🏛️ Stake pool delegation overview
How validators earn stake from The Vault.
The Vault is a decentralized stake-allocation engine built on Solana. It rewards high-performing validators who align with network health, fairness, and governance participation. This document explains how validators can 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 (DYOR), and remember that none of this constitutes financial advice.
Overview: How stake flows through The Vault
Validators can earn stake from The Vault in three ways. Direct stake and gauges are open to any validator that meets the minimum requirements. The two delegation buckets, Direct Stake Leaders and Elite Performance, are open only to validators the Validator Board has approved (Figure 7.1).
Figure 7.1: How stake flows from The Vault to validators
Step 0: Become an approved validator
Before receiving stake from the Direct Stake Leaders and Elite Performance buckets, validators must apply for approval through Discord. Direct stake (Step 1) and gauges (Step 2) don't need approval.
Our decentralized Validator Board, made up of validators from inside The Vault's stake pool who currently serve as board members, reviews every application. Once the board approves you, you join the approved list and can take part in the Direct Stake Leaders bucket and the Elite Performance bucket (Step 3). There is no waitlist.
To apply, visit us on Discord and follow these steps.
Open a support ticket
Open a support ticket and choose Validator.
Fill out the application form
In your ticket, use the /apply command. You receive a custom link to the application form; fill it out.
Request the Validators role
In your ticket, send staff your validator name, pubkey, and details about your validator, and ask for the Validators role.
Wait for the board's vote
Wait for the Validator Board to review and vote on your application.
Staying approved
Once approved, validators remain on the list by meeting baseline requirements that ensure integrity and reliability.
| Requirement | Threshold | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Good actor | No sandwiching or harmful MEV behavior | Preserve fairness |
| Commission | ≤5% | Maintain competitiveness |
| MEV commission | ≤10% | Align incentives |
| Uptime | ≥97.5% | Ensure network reliability |
Failure to meet these benchmarks can lead to temporary removal and possible re-evaluation by the board.
Step 1: Direct stake using your own SOL
Any validator that meets the minimum requirements can earn direct stake by deploying its own SOL through The Vault, before or after approval (Figure 7.2).
Option A: Direct stake with vSOL
You can stake your own SOL through The Vault’s interface for vSOL and set your wallet to direct stake to your validator. See How to direct stake.
vSOL represents your staked position and accrues yield as normal.
- Stake SOL → receive vSOL → set your wallet to direct stake to your validator
- vSOL remains liquid and composable within the Solana ecosystem
Option B: Kamino Multiply
Validators seeking to increase exposure can use Kamino Multiply, a leverage product combined with The Vault’s vSOL.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Maximum leverage | Up to 7.5× base SOL position |
| Example* | 1 SOL → 7.5 SOL exposure (potentially 15 SOL after matched liquidity) |
| Monitoring | Required daily: check borrow rates and yield |
| Slippage | Review before entering or unwinding positions |
*Illustrative example only. Parameters and multipliers may change.
Use leverage responsibly. Leverage amplifies both potential gains and potential losses. Always monitor your health ratio to avoid liquidation.
Your direct stake and the Direct Stake Leaders bucket
Your direct stake also sets your rank for the Direct Stake Leaders bucket. Once you are approved, being in the top 100 by direct stake adds an equal share of 40% of undirected stake (Step 3).
Figure 7.2: Direct stake path
Step 2: Influence gauges with $V or USDC
The Vault’s governance system uses gauges to determine how 10% of undirected stake is allocated (Figure 7.3).
Validators can influence these gauges directly with $V or indirectly with USDC incentives.
Option A: Vote directly with $V
- Lock $V to gain voting power.
- Each gauge epoch (one week), 10% of undirected stake is distributed according to gauge votes.
Example (illustrative):
- 1 validator receives 100% of votes → that validator receives 10% of undirected stake
- 2 validators receive equal votes → each receives 5% of undirected stake
Option B: Incentivize votes with USDC (via Votex.so)
If you prefer not to lock $V, you can use Votex to incentivize $V holders to vote for your validator.
By depositing USDC rewards, other participants direct their $V gauge votes toward your validator.
