Validators Overview

Validators play a pivotal role in the PRYSM ecosystem, serving as essential components of the network infrastructure and contributing to its security, integrity, and decentralization. Understanding the role and function of validators is crucial for grasping how PRYSM operates and evolves.

What is a Validator?

A validator is a network participant responsible for proposing and validating new blocks of transactions on the PRYSM blockchain. Validators are chosen through a selection process based on their stake size and reputation within the network. Once selected, validators perform various tasks, including verifying transactions, participating in consensus protocols, and maintaining network stability.

How Validators Support and Run PRYSM

Validators play a crucial role in supporting and running the PRYSM blockchain by performing the following functions:

• Block Proposal: Validators are responsible for proposing new blocks of transactions to be added to the blockchain. This involves selecting and arranging transactions into a block and broadcasting it to the network for validation.

• Transaction Validation: Validators verify the validity of transactions included in proposed blocks, ensuring that they meet the consensus rules and adhere to the network's protocol. Valid transactions are then confirmed and added to the blockchain.

• Consensus Participation: Validators actively participate in the consensus mechanism of the PRYSM blockchain, collaborating with other validators to reach agreement on the state of the network and validate new blocks. This consensus process ensures the integrity and immutability of the blockchain.

• Network Security: Validators contribute to the security of the PRYSM blockchain by continuously monitoring and protecting against potential threats, including malicious actors, double-spending attacks, and network disruptions. Their active involvement helps maintain the trustworthiness and reliability of the network.

Validator Setup and Expansion

At the genesis of the PRYSM blockchain, the network will start with a set number of validators, typically around 50. However, the validator set can be adjusted and expanded over time through governance proposals. Community members have the opportunity to propose changes to the validator set size, allowing for the network's scalability and resilience to be enhanced in response to changing demands and requirements.