How to Become a Validator

Category: tutorials · Updated: July 30, 2026 · Tags: validator, node, staking, tutorial

Run Your Own Validator Node

Becoming a validator lets you earn block rewards while helping secure the network.

Prerequisites

Minimum 1,000,000 XOM to stake
Participation score of 50+
Tier 3 KYC verification (the highest identity-verification level for individuals — Tier 4 is business-only and isn't required)
Dedicated server (not home computer)
Technical knowledge of Linux/networking

Step 1: Server Setup

Rent a VPS or dedicated server with:

8+ CPU cores
32+ GB RAM
1TB+ SSD storage
100+ Mbps bandwidth
Static IP address

Step 2: Install Software

Follow the validator setup guide to install:

avalanchego
OmniBazaar validator software
YugabyteDB
IPFS

Step 3: Stake Your XOM

In your wallet, go to Staking > Become Validator and stake at least 1M XOM.

Step 4: Register on Blockchain

Run the validator registration command with your server details.

Step 5: Sync and Validate

Your node will sync the blockchain (may take hours). Once synced, you'll start validating!

Step 6: Monitor Performance

Check your validator dashboard daily to ensure everything runs smoothly.

Earnings

You'll earn staking rewards from network emissions, plus a share of protocol fees distributed through the shared fee vault. Validators never collect transaction or service fees directly.