become-a-validator.md

Become a Validator

This section explains how to become a Validator.

1. Create a Stash account by following the instructions.
2. Create a Controller account by following the instructions.
3. Testnets Only! - **** Fund Stash and Controller accounts with native tokens by using Cere FriendBot (you can take account public keys in the Account tab in the Cere Explorer by clicking on the round icon to the left of the account name).
4. Wait until your local Node is synced. Syncing should happen automatically after X minutes.
5. Add a Validator via Cere Explorer (check here how to connect to your node).
   1. Generate Session Key.

      1. Go to Developer → RPC calls.

      2. Select author → rotateKeys() function.

      3. Click Submit RPC call.

      4. Store your session key for the later steps (double click on the response below and copy to clipboard). session key example can be found below:

          0x11b76096f732a6d22bcfc0c1b5acfe871d8430e2d44a60765d6bb4f4db989ed354e2a0cc60489c4e5c850a2d83e778f9968e3cd3acba86f24f9ea522c95755101ec09626e5ec94c5a10ca83b4994fe580a6ab9f6f720f97858b905d84d794f072603b677467097c1209ebab19a14d285e6174004e4f1459c4f823bb5c8a05c0c
         

   2. Setup Validator
      1. Go to Network → Staking
      2. Select Account Actions tab and click + Validator
      3. Bond your Tokens. Bond a maximum of 95% of your tokens, or an amount that makes sense to leave enough for several transactions so that you are still able to pay for transaction fees.
      4. Click next.
      5. Enter generated Session Key and you will then have your account entered into the validators account list.
      6. Set reward commission percentage equal to 5
      7. Press Bond & Validate
      8. Press Sign and Submit
6. IGNORE if you completed #5, BETA! - Add a Validator by using an automated script.

   1. Replace the .env.* config with appropriate values.

      Parameter	Description
      PROVIDER	Websocket link for the local node
      STASH_ACCOUNT_MNEMONIC	Stash account mnemonic
      CONTROLLER_ACCOUNT_MNEMONIC	Controller account mnemonic
      BOND_VALUE	Staking value (Should be multiplied to 10^15)
      REWARD_COMMISSION	Percentage reward (0-100) that should be applied for the validator

   2. Run the script.

           docker-compose --env-file $CONFIG_FILE up add_validator
      

   3. Once it is finished, you should see the Validator added successfully! message.

   4. Clean up the values in your .env config file

Congratulations! Now your Validator is in a waiting state.