Written by Amanda
General
Who can be an Avalanche® validator?
Anyone who covers the minimum hardware and staking amount requirements (2,000 AVAX) can become a validator on the Avalanche Primary Network.
Can I stake my locked Avalanche (AVAX) tokens?
Yes, you will be able to freely stake locked Avalanche (AVAX) tokens on your own validator or delegate them to an existing validator. Your locked tokens are eligible to earn rewards.
Where can I see the validator stake and weights?
You can find validator information on the following explorers:
What is the most I can stake on my validating node?
You can stake up to 2 million AVAX and also accept up to 1 million in delegations. Which gives it a maximum of 3 million.
A validator will receive a staking reward if they are online and respond for more than 80% of their validation period, as measured by a majority of validators, weighted by the stake. You should aim for your validator to be online and responsive 100% of the time. You can follow this tutorial to learn how to monitor your node's uptime, general health, etc.
Running a Validator
When a validator is done validating the Primary Network, it receives back the AVAX tokens it staked. It may receive a reward for helping to secure the network. A validator only receives a validation reward if it is sufficiently responsive and correct during the time it validates. Read the Avalanche token whitepaper to learn more about AVAX and the mechanics of staking.
The current reward percentage for staking is 8.5%.
The minimum amount that a validator must stake is 2,000 AVAX
The minimum amount that a delegator must delegate is 25 AVAX
The minimum amount of time one can stake funds for validation is 2 weeks
The maximum amount of time one can stake funds for validation is 1 year
The minimum amount of time one can stake funds for delegation is 2 weeks
The maximum amount of time one can stake funds for delegation is 1 year
The minimum delegation fee rate is 2%
The maximum weight of a validator (their own stake + stake delegated to them) is 3 million AVAX.
A validator can accept a maximum weight of 5x the staked amount. For example, if you staked 2,000 AVAX to become a validator, only 8000 AVAX can be delegated to your node total (not per delegator)
Can I add more Avalanche (AVAX) tokens to my validator while the staking period is in progress?
Yes, you can use the delegation function to add more Avalanche (AVAX) tokens to your validator anytime. This will increase your stake.
All validation and delegation rewards are credited to your selected destination wallet address upon completion of the staking period.
Do I need to keep my private keys on my validator?
No, you don’t need to keep your private keys on your validator (and, we strongly advise you not to).
Do I need to trust the validator to transfer my delegation rewards?
No, AVAX rewards earned from staking are handled on the protocol level, and rewards will automatically be transferred to you once they are earned.
No, your stake is locked for the pre-defined staking period. Your stake is automatically returned to your address upon completion, together with the accumulated staking rewards
For any additional questions, please view our other knowledge base articles or contact a support team member via the chat button. Examples are for illustrative purposes only.
Related Articles
Staking FAQ
Core mobile: How do I use Stake?
Core web: How do I validate in Core Stake?
Core web: How do I delegate in Core Stake?
Explorer: How do I use the Validator details page?
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