It is essential for users to stake their PoS tokens with dependable and highly performant validators, which is why we have rolled out our Staking Rewards Verified Staking Provider (VSP) Program in June 2022. Through this program, we thoroughly scrutinize potential validators, evaluating factors such as security measures, their on-chain reliability, their provider setup, and value-added services for the whole ecosystem.
Our VSP documentation contains further details about the program, Staking Providers that are part of the VSP will have a blue checkmark displayed next to their names here.
When choosing a validator to delegate to, there are numerous factors to take into account:
Commission Rates: When staking your tokens with a validator, the commission rate represents the percentage of your rewards that the validator will retain for themselves. A high commission rate can result in lower returns for you, while a low commission rate may lead to financial difficulties for the validator in the future. Validators on the Mina blockchain, known as “block producers”, charge a minimum of 5% fee as required by the protocol. It’s important to note that validators may change their commission rates at any time.
Number of Users: A large number of delegators may signal a positive reputation for a validator.
Validators Self-Staked balance: Validators with significant amounts of self-staked tokens may have a greater motivation to maintain their operations, as they have more at risk than those with lower self-staked balances. However, it’s important to keep in mind that this metric has some limitations, as validators can choose to delegate their own tokens to another validator, which is done to enhance the security of their funds.
Current Status: You can see whether the validator is currently active or not by visiting the Leaderboard, clicking into a validator’s info page, pressing “Account” and then “Staking”. An active validator has an “Active” sign under the “Delegation Status”.
Network Share: When selecting a validator to delegate to, it’s generally advisable to avoid choosing one with the highest or lowest network share {the name may vary}. Delegating to the most popular validators can increase the risk of centralization within the network as they will have more influence in governance and a greater share of blocks. On the other hand, choosing a validator with a low network share may be less profitable and increases the risk of them ceasing their operations. Finding the balance and choosing a validator with a moderate network share could be the best approach to keep the balance in decentralization and profitability.
Performance: To ensure the best results, it’s important to select a validator with high uptime performance. Our suggestion is to only choose validators with an uptime performance of 99% or higher.
Value Add to the Ecosystem: Another way to assess the long-term vision of validators is to check if they offer additional services to their delegators, such as tax reporting tools, explorers, etc. This can be a useful filter when comparing different providers.