🚀Delegation Quick Start Guide
Becoming a Vault Validator
The Vault is a decentralized stake allocation engine built on Solana. It rewards high performing validators who align with network health, fairness, and ecosystem participation.
This guide explains how validators qualify for approval, earn stake through The Vault, and maximize rewards using its layered delegation model.
⚠️ Disclaimer
This document is for informational purposes only. All examples are illustrative and subject to change.
Use leverage responsibly, perform your own research, and note that nothing in this document constitutes financial advice.
📍 Overview
How Stake Flows Through The Vault
Once a validator joins The Vault ecosystem, stake flows through multiple transparent layers that reward alignment, performance, and governance participation.
Some paths are permissionless, while others unlock only after Validator Board approval.
✅ Application Process
Become an Approved Validator
Before receiving delegation from The Vault, validators must be approved by the Validator Board.
The Validator Board is comprised of community promoted validators who review all applications and vote on various issues.
📋 How to Apply
Join The Vault Discord
Navigate to the support channel
Submit your validator name, vote account, and a short background
The Validator Board reviews and votes on your application
👉 Visit The Vault Discord to apply
🧩 Pre Board Approval
What You Can Do Before Approval
Validators do not need board approval to participate in every part of The Vault.
Before approval, validators may:
Receive directed stake to their validator by using vSOL, and Kamino Multiply
Participate in gauge voting
Receive gauge directed stake
Use V directly or incentivize votes via Votex
All validators participating in permissionless paths must still adhere to minimum standards described below.
🗳️ Gauges
Influence Stake with V or USDC
Ten percent of The Vault undirected stake is allocated each voting epoch through the gauge system.
Gauge participation is permissionless. Validators may influence gauge outcomes directly with V tokens or indirectly by incentivizing votes with USDC.
🟠 Option A
Vote Directly with V
Lock V tokens to gain voting power.
Each voting epoch distributes ten percent of undirected stake based on relative vote share.
Illustrative examples
One validator receiving all votes receives the full ten percent allocation.
Two validators splitting votes evenly each receive fifty percent of votes.
💵 Option B
Incentivize Votes with USDC via Votex
Validators who prefer not to lock V may use Votex to incentivize existing V holders.
By depositing USDC rewards, participants direct their gauge votes toward your validator.
🏛️ Post Board Approval
Once a validator passes Validator Board review, they unlock eligibility for additional delegation buckets.
These include the Direct Stake Leader Bucket and the Elite Performance Bucket.
🥇 Direct Stake Leader Bucket
The Direct Stake Leader Bucket includes the top one hundred validators with the most direct stake through The Vault. These validators share forty percent of The Vault undirected stake equally.
Illustrative Example
If The Vault manages one million SOL of undirected stake.
Forty percent equals four hundred thousand SOL.
This amount is divided equally among one hundred validators.
Each validator receives approximately four thousand SOL.
Ranking within the top one hundred does not affect allocation size.
⭐ Elite Performance Bucket
The Elite Performance Bucket includes the top fifty validators with 0/0 commissions.
Ranking for the top fifty is determined using vote credits.
Illustrative Example
If The Vault manages one million SOL of undirected stake.
Fifty percent equals five hundred thousand SOL.
This amount is shared among fifty elite validators.
Each validator receives approximately ten thousand SOL.
🛡️ Staying Approved
Once approved, validators must continue meeting baseline requirements to remain eligible for board gated delegation.
Ongoing Requirements
Good actor: No sandwiching or harmful MEV behavior
Commission: Less than 5 percent
MEV commission: Less than 10 percent
Uptime: At least 97.5 percent
Failure to meet these benchmarks may result in temporary removal and possible re evaluation by the Validator Board.
📜 Legal and Risk Disclaimers
The Vault does not guarantee returns, rankings, or future stake allocations.
Figures and percentages may change due to governance decisions, network conditions, or strategy updates.
Leverage products such as Kamino Multiply carry liquidation risk.
Always perform your own due diligence. This is not investment advice.
💬 Final Call to Action
Ready to participate?
Visit The Vault Discord
Join the support channel
Apply to become an approved validator and begin participating in The Vault ecosystem
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