From candidate to active member

The reviewed mainnet rules permit candidate bonding with a minimum 1-GRP self-bond. Candidates must satisfy the required consensus and attestation identity proofs. Registration does not immediately place a node into the active set.

Active membership is selected through epoch rules. The current cap is 16 validators, with 7,200-height epochs, stake ordering, concentration and churn constraints, and delayed snapshot application. The older 100-seat rule is not the current source setting.

Keep the node eligible

Validators must remain available, protect signing keys, and participate correctly. The encoded rules include a 21-day unbonding delay, equivocation penalties, and jailing for excessive missed participation. A bond carries operational responsibility; it is not a guaranteed-interest deposit.

Consensus voting power is not the same as reward weight. Locked GGT can affect specified reward weighting without becoming a consensus vote.

Desktop enrollment availability

The reviewed mainnet desktop configuration does not include a public witness-enrollment service. Validator registration therefore requires the necessary independently configured witnesses; the simple public enrollment path should not be assumed open.

Running a full node and becoming an active validator are distinct milestones. Use current release instructions and verify the account’s on-chain status before treating it as reward-eligible.