What Is Validator Set?
Also known as: Active Validator Set, Validator Committee
In short
A validator set is the list of active validators authorized to produce and attest to blocks in a Proof of Stake (PoS) blockchain during a given period. The size and distribution of the set directly affect the network's security and decentralization.
How the validator set is determined varies from network to network. In some networks, the set is limited to a fixed number, and the candidates with the most stake or votes enter the active set; for example, Tron has 27 Super Representatives and EOS has 21 block producers. Cosmos-based networks also generally have an upper limit determined by governance. On Ethereum, by contrast, there is no cap on the number; however, entry to and exit from the set are limited by a queue system to preserve the network's stability.
The set is updated periodically: new validators join, and those who are penalized or want to leave are removed. Light clients and bridges follow the signatures of the current validator set to check whether a block is valid; for this reason, transferring set changes securely is critically important.
A small set provides fast consensus but can lead to control being concentrated in a few participants. A large set offers a more distributed structure, but communication overhead increases in return. In BFT-based protocols, network security generally rests on the assumption that more than two-thirds of the voting power in the set is honest; for this reason, the distribution of stake is as important as the number of validators.
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