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Becoming a Validator

This guide explains how to become a validator on Helios, either using Heliades (CLI), the EVM-based staking contract, or the Helios Manager UI. Validators play a crucial role in securing the network, processing transactions, and participating in governance.

Requirements for Becoming a Validator​

Before setting up a validator, ensure that you meet the technical and financial requirements.

Minimum Technical Requirements​

Staking Requirement​

  • Validators must stake whitelisted assets to participate in consensus.
  • Validators can lock HELIOS tokens to offer delegation APY boosts.
  • The more HELIOS tokens a validator locks, the higher the APY boost they provide to delegators.

1. Creating a Validator Using Heliades (CLI)​

To create a validator via CLI, follow these steps:

Step 1: Generate a Validator Key​

heliades keys add my-validator

This will create a new key and display the address and mnemonic seed phrase.

Step 2: Create the Validator​

heliades tx staking create-validator \
  --amount 1000000uatom \
  --pubkey $(heliades tendermint show-validator) \
  --moniker "MyValidator" \
  --chain-id 4242 \
  --commission-rate "0.10" \
  --commission-max-rate "0.20" \
  --commission-max-change-rate "0.01" \
  --min-self-delegation "1" \
  --from my-validator

Key Parameters Explained:

  • --amount → The amount of staked tokens.
  • --commission-rate → The commission fee percentage (default is 10%).
  • --min-self-delegation → Minimum self-stake required.

Step 3: Confirm Your Validator Status​

heliades query staking validator $(heliades keys show my-validator --bech val -a)

2. Creating a Validator Using EVM Smart Contract​

Helios provides an EVM-based validator creation system through a precompiled contract at:

0x0000000000000000000000000000000000000806

This contract allows on-chain validator registration using EVM-compatible wallets (e.g., MetaMask, Hardhat, Foundry, Web3.js, ethers.js).

Example: Registering a Validator via Web3.js​

const ethers = require("ethers");

const provider = new ethers.JsonRpcProvider("https://dataseed.helioschain.network");
const wallet = new ethers.Wallet(PRIVATE_KEY, provider);
const stakingContract = new ethers.Contract(
    "0x0000000000000000000000000000000000000806",
    ["function createValidator(address _validator, uint256 _amount) public"],
    wallet
);

async function createValidator() {
    const tx = await stakingContract.createValidator(wallet.address, ethers.parseEther("100"));
    await tx.wait();
    console.log("Validator successfully created!");
}

createValidator();

EVM Validator Operations​

ActionFunction Name
Create ValidatorcreateValidator(address, uint256)
Edit Validator DetailseditValidator(address, string, uint256, uint256)
Delegate Tokensdelegate(address, uint256)
Unstake Tokensundelegate(address, uint256)

For more details, check the Helios Network GitHub repository with contract interaction scripts.

3. Managing Your Validator with Helios Manager UI​

Helios provides a user-friendly web interface for node management called Helios Manager UI.

Features:​

  • Create & Manage Validators via an intuitive dashboard.
  • One-click deployment via Docker for simplified validator setup.
  • Live Monitoring of validator performance, earnings, and uptime.
  • Governance Participation directly from the UI.
  • Automatic Updates & Maintenance to keep nodes running smoothly.

How to Use:​

  1. Access Helios Manager UI:
    Visit locally your node manager and navigate to the Validator Management section.
  2. Create or Edit a Validator:
    • Fill in details such as moniker name, commission rate, and self-stake.
    • Click Submit to create or update your validator.
  3. Monitor Performance:
    • Track delegations, APY boost, and node health in real time.

4. Helios Boost for Validators​

The Delegation Boost feature allows validators to lock HELIOS tokens and potentially increase APY for their delegators. For a complete explanation of how it works, please visit the dedicated page:
Boosted Delegation and Rewards

5. Important Considerations​

  • Reputation System: Validators earn or lose reputation based on uptime, governance participation, and security behavior.
  • Slashing Risks: If a validator goes offline or commits fraud, staked assets are slashed.
  • Governance Voting Power: Higher reputation validators gain more influence in governance.