A staking validator is the operator you delegate your coins to. It runs the servers that produce and check blocks, earns rewards from the network, keeps a commission, and passes the rest to you. Choosing a validator well is the biggest decision you make when staking, after choosing the coin. The four things that matter most are commission, uptime, slashing history and how the validator affects the network's decentralisation.
This guide explains each factor, the trade-offs, and what to check on Solana, Ethereum, Tron and BNB Chain, with a checklist at the end. New to staking? Read what is crypto staking first. This is general information, not financial advice.
What does a staking validator do?
Validators keep a proof-of-stake blockchain running:
- They propose new blocks when it's their turn.
- They check and vote on blocks proposed by others.
- They stay online and up to date with the network.
The more stake delegated to a validator, the more often it's selected, and the more rewards it earns. When you delegate, you add to its stake and earn a share. With native, non-custodial staking, the validator can't spend your coins; it only receives your voting weight.
Commission: how much does the validator keep?
Commission is the percentage of rewards the validator keeps. If the network pays 7% and the validator charges 10%, you get about 6.3%.
What to look for:
- A reasonable, stable rate. Commission is how validators pay for servers and staff. Very high commission eats your rewards.
- Beware 0% with no history. Some validators start at 0% to attract stake, then raise it. Check whether the commission has changed recently.
- Check how changes are announced. Reputable validators publish changes in advance.
Lower commission is good, but only if the validator performs well. A 0% validator that's often offline can pay you less than a 7% validator that never misses a block. We show the maths in staking APY vs APR explained.
Uptime and performance: why do they matter?
A validator only earns when it's online and doing its job. Missed blocks or missed votes mean missed rewards for everyone delegated to it.
- Uptime: the share of time it's online and participating. Look for consistently high figures over months, not days.
- Skip rate or missed blocks: how often it fails to produce a block when chosen (especially relevant on Solana).
- Version and maintenance: well-run validators update software promptly after network upgrades.
Public block explorers and validator dashboards for each network publish this data.
Slashing: can a validator lose your coins?
On some networks, validators that break the rules are slashed: part of their stake (and in some cases delegated stake) is destroyed. Common causes are double-signing (signing two conflicting blocks) and, on some networks, long downtime.
| Network | Slashing affects delegators? |
|---|---|
| Ethereum | Yes, for the validators your stake backs |
| BNB Chain | Yes, delegated stake can be reduced |
| Solana | Slashing is part of the design, but automatic slashing hasn't been a normal part of delegating |
| Tron | Voters aren't slashed |
What to check: has the validator ever been slashed or jailed? A clean record over a long period is a good sign. More on this risk in is crypto staking safe?
Decentralisation: why pick a smaller validator?
If a handful of validators control most of a network's stake, that network is easier to censor or attack. Delegating to a well-run validator outside the very largest few helps keep the network healthy, which protects the value of the coin you hold.
You don't have to pick a tiny unknown validator. Just avoid automatically choosing the one at the top of the list. A good balance is a mid-sized validator with a strong track record.
Trust and transparency
Prefer validators that:
- Have a public identity, website and contact channel
- Publish their commission policy and infrastructure details
- Have operated for a long time across network upgrades
- Engage with the network's community
Anonymous validators aren't necessarily bad, but they're harder to judge.
How to choose a validator on each network
Solana: you pick a validator for each stake account. Compare commission (and any MEV sharing), skip rate, uptime and stake size. You can split SOL across several stake accounts and validators. Guide: how to stake Solana.
Ethereum: most people don't choose individual validators because they stake through a pool, and the pool operator runs or selects them. Here, judge the pool or provider: its track record, fees, and how many operators it uses. Guide: how to stake ETH without 32 ETH.
Tron: you vote for Super Representatives (SRs). Compare their reward-sharing ratio, reliability, and whether they're in the top 27 active SRs. Guide: how to stake TRX.
BNB Chain: delegate to validators in the active set. Check commission, uptime and any jailing history. You can redelegate if performance drops. Guide: how to stake BNB.
Should you split your stake across validators?
For larger amounts, yes. Splitting stake:
- Limits the damage if one validator is slashed or goes offline
- Supports decentralisation
- Lets you compare validators' real performance over time
For small amounts, one well-chosen validator is fine, especially if network fees make extra transactions costly.
A validator checklist
- Commission is reasonable and hasn't jumped recently
- Uptime is consistently high over months
- No slashing or jailing history
- Not one of the very largest validators by stake
- Public identity and long track record
- I know the unstaking period if I need to switch (unstaking period explained)
- I'm delegating inside my wallet, not on a site someone sent me
How to choose a validator in Virtex Wallet
In Virtex Wallet, when you tap Stake in non-custodial mode, you can pick a validator from the list or use the recommended option. The app shows the commission, the estimated rate and the unstaking time before you confirm. Your delegation is on-chain, so you can verify it on the network's block explorer.
In custodial mode, Virtex selects validators and manages staking for you. (Custodial mode isn't available in the EEA, the UK or the USA.)
Common questions
What is a good validator commission?
There's no single right number. A stable, moderate commission from a reliable validator usually beats a very low commission from an unreliable one. Watch for sudden increases.
Can a validator steal my staked crypto?
With native delegation, no. The validator has no authority to move your coins. The risks are lower rewards and, on some networks, slashing.
What happens if my validator goes offline?
You earn fewer or no rewards while it's offline. On some networks, long downtime can also lead to penalties. You can move your stake to another validator.
How often should I check my validator?
A quick check every month or two is enough for most people: commission, uptime and any announcements.
Can I change validators?
Yes. On most networks you unstake and restake, which may mean waiting out the unstaking period. BNB Chain allows redelegation, and on Tron you can change your votes.
Choose your validator with the numbers in front of you: download Virtex Wallet on Google Play. This article is general information, not financial advice.