Figure 7.3: Gauge voting flow
Step 3: Receive bucket stake as an approved validator
The Vault dynamically allocates all undirected stake according to transparent rules (Figure 7.4). The Direct Stake Leaders and Elite Performance buckets deliver stake only to validators approved by the Validator Board; gauges are open to any validator that meets the minimum requirements.
| Allocation bucket | Share of undirected stake | Criteria |
|---|---|---|
| Gauge voting | 10% | $V locked or incentivized votes |
| Direct Stake Leaders | 40% | Top 100 approved validators by direct stake via vSOL / Kamino |
| Elite Performance | 50% | Top 50 approved validators by vote credits (last 10 epochs) with 0/0 commission |
Direct Stake Leaders bucket (40%)
The top 100 approved validators with the most direct stake through The Vault (vSOL / Kamino), from their own and their community's wallets, share 40% of The Vault's undirected stake equally. All 100 share equally, regardless of their ranking within the top 100.
As an illustrative example, if The Vault manages 1,000,000 SOL of undirected stake, 400,000 SOL is divided equally among 100 validators, about 4,000 SOL each. For the details, see Direct Stake Leaders bucket.
Elite Performance bucket (50%)
To qualify for the Elite Performance bucket, an approved validator must run 0% base and 0% MEV commission and meet the delegation criteria in each of the last 10 epochs, and rank in the top 50 by total vote credits over those epochs. For the details, see Elite Performance bucket.
As an illustrative example, if The Vault manages 1,000,000 SOL undirected:
- 50% → 500,000 SOL shared among 50 validators
- Each receives ≈ 10,000 SOL additional stake
Figure 7.4: Delegation buckets breakdown
TL;DR: Maximizing stake from The Vault
This table sums up each stage and its reward potential.
| Stage | Action | Reward potential |
|---|---|---|
| Step 0 | Apply via Discord → get approved | Access to the Direct Stake Leaders and Elite Performance buckets |
| Step 1 | Direct stake SOL via vSOL / Kamino | Direct stake to your validator, and your rank for the Direct Stake Leaders bucket |
| Step 2 | Vote with $V or incentivize via USDC | Share 10% pool (Gauges) |
| Step 3 | As an approved validator, rank in the top 100 by direct stake or the top 50 by vote credits | Share 40% pool (Direct Stake Leaders) or 50% pool (Elite Performance) |
To fully optimize:
- Align with The Vault’s governance
- Maintain top-tier validator performance
- Engage actively in the ecosystem
Example overview (illustrative only)
If The Vault controls 1,000,000 SOL of undirected stake:
| Allocation | Percent | Pool size | Example per validator |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gauges | 10% | 100,000 SOL | Varies by vote weight |
| Direct Stake Leaders | 40% | 400,000 SOL | ≈ 4,000 SOL each (Top 100) |
| Elite Performance | 50% | 500,000 SOL | ≈ 10,000 SOL each (Top 50) |
These are illustrative examples only. Real allocation and stake amounts may differ based on total TVL, governance votes, and network conditions.
Performance checklist
- Apply on Discord and gain Validator Board approval.
- Maintain uptime ≥97.5%.
- Keep commissions ≤5% (base) and ≤10% (MEV). Raising your commission above 5% or your MEV commission above 10% (the Solana Foundation Delegation Program criteria), even for one epoch, can block your stake for 10 epochs.
- Direct stake through vSOL or Kamino (optional).
- Hold $V or incentivize votes on Votex.
- Maintain 0/0 commission if aiming for the performance pool.
- Monitor performance metrics weekly.
Legal and risk disclaimers
The Vault does not guarantee returns, rankings, or future stake allocations.
All figures and percentages are subject to change based on governance outcomes, network conditions, and Vault-level strategy adjustments.
Leverage products such as Kamino Multiply carry risk of liquidation, and other factors.
Always perform your own due diligence (DYOR).
This is not investment advice.
Get started
Ready to participate? Visit us on Discord.
Open a support ticket, choose Validator, and use the /apply command to apply and begin your journey as an approved validator of The Vault.