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Validator Types & States

This page is intended to explain what the different states of a Validator are possible in the Chainflip system, and what each of them means.
It is important to note that a Validator does not refer to just any node on the Chainflip State Chain network. In contrast to State Chain Client operators, who may be using them for liquidity management, running a Broker, or simply monitoring the State Chain for data, a Validator, a node must also run the Chainflip Engine (CFE) sidecar module and have configured endpoints for all external chains, as well as set their State Chain account type to Validator.
This page should help operators understand how to set their Validator state to participate in auctions and manage their system accordingly.
Status Tag
Description
Criteria
Qualified
A Qualified validator can participate in Keygen ceremonies and is eligible for Backup rewards.
A validator node is considered Qualified if all of the following conditions are fulfilled:
Bidding
A bidding node is indicating its intention to participate in auction. Validators that wish to retire should set their bidding intention to false
Outside of auction periods, Validators can set their bidding status freely.
During Auctions:
  • Bidding Validators may not withdraw any funds and may not change their state to Non-Bidding.
  • Non-Bidding Validators can withdraw any unlocked funds and can change their state to bidding.
  • All Validators can stake extra funds at any time
Backup
A Backup validator earns Flip rewards but does not participate in block authorship, see Backup Rewards. May be a keyholder.
  • Is Qualified
  • Is not an Authority
  • Is among the next set of highest bidding nodes, (maximum 1/3rd the size of the current Authority Set, usually 50).
Authority
Authorities are responsible for block authorship and consensus, witnessing, threshold signing and transaction broadcasting. In return they earn Authority Rewards
Authorities are also Keyholders for the latest AggKey. Keyholders are Bonded according to the auction preceding the KeyGen ceremony for the held key.
  • Auction winner
  • Successfully participated in a Keygen ceremony.
  • Keyholder for the latest AggKey.
  • Block Producer & State Chain Authority