A validator network is the collective set of nodes in a proof-of-stake or similar blockchain that are responsible for proposing blocks, attesting to their validity, and participating in the consensus process that finalises the chain’s state. Individual validators stake capital as a bond against misbehaviour and are rewarded or penalised according to their participation and honesty. The size, geographic distribution, and stake concentration of a validator network are key determinants of a blockchain’s decentralisation and censorship resistance.