#Becoming a Validator

This part should only be followed if you intend to run a validator node or are planning to become one.

Install Mainsail TX tester by following the TX Tester Installation guide before you continue.

#Prepare wallet

Before you can start forging, you need to register your validator on the network. You can do this by sending a validator registration transaction.

If you don’t have a wallet yet create one using the pnpm run wallet as described in Create Wallet section.

Ensure your wallet has enough funds to cover the transaction fee. Check Receive Tokens section to receive additional tokens.

#Register Validator

Modify the validatorRegistration object in the config.js file. You need to provide the validator’s public key in the validatorPublicKey field. You can generate new validator key pair by running the pnpm run wallet command.

1validatorRegistration: {
2    validatorPublicKey: "99f717d581e058b526fce70db1e2838c19ca5f32b09222749e8ec6a9471d4a2dc0faee9ac47b7a02220ebc858a7fe049",
3    fee: "2500000000",
4},

Check out the Validator Registration transaction for more details.

To send a validator registration transaction, run the following command:

1pnpm run start 6

#Prepare for Forging

After you have registered your validator, you need to set up your node to start forging.

Node will check validator.json file located on the config path. If mnemonic is included node will automatically detect validator and start forging if your validator is part of active validators list. You can check that in the ARK Scan - Delegates .

Configuration path can be obtained by running the following command:

1mainsail env:paths

You can register the validator on your node by running the following command:

1mainsail config:forger:bip39

Start the node:

1mainsail core:start

#Active validators

Your validator will become a forger once it is part of the active validators list. You can check that in the ARK Scan - Delegate monitor tool.

Active validator are validators that are not resigned and have enough votes to be part of the consensus. Mainsail currently uses 53 active validators.

Network participants (wallets) need to vote for your validator to become active. You can check the current votes and rank for your validator in the ARK Scan - Delegate page.