nodes store only block headers for efficiency. Archive nodes retain every historical state of the blockchain. The more nodes a network has, the more decentralized and resilient it becomes.
Delegation
The process of assigning your staking rights to a validator without transferring custody of your tokens. Delegation allows token holders who don't have the technical expertise or minimum stake to run their own validator node to still earn staking rewards by backing a trusted validator. Delegators typically share in rewards proportionally and also share in slashing penalties if their chosen validator misbehaves.