Validator Setup

Set up and manage your Starknet validator node using starknode-kit.

Prerequisites

Before setting up a validator, ensure you have:

• ✅ A fully synced Juno (Starknet) node
• ✅ A Starknet wallet with sufficient funds for staking
• ✅ Stable internet connection with 99.9%+ uptime
• ✅ Understanding of validator responsibilities

Installation

The validator client is managed through starknode-kit. First, ensure you have starknode-kit installed and configured.

Validator Commands

Check Validator Status

Check the status of your validator:

starknode-kit validator status

Get Validator Version

Check the installed version of the validator client:

starknode-kit validator --version

Set Juno RPC Endpoint

Configure the Juno RPC endpoint for your validator:

starknode-kit validator --rpc http://localhost:6060

Or use a remote Juno node:

starknode-kit validator --rpc https://your-juno-node.example.com

Configuration

Validator configuration is stored in your starknode-kit config file. Key settings include:

is_validator_node: true

wallet:
  name: "my-validator"
  reward_address: "0x..."
  commision: "10"  # 10% commission
  wallet:
    address: "${STARKNET_WALLET}"
    private_key: "${STARKNET_PRIVATE_KEY}"
    public_key: "${STARKNET_PUBLIC_KEY}"
    class_hash: "${STARKNET_CLASS_HASH}"
    salt: "${STARKNET_SALT}"
    deployed: false
    legacy: false

validator_config:
  provider_config:
    juno_rpc_http: "http://localhost:6060"
    juno_rpc_ws: "ws://localhost:6060"
  signer:
    operational_address: "0x..."
    privateKey: "${STARKNET_PRIVATE_KEY}"

Setting Up Environment Variables

Store sensitive validator data in environment variables:

export STARKNET_WALLET="0x..."
export STARKNET_PRIVATE_KEY="0x..."
export STARKNET_PUBLIC_KEY="0x..."
export STARKNET_CLASS_HASH="0x..."
export STARKNET_SALT="0x..."

Add these to your ~/.bashrc or ~/.zshrc to make them persistent.

Starting Your Validator

Step 1: Ensure Juno is Running

Your Juno node must be fully synced and running:

starknode-kit run juno

Step 2: Verify Configuration

Check your validator configuration:

starknode-kit config show --all

Step 3: Start the Validator

Start your validator client:

starknode-kit validator start

Monitoring Your Validator

Monitor your validator status:

# Check validator status
starknode-kit validator status

# Monitor all services
starknode-kit monitor

Validator Responsibilities

1. Uptime - Maintain high availability (99.9%+)
2. Security - Keep your keys secure and never share them
3. Updates - Keep your validator software up to date
4. Monitoring - Actively monitor your validator performance
5. Backup - Maintain secure backups of your keys

Security Best Practices

• ✅ Use hardware wallets when possible
• ✅ Store keys in environment variables, not in config files
• ✅ Use firewall to restrict access to validator ports
• ✅ Enable SSH key-based authentication
• ✅ Keep your server updated with security patches
• ✅ Monitor for unusual activity
• ✅ Have a disaster recovery plan
• ❌ Never share your private keys
• ❌ Don't run validators on shared hosting
• ❌ Avoid storing keys in version control

Staking and Commission

Configure your validator's commission rate:

starknode-kit config set wallet commision="10"

This sets a 10% commission on staking rewards. Validators typically charge 5-15% commission.

Troubleshooting

Validator Not Connecting to Juno

Check that:

• Juno is running: starknode-kit status
• RPC endpoint is correct in config
• Firewall allows connections to Juno port

Keys Not Loading

Verify environment variables are set:

echo $STARKNET_PRIVATE_KEY

If empty, add to your shell profile and reload.

Validator Offline

If your validator goes offline:

1. ✅ Check system resources
2. ✅ Check network connectivity
3. ✅ Review validator logs
4. ✅ Restart validator if needed

Performance Metrics

Monitor these key metrics:

• Attestation rate - Percentage of successful attestations
• Block proposals - Number of blocks proposed
• Uptime - Validator availability percentage
• Rewards - Staking rewards earned

Validator Economics

Understand the economics:

• Minimum Stake - Required amount to become a validator
• Rewards - Earned from successful validation
• Commission - Your fee for running the validator
• Penalties - For downtime or malicious behavior

Resources

• Starknet Documentation
• Community Telegram
• GitHub Repository