StakePoint
Solana DeFi Glossary
Definitions of key terms used in Solana DeFi, token locking, LP locking, and staking. Published by the StakePoint team.
Validator
A network participant that processes transactions and maintains the Solana blockchain.
Definition
A validator is a node in the Solana network responsible for processing transactions, producing new blocks, and voting on the validity of transactions proposed by other validators. Validators are the backbone of the Solana network.
Validators earn SOL rewards for participating in consensus. They require a significant amount of SOL staked behind them — either their own stake or delegated stake from token holders — to be competitive for block production.
The Solana network has hundreds of active validators distributed globally. A higher number of high-quality validators improves network decentralisation and resilience. Transaction fees paid by users are distributed in part to validators.
StakePoint & Validator
Solana validators process all transactions submitted through StakePoint — including token locks, stakes, unstakes, and reward claims. The low fees on Solana are a direct result of validator efficiency.
Related Pages
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Solana validator?
A Solana validator is a network node that processes transactions, produces blocks, and votes on transaction validity. Validators earn SOL rewards for securing the network.
How many validators does Solana have?
Solana has hundreds of active validators globally, making it one of the more decentralised high-performance blockchains.
Related Terms
SOL
The native cryptocurrency of the Solana blockchain, used to pay transaction fees and for staking.
Proof of History (PoH)
Solana's cryptographic clock that timestamps transactions before they enter consensus.
Solana Mainnet
The live production blockchain network of Solana where real transactions occur.
Transaction Fee (Solana)
The small SOL fee paid to validators for processing transactions on Solana.
Proof of Stake (PoS)
A consensus mechanism where validators are selected to produce blocks based on their staked SOL.