📜Validator Application Process
An overview to the application process for Validators.
How to Apply to the Waitlist
📋 Steps to Apply:
Visit Discord: Open a support ticket and request an application form from staff.
Complete the Google Form: Applicants must provide accurate details, including validator performance, infrastructure details, and ecosystem contributions. A request for the form can be made to staff on The Vault Discord through a support ticket.
Review Process: Submissions will be reviewed based on the minimum requirements and ecosystem contributions.
Approval: If accepted, validators will be placed on the approved list and given access to the Direct Stake Leader and Elite Performance buckets.
🗳️ Validator Board Evaluation
The Validator Board votes on the ecosystem contributions of validators for the waitlist.
Contributions include, but are not limited to:
Development of apps, tools, or infrastructure within Solana.
Active participation in Solana’s community.
Open-source development or meaningful contributions to Solana projects.
Evaluations are subjective and based on qualitative judgment.
➕ Additional Factors Considered:
Performance & Uptime: Validators must meet minimum uptime and delinquency standards.
Vote Credits & APY: Vote credits impact APY and are considered during evaluation.
Commission Limits: Validators must adhere to commission guidelines. The Vault Contributors can make exceptions.
✅ Acceptance Terms
There target floor is to always have at least 100 validators participating in the stakepool.
The Vault reserves the right to pause new additions to the Allowlist.
🛡️ Compliance & Ongoing Requirements
Validators must maintain uptime, participate in governance, and contribute to the Solana ecosystem.
Failure to vote on SIMD proposals may result in removal from the Allowlist.
Validators that become delinquent fail to meet base criteria or lack contributions may be moved back to the Waitlist.
Validators must settle Stake-as-a-Service fees in a timely manner
🚫 Grounds for Removal or Ban from The Vault
The Vault enforces strict governance to ensure fairness and security. Validators may be removed or banned from the stakepool for:
Failing to meet uptime or governance participation requirements.
Attempting to bribe, mislead, or exploit loopholes to gain access.
Participating in malicious activities that harm the network or the users of the network, for example, but not limited to, sandwich attacks.
Lacking community contributions after being granted Allowlist status.
Failure to settle Stake-as-a-Service fees in a timely manner.
🔮 Future Updates
The Vault reserves the right to introduce new conditions or requirements.
Any changes to the approved process will be communicated in advance.
For detailed requirements, refer to the Delegation Overview page.
Last updated