Delegated Validator Weighting

Delegated Validator Weighting is a governance and consensus mechanism where token holders assign their voting power to specific validators without transferring ownership of the underlying assets. This structure allows smaller token holders to participate in network security and earn rewards while leveraging the infrastructure and expertise of professional validator entities.

The weighting system determines how much influence a validator has in the consensus process based on the aggregate stake delegated to them. While this promotes accessibility, it also introduces risks related to centralization, as power often gravitates toward a small set of high-performing or well-known entities.

Proper weighting models are designed to mitigate these risks by incorporating factors like validator performance and historical reliability.