# Approved Validators Congratulations on passing Validator Board review! You are now an approved Vault validator and eligible to participate in The Vault’s delegation programs. This guide explains what access you now have, how stake is allocated, and what you should expect next. *** ### πŸ“ What Approval Unlocks Approval does not mean you need to take immediate action. It means you are now eligible to receive delegation through gated programs and can fully participate across the Vault ecosystem. You now have access to: β€’ Direct Stake Leader Bucket\ β€’ Elite Performance Bucket\ β€’ Gauges participation (already permissionless)\ β€’ Directed staking via vSOL and [Kamino Multiply](https://docs.thevault.finance/kamino-multiply/kamino-multiply-strategy) Stake allocation is handled automatically by the stakebot and updates every three hours. *** ### 🧩 Permissionless Paths (Already Available) These paths do not require board approval and may already be in use by your validator. #### πŸ” Directed Stake via vSOL and Kamino Any vSOL directed to your validator β€” from any wallet β€” counts toward your direct stake total. Multiple wallets and community contributors are supported. If your total directed stake places you in the top 100 validators, you become eligible for bonus delegation. #### πŸ—³οΈ Gauges Ten percent of undirected stake is allocated weekly via the gauge system. You may:\ β€’ Lock $V to vote directly\ β€’ Incentivize votes using USDC via [Votex](https://docs.thevault.finance/gauges/votex-quick-start-guide) Gauge participation is permissionless, provided minimum performance requirements are met. *** ### πŸ›οΈ Board Gated Delegation Buckets Once approved, you become eligible for the following programs. #### πŸ₯‡ Direct Stake Leader Bucket (40%) The top 100 validators by total directed stake through The Vault share 40% of undirected stake equally. **Illustrative example:**\ If the pool manages 1,000,000 SOL of undirected stake:\ β€’ 400,000 SOL is allocated to this bucket\ β€’ Each eligible validator receives \~4,000 SOL Ranking within the top 100 does not change allocation size. If you are already directing sufficient stake, there is nothing you need to do β€” the stakebot will include you automatically once enabled.\ \ To view the top 100 direct stake leaders you can see the [top 50 in this Discord channel](https://discord.com/channels/1174792162131587113/1450094350141755464). The [bottom 50 can be seen in this Discord channel](https://discord.com/channels/1174792162131587113/1450094468463198251). To rank you just need to have more stake than the floor which is 100th place in the bottom 50. Results are updated every day at midnight UTC. *** #### ⭐ Elite Performance Bucket (50%) The top 50 validators with 0/0 commission, ranked by vote credits over a rolling 7-day evaluation window, share 50% of undirected stake. Illustrative example:\ β€’ 500,000 SOL shared among 50 validators\ β€’ \~10,000 SOL per validator This bucket rewards sustained performance, reliability, and long term alignment. To view the top 50 validators based on vote credits and 0/0 commision you can [follow the Discord channel here](https://discord.com/channels/1174792162131587113/1450102368569131040). Results are updated every day at midnight UTC. *** ### πŸ’³ Stake as a Service Fees Delegation received from the Direct Stake Leader Bucket and the Elite Performance Bucket is subject to Stake-as-a-Service fees. Key points:\ β€’ Fee rate is 25% of earnings only\ β€’ Applies only to stake received from the Vault, not your own stake\ β€’ Your self directed stake, vSOL, Kamino positions, and gauge stake are not charged\ β€’ Invoices are issued automatically and visible in the [validator dashboard (click on your validator name)](https://thevault.finance/validators) **Failure to pay invoices may result in removal from delegated buckets.** *** ### πŸ›‘οΈ Ongoing Requirements To remain eligible for board gated delegation, validators must maintain: β€’ Good actor status (no harmful MEV or sandwiching)\ β€’ Base commission under 5%\ β€’ MEV commission under 10%\ β€’ Uptime of at least 97.5% Eligibility is evaluated continuously. *** ### ⏱️ What Happens Next If you are already directing stake or meet bucket thresholds:\ β€’ The stakebot will pick you up automatically\ β€’ Updates occur every three hours\ β€’ Large stake movements may take several cycles If you do not see stake immediately, no action is required. *** ### 🧭 Recommended Next Steps β€’ Verify your directed stake totals\ β€’ Review your validator dashboard\ β€’ Communicate your Vault partnership to your community\ β€’ Encourage vSOL delegation\ β€’ Consider gauges if strategically beneficial *** ### πŸ’¬ Need Help? If anything is unclear or you want to confirm your status:\ β€’ Visit The Vault [Discord](https://discord.gg/aQC53CGgQY)\ β€’ Open a support ticket\ β€’ The team is happy to help Welcome to The Vault! We’re glad to have you building with us. --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter: ``` GET https://docs.thevault.finance/delegation/approved-validators.md?ask= ``` The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.