How to Become a Blockchain Validator: Step-by-Step Guide for 2025

Want to earn passive income by securing a blockchain network? Becoming a validator isn’t just about locking up crypto-it’s running a critical piece of infrastructure that keeps decentralized networks alive. Unlike mining in Bitcoin’s Proof of Work system, validators in Proof of Stake (PoS) blockchains like Polkadot, Solana, TON, and Polygon earn rewards by verifying transactions and proposing new blocks. But it’s not as simple as buying tokens and waiting. If you skip the technical prep, you could lose your stake through slashing penalties. Here’s exactly how to become a validator in 2025-no fluff, no hype.

Understand What a Validator Actually Does

A validator is a node operator who runs specialized software to confirm transactions and help create new blocks on a PoS blockchain. They don’t just hold tokens-they actively participate in consensus. When a validator performs correctly, they earn newly minted tokens and transaction fees. When they go offline, sign bad blocks, or act maliciously, part or all of their staked tokens get slashed. This isn’t theoretical. In 2024, over $180 million in staked assets were slashed across major networks due to misconfigurations and downtime.

Validators are selected based on how many tokens they stake and their reputation. Networks like Polkadot use a nomination system where others can delegate tokens to you. Solana picks validators based on stake weight and uptime. TON requires high-performance hardware and a minimum stake of 300,000 TON. You’re not just a participant-you’re a guardian of the network.

Choose Your Blockchain Network

Not all validators are the same. Each network has different rules, hardware needs, and reward structures. Start by picking one that matches your resources and goals.

• Polkadot: Uses DOT tokens. Requires technical skill to run a node. Good for beginners because you can start on Kusama (its testnet) with lower stakes to learn before moving to mainnet.
• Solana: Uses SOL. Hardware-heavy. Needs fast CPU, high RAM, and SSD storage. Rewards are high, but competition is fierce. You’ll need to monitor your node constantly.
• TON (The Open Network): Uses TON tokens. Minimum stake: 300,000 TON. Requires enterprise-grade servers and 99.9% uptime. Only for those with serious infrastructure. But TON offers nominator pools if you don’t have that much capital.
• Polygon: Uses POL tokens. Requires running both a sentry node and a validator node. Limited slots available. You must apply through the Polygon Validators Hub.

Most people start with Polkadot or Solana because they have better documentation and lower entry barriers than TON. If you’re unsure, try Kusama first-it’s Polkadot’s live testnet with real economic consequences but smaller stakes.

Meet the Technical Requirements

Running a validator isn’t like running a wallet. You’re operating a server that must be online 24/7, updated regularly, and secured against attacks.

For Polkadot and Kusama:

• Minimum: 8-core CPU, 16GB RAM, 2TB NVMe SSD
• OS: Ubuntu 22.04 LTS or higher
• Network: Static IP, port 30333 open for peer connections
• Software: Use Polkadot-JS or the official `polkadot` binary

For Solana:

• Minimum: 12-core CPU, 128GB RAM, 2TB NVMe SSD (preferably 4TB)
• OS: Ubuntu 22.04 LTS
• Network: 1Gbps+ dedicated connection
• Software: Solana Validator CLI with optimized configuration files

For TON:

• Minimum: 16-core CPU, 256GB RAM, 4TB NVMe SSD
• OS: Ubuntu 22.04 LTS
• Network: 10Gbps+ connection, BGP anycast recommended
• Software: MyTonCtrl (command-line tool) or TON Dashboard

You’ll also need to generate and securely store validator keys. Never store them on your main computer. Use a hardware wallet or air-gapped machine. If your keys are stolen, someone else can run your validator and get slashed instead of you-leaving you liable for the penalty.

Stake the Required Tokens

Staking is the financial barrier to entry. You lock up tokens to prove you have skin in the game. But it’s not just about buying tokens-you need to understand how delegation works.

• Polkadot/Kusama: You can stake your own DOT/KSM or get nominated by others. To be elected, you typically need at least 50,000 KSM on Kusama. On Polkadot, top validators often have 100,000+ DOT.
• Solana: No fixed minimum, but you need enough SOL to compete. Most successful validators stake 1,000+ SOL. The more you stake, the more often you’re chosen to produce blocks.
• TON: 300,000 TON is non-negotiable. That’s around $150,000 USD as of late 2025. But you can join a nominator pool with as little as 1,000 TON and earn a share of rewards.
• Polygon: Minimum varies by slot availability. Typically 10,000+ POL. You must apply and be approved.

