The Importance of Validator Nodes in Proof of Stake (PoS) Blockchains

April 29, 2023
the importance of validator nodes in proof of stake (pos) blockchains

Proof of Stake (PoS) blockchains are gaining more traction daily in the blockchain space. This technology has the potential to revolutionize the way transactions are carried out on a blockchain, as it does not use as much energy and computational power as Proof of Work technologies.

The use of validator nodes in Proof of Stake (PoS) blockchains is essential to integrate and secure the network from malicious attackers. Validators are responsible for verifying transactions and blocks on the blockchain, as well as providing an additional layer of security.

The role of validator nodes is even more important for web3 infrastructure companies that use PoS blockchains, as they need to ensure that their networks remain secure. Let’s scroll down and discover “why validator nodes are essential in Proof of Stake (PoS) blockchains.”

Validators: Proof of Stake (PoS) in Blockchain

Validators are a key component in Proof of Stake and have the main goal of validating transactions through blocks. In the meantime, users also get rewarded for adding transactions to chains. Validators play a major role in terms of the security, efficiency, and decentralization of PoS blockchains.

Validator nodes help to maintain the efficiency of the network. When validators add new transactions to the blockchain and validate transactions, they are rewarded with transaction fees and newly mined cryptocurrency. The main purpose of blockchains is to decentralize the network.

In order to join a PoS system as a validator, you need to have a certain amount of cryptocurrency in your wallet and invest it as a security. This stake works as proof that validators will do their best to keep the network functioning optimally.

Benefits of PoS in Blockchains Technology

The core use of the Proof of Stake (PoS) consensus algorithm is in blockchain technology which provides several benefits compared to other consensus algorithms. When it comes to implementing blockchains, Proof of Stake (PoS is more secure and efficient than Proof of Work (PoW). Here are four benefits of having PoS in blockchain technology:

1. Since validators don’t need to solve complex problems, Proof of Stake consumes less energy than PoW. Validators make the process of validating transactions faster and more energy-efficient; basically, it depends upon the number of crypto stakes.

2. PoS encourages decentralization since the number of validators in a PoS blockchain is proportional to the number of nodes present in the network. This creates a more distributed network that is less liable to attacks and eliminates the risk of a single point of failure.

3. As you know, validators are rewarded with transaction fees, so the transaction fees of PoS transactions are lower than those of PoW transactions.

4. Proof of Stake (PoS) is much simpler to get involved in than Proof of Work (PoW), as no special hardware or components are required. All it requires are digital assets to become a part of the PoS network, and you are ready to go.

Role of Validator Nodes to Secure a Network

The validators’ nodes play a crucial role when it comes to securing a blockchain network. To secure a network, developers can leverage the different types of blockchain nodes. For example:

1. Full-Time Nodes

The work of a full-time node is to keep a record of the previous blockchain’s transaction history. This is divided into two categories: Pruned Full Node and Archival Full Node.

2. Light Nodes

The disadvantage of a light node is that it isn’t responsible for processing and validating transactions. They are beneficial for end users who are curious about using blockchain platforms.

The thing we love about light nodes is that anyone can set up light nodes, even if you are an individual and don’t have any knowledge on how to launch a light node. The great use of light nodes in building applications and decentralized.

3. Special Nodes

In a blockchain network, special nodes are supercomputers that are responsible for storing entire copies of blockchains, blockchain data, and transactions on other computers in the same network.

Challenges During Deploying a Node Yourself

You can deploy a node yourself! But in our opinion, we recommend that you contact a Web3 infrastructure company. There are many challenges that come your way when you try to deploy a node.

1. Limited bandwidth is the first challenge because many internet providers charge hidden fees according to bandwidth. The main problem is that this fee is not included in their plans. To deploy a node, you need a stable connection because if a blockchain network cuts in, you need to start everything from scratch.

2. The deployment of a site on your company’s network may result in an interruption or reduction in the speed of regular network traffic.

3. Third parties or hackers may attempt to hack your node if they notice it is up and running as a new full node.

In conclusion, if you want to host or launch your own node, you need to invest a lot in equipment and follow the requirements of nodes. And before deploying, confirm that your network connection has the capacity to run your nodes without interruption.

Final Note

As PoS blockchains gain mainstream adoption, validator nodes play a major role in their security and stability. By fulfilling their role in the consensus mechanism, validator nodes help to maintain the integrity of the blockchain and earn rewards in the process. Anyone who wishes to participate in the exciting field of proof-of-stake blockchains should understand the importance of validator nodes.