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Validator Node

Running a validator node in the 0G ecosystem means actively participating in the network's security and consensus through the Proof-of-Stake (PoS) mechanism. As a validator, you'll validate transactions, propose new blocks, and earn rewards for your contribution to the network's integrity and decentralization.

Starting Your Node​

1. Clone the Validator Node Repo:

git clone https://github.com/0glabs/0g-chain.git

2. Build and Start the Docker Node:

cd 0g-chain
docker build -f Dockerfile-node -t 0g-chain-validator .
docker run -d --name 0g-chain-validator -p 26656:26656 -p 26657:26657 -e GOGC=900 -e GOMEMLIMIT=40GiB 0g-chain-validator

Recommended on Garbage Collection for Pruning Nodes: To maximize sync speed for validators and other network providers that are running pruning nodes, the above settings are recommended. GOGC=900 instructs golang to start garbage collection when heap has grown to 9x, and GOMELIMIT=40GB ensures garbage collection runs whenever memory usage reaches 40GB.

Registering Your Validator​

3. Create or Import an Account:

# Create a wallet and export the private key
docker exec -it <container_name> /bin/bash
0gchaind keys add <key_name> --eth
0gchaind keys unsafe-export-eth-key <key_name>
# Import an existing key by entering the mnemonic
docker exec -it <container_name> /bin/bash
0gchaind keys add <key_name> --recover --eth

4. Acquire Testnet Tokens: Obtain testnet tokens from the 0G faucet by entering your public key on our website or by requesting on Discord. These tokens are necessary for staking and becoming a validator.

5. Become a Validator: Register your node as a validator on the 0G network, specifying your stake amount, commission rates, and other important parameters.

0gchaind tx staking create-validator \
--amount=<staking_amount>ua0gi \
--pubkey=$(0gchaind tendermint show-validator) \
--moniker="<your_validator_name>" \
--chain-id=zgtendermint_16600-2 \
--commission-rate="0.10" \
--commission-max-rate="0.20" \
--commission-max-change-rate="0.01" \
--min-self-delegation="1" \
--from=<key_name> \
--gas=auto \
--gas-adjustment=1.4

Note: Only the top 125 staked validators will be active.

Check the Status on Your Validator​

6. Check Validator Consensus Status: You can check the status of your validator, by executing the command below and you can confirm if your validator is active and participating in consensus.

0gchaind q staking validators -o json --limit=1000 | jq '.validators[] | select(.status=="BOND_STATUS_BONDED")' | jq -r '.tokens + " - " + .description.moniker' | sort -gr | nl

7. Check Validator Sync Status:

0gchaind status | jq '{ latest_block_height: .sync_info.latest_block_height, catching_up: .sync_info.catching_up }'

11. Unjail Your Validator (If Needed): If your validator gets "jailed" due to downtime or other issues, you can unjail using the following command and resume participation in the network.

0gchaind tx slashing unjail --from <key_name> --gas=500000 --gas-prices=99999neuron -y

Note: Only the top 125 staked validators will be active.

Remember​

  • Stay updated with the latest testnet information and announcements on our socials and blog posts.
  • Reach out to us on Discord or to the community for support if you encounter any issues.

Troubleshooting​

If you encounter any issues during the setup or operation of your validator node, please consult our FAQ section or reach out to our community support channels.

Next Steps​

After successfully setting up your validator node, consider exploring the following:

Thank you for contributing to the security and decentralization of the 0g network!