Remember: staked tokens are locked. You can’t sell them while validating. And if your node misbehaves, you could lose a portion of your stake. That’s slashing. It’s real. In 2024, 12% of new Solana validators lost at least 5% of their stake in their first month due to misconfigured firewalls or outdated software.

Set Up and Secure Your Node

Once you have the hardware and tokens, it’s time to deploy.

• Use a VPS provider like Hetzner, AWS, or DigitalOcean. Avoid shared hosting-your node needs dedicated resources.
• Enable automatic security updates. Use fail2ban and UFW to block unauthorized access.
• Set up monitoring: Prometheus + Grafana for metrics, UptimeRobot to alert you if your node goes offline.
• Back up your keys. Store them on encrypted USB drives in two separate physical locations.
• Use a sentry node architecture (especially for Solana and Polygon). This means your validator node never connects directly to the public internet. Instead, it talks to sentry nodes that handle external traffic. It’s a major security upgrade.

Many beginners skip this step and get hacked. In 2023, a Polkadot validator lost 2,300 DOT because they left their SSH port open and used a weak password. Don’t be that person.

Start Small, Learn Fast

Don’t go all-in on Polkadot or Solana on day one. Use Kusama first. It’s identical to Polkadot but with cheaper stakes and faster upgrades. You’ll learn how to update your node, handle crashes, and respond to slashing events-all with less money at risk.

Join validator communities. The Polkadot Discord, Solana validators Telegram group, and TON’s official forums are full of people who’ve been through the same mistakes. Ask questions. Watch how others troubleshoot. Read the official docs-don’t rely on YouTube tutorials that are outdated.

Earnings and Risks: What You Can Expect

Rewards vary by network, stake size, and uptime. Here’s a realistic estimate for 2025:

Estimated Annual Validator Rewards (2025)

Network	Stake Size	APR	Estimated Annual Reward
Polkadot	10,000 DOT	12-15%	1,200-1,500 DOT
Solana	1,000 SOL	7-9%	70-90 SOL
TON	300,000 TON	5-8%	15,000-24,000 TON
Polygon	10,000 POL	10-14%	1,000-1,400 POL

These are gross rewards. You’ll need to subtract electricity, VPS costs, and potential slashing losses. A good rule of thumb: expect 20-30% net return after expenses and risk.

Slashing is the biggest risk. It happens for:

• Going offline for more than 15 minutes (Solana)
• Signing conflicting blocks (all networks)
• Running outdated software
• Hardware failure

One 30-minute outage can cost you 0.5-2% of your stake. That’s why reliability matters more than raw power.

Keep Learning and Adapt

Blockchain networks upgrade constantly. Polkadot has forked 17 times since 2023. Solana updates its validator software every 2-4 weeks. TON introduced a new consensus algorithm in Q1 2025. If you don’t keep up, your node gets left behind-or slashed.

Subscribe to official network blogs. Set up alerts for GitHub releases. Join weekly validator syncs. Treat this like running a small business-not a side hustle.

Professional validator services now dominate the top slots on Solana and Polkadot. They have teams, automated monitoring, and backup servers. But there’s still room for individuals who are disciplined, technical, and patient.

What If You Don’t Have the Capital?

You don’t need 300,000 TON to be part of the validator ecosystem. Use nominator pools:

• On TON: Join a pool like TON Staking or TON Pool. Stake 1,000 TON, earn a share of the pool’s rewards.
• On Polkadot: Nominate a trusted validator with your DOT. You earn rewards without running a node.
• On Solana: Use liquid staking protocols like Marinade Finance to stake SOL and earn rewards without managing a validator.

These options let you participate with $500 instead of $150,000. You give up some control-but you also avoid the technical risk.

Next Steps: What to Do Right Now

If you’re serious:

1. Choose one network-start with Kusama or Polkadot.
2. Read their official validator guide. Don’t skip it.
3. Buy the minimum tokens needed for that network.
4. Set up a test server. Practice installing the node software.
5. Join their validator community and ask questions.
6. Wait for a stable moment to launch-avoid doing it during a major network upgrade.

There’s no shortcut. But if you do it right, you’re not just earning crypto-you’re helping build the backbone of the next internet.