blockchain//Besu//node roles//validator

A validator is an address listed in the genesis extraData and authorized to sign blocks in IBFT/QBFT consensus. Validators take turns proposing blocks while the remaining validators verify and vote, and adding or removing a validator requires a governance mechanism (voting or a smart contract).

A validator is an address listed in the genesis extraData and authorized to sign blocks in IBFT/QBFT consensus. Validators take turns proposing blocks while the remaining validators verify and vote, and adding or removing a validator requires a governance mechanism (voting or a smart contract).

One node can wear multiple hats (bootnode, validator and RPC), but separation is more secure: a dedicated validator with no RPC exposed reduces the attack surface from outside to zero (minimum privilege applied to block signers).