Validator

Becoming a Validator

• Overview

  • Hyperliquid has a permissionless validator set

  • Anyone can register as a validator

  • Active set consists of top N validators by total stake (currently N=21, increasing over time)

  • Validators outside the active set can still register but won't produce blocks until the set expands

• Requirements

  • Minimum self-delegation: 10,000 HYPE (locked for 1 year even if not in active set)

  • Technical infrastructure: Must run reliable validator nodes

  • Compliance: Must meet regulatory requirements if applying for Delegation Program

Delegation Program

• What is it? The Delegation Program is Hyper Foundation's initiative to delegate foundation HYPE to high-quality validators. This helps bootstrap new validators who might not have enough stake to enter the active set on their own. Foundation delegations can significantly boost a validator's total stake.

• Program Objectives

  • Enhance network security by supporting reliable validators

  • Promote decentralization and validator diversity

  • Help committed validators enter the active set

  • Establish trusted validator network

• Eligibility Requirements

  • Capital: Must have 10k HYPE in one address before applying

  • Infrastructure: Must run at least two non-validator nodes with 95% uptime

  • Compliance:

    • Complete KYC/KYB processes

    • Comply with applicable laws and regulations

    • Not from restricted jurisdictions (Ontario, U.S., Cuba, Iran, Myanmar, North Korea, Syria, certain Russian-occupied regions of Ukraine)

  • Technical: Static IP addresses required (e.g., elastic IPs on AWS)

• Application Process

  • Fill out the application form

  • Undergo application review

  • Complete KYC/KYB if invited

  • Review and accept Program Terms if accepted

• Important Notes

  • Testnet performance considered for mainnet delegation

  • Ongoing monitoring of delegations

  • Foundation reserves right to cease delegation at any time

  • Foundation validators consider Delegation Program participation when trusting peer validators

  • Strongly recommended to apply before setting up mainnet validator

Technical Details

• Getting Started

  • For detailed technical instructions on setting up a validator node, see the Builder Guide - Node Operators section.
• Validator Responsibilities

  • Produce blocks proportional to total delegated stake

  • Maintain high uptime and performance

  • Respond adequately to consensus messages

  • Secure the network through honest participation

• Jailing Mechanism

  • Validators can vote to jail peers with inadequate latency/frequency

  • Jailed validators don't participate in consensus or produce rewards

  • Can unjail themselves after fixing issues (subject to rate limits)

  • Jailing ≠ slashing (reserved for provably malicious behavior)

• Consensus Details

  • HyperBFT consensus with quorum requirement (>2/3 of total stake)

  • Validator set evolves in epochs of 100,000 rounds (~90 minutes)

  • Validators and stakes static within each epoch