Staking on Starknet V2 - vote proposal

🏛 Governance
1

Author: Natan Granit

Introduction

This proposal outlines the planned upgrade to Starknet Staking v2 as can be seen in SNIP 28. The upgrade is aimed at enhancing network security and decentralization by adding to the current requirement that stakers run full nodes or delegate, and introducing validator block attestation and allowing for increased validator commission. These changes are crucial steps toward achieving a fully decentralized Starknet.

Staking v2 addresses two primary needs:

  1. Verifying Validator Reliability: Before entrusting validators with consensus responsibilities, it’s essential to ensure they can maintain high liveness and actively participate in the network.
  2. Improving Economic Incentives: The current commission structure needs adjustments to ensure long-term validator participation and network stability, especially as the demands on validators increase with network growth and decentralization.

Vote Details

A vote will be conducted to determine the approval or rejection of the following:

  1. Validator Block Attestation Validators will be required to attest to randomly selected blocks within each epoch. For more details, see the “Validator block attestation”.

  2. Validator Commission Increase: Validators will be able to commit to a maximum commission rate. For more details, see the “Validator Commission Increase”.

Validator block attestation:

  • Epochs: Introduce the concept of epochs, fixed time periods where validator staking power is determined. This ensures predictable input for the consensus algorithm.
  • Attestation Mechanism: Validators will be required to attest to randomly selected blocks within each epoch. This proves their active participation and allows delegators to assess validator reliability.
  • Rewards: Validators who successfully attest to blocks will receive staking rewards proportional to their stake. Those who fail to attest will receive no rewards for that epoch.
Economical Parameter Proposed value
Epoch size (E) 100-1,000 Blocks (this will change as a function of block time which is 30 seconds now, 2 seconds from 0.14)
The block window range to submit an attestation (W) 16 - 30 Blocks
Number of epochs used for latency (k) 1

Validator Commission Increase

  • Commission Commitments and increase: Validators will be able to commit to a certain maximum commission M, and the last date (in Epochs) that this commitment is relevant for. Until this last date arrives, validators will not be able to increase their commission beyond M, but can freely change their commission in the range [0,M]

Benefits

  • Improved Validator Accountability: Attestation provides a clear metric for evaluating validator performance.
  • Sustainable Validator Incentives: The potential for increased commission ensures continued validator participation as network demands grow.
  • Increased Transparency: Commission commitments provide delegators with clear expectations regarding future fees.

Timeline

  • Q1 2025: Staking v2 deployment on testnet.
  • Q2 2025: Staking v2 deployment on Starknet mainnet.

Conclusion

Staking v2 represents a significant step towards a decentralized Starknet. We encourage all community members to participate in the vote and share their valuable feedback.

2

It’s a good one i must say. The attestation mechanism is a great step toward ensuring validator reliability, but I’m curious how will the network handle penalties for validators who consistently fail to attest? Will there be a slashing mechanism, or just a loss of rewards?

3

Staking v2 enhances validator accountability, ensures sustainable incentives, and increases transparency, driving Starknet towards full decentralization. i encourage all community members to participate in the vote and share their valuable feedback.