Shardeum Launches Community Validators: Run Your Own Node

As Shardeum marks one month since mainnet launch, community-run validator nodes are now live! We’ll briefly detail everything you need to get started with running your own node today.

Hardware and Staking Requirements

Here’s what you’ll need to run a node on Shardeum mainnet:

Hardware Specs by Hosting Method

1. Self-hosting

• 250 GB SSD storage
• Quad core CPU less than 10 years old
• 16 GB of RAM, 4+ GB of virtual memory recommended

Best for users who prefer full control over their node and want to contribute directly to decentralization without relying on external infrastructure.

2. VPS Hosting

• 250 GB SSD storage
• Dual core CPU works if hosted with newer Xeons / EPYC
• Hosting: 8 GB RAM + 8 GB Virtual Memory

Great for users comfortable with basic server setup who want a cost-effective way to run a node without directly managing physical hardware. This option uses a cloud service.

3. One Click Setup

• No hardware setup needed
• 24/7 uptime managed by provider
• Monitor your validator node’s health, performance, and rewards via beginner-friendly click based GUI dashboard

Perfect for beginners and non-technical users — just subscribe and start running your validator with a few clicks. This option uses a cloud service.

Note, we’re preparing to introduce this feature soon. Stay tuned for the official announcement.

Staking Requirement

• 2400 SHM for all types of hosting (subject to periodic adjustments)

Easy Node Setup

With just three easy steps below, you can install your node, stake SHM tokens, and get your node up and running.

1. Make sure you have an EVM-compatible wallet such as Bitget Wallet, MetaMask, Trust Wallet, OKX, etc. They are available as browser extensions, web apps, and mobile apps.
2. Ensure you have a minimum of 2,400 SHM tokens. If you haven’t purchased SHM yet, you can buy it from exchanges listed here and withdraw it to your wallet.
3. Then, simply follow our comprehensive, beginner-friendly guide to install, stake, and operate your validator node, earning rewards in return!

Note: 

- After successfully staking and setting up your node, it will initially join the network as a standby validator. Shardeum automatically rotates the oldest active validators out, replacing them with randomly chosen (not FCFS) standby nodes every 60 seconds. This enhances security and fairness within the sharded architecture.

- Only nodes actively participating in consensus are eligible for rewards. Standby nodes do not earn rewards.

Why Operate a Shardeum Validator Node?

Becoming a validator on Shardeum brings multiple benefits:

1. High Rewards: Earn 10 SHM/Hour when your node is actively validating on the network (subject to periodic adjustments).
2. Low Barrier to Entry: Minimal hardware requirements and beginner-friendly interface allows anyone, from students to seasoned users, to run a node on Shardeum.
3. Censorship-Resistant: Even as validator access begins rolling out in a phased and controlled manner, each new community-run node adds to the network’s global resilience—making it more uncensorable, inclusive, and truly owned by its users. 
4. Empower the Future of Web3 Infrastructure: By running a node on Shardeum—where transaction fees remain under $0.01—you’re helping make decentralization more accessible than ever. Backed by open-source technology and core innovations like autoscaling, Shardeum also sets a blueprint for scaling the embedded layers of Web3, and introduce decentralization into our societies at scale.
5. Flexible Hosting Options: Shardeum offers several ways to run a validator node, tailored to your technical skills, personal preferences, and convenience.

FAQ

Will the community be able to run all validator nodes going forward?

Validator access will progressively expand as we prioritize network security and stability. As transaction volume and user activity grow, additional validator slots will be opened to the community—gradually enabling broader, global participation in securing and decentralizing Shardeum.

Why are rewards only given for active validation and not standby nodes? And what if my node stays in standby mode for long periods?

While unique and crucial for network resilience and scalability, standby nodes do not directly participate in the consensus process or transaction validation in the same way active nodes do. Rewarding standby nodes without active involvement in network operations could inadvertently create vulnerabilities in the reward system. This approach might further lead to imbalances and reduce the overall efficiency and fairness of an innovative sharded network.

Note, standby nodes are used both for handling surges in network throughput, and also as part of the regular node rotation process to enhance security and decentralization. As Shardeum’s ecosystem matures, we are looking at a network with thousands of validators distributed globally. This scale means standby nodes will have consistent opportunities to be rotated into the active set, participate in validation, and earn rewards. Shardeum is still in its early days, and there’s no better time to get involved. Few networks offer a node operation process that’s this simple, affordable, and accessible. By participating early, you’ll gain the experience needed to run nodes confidently and accumulate more SHM over time.

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Disclaimer: Shardeum does not endorse or take responsibility for third-party service providers. Always DYOR.