> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://orbs-doc.gitbook.io/pos/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://orbs-doc.gitbook.io/pos/orbs-pos-universe/becoming-the-guardian.md).

# Becoming the Guardian

Orbs Guardians represent the Orbs community, they maintain the security of the network by running validator nodes and uphold its long term vision, investing time and effort in the network's success.

## Validator responsibilities <a href="#validator-responsibilities" id="validator-responsibilities"></a>

A blockchain validator is someone who is responsible for validating transactions within a network. On the Orbs PoS network, any participant can be qualified to become a validator by running a validator node to earn rewards. To ensure the good participation by validators, they need to stake [minimum staking amount required](#undefined-2) as a stake in the ecosystem.

Any validator on the Polygon PoS network has the following responsibilities:

* A guardian may have technical knowledge to install and operate a node and related tools
* Operations
  * Maintain high uptime.
  * Check node-related services and processes daily.
  * Run node monitoring.
  * Keep ETH balance (between 0.5 to 1) on the signer address.
* Delegation
  * Be open to delegation.
  * Communicate commission rates.
* Communication
  * Communicate to your delegators
  * Provide feedback and suggestions.
* Earn staking rewards for validate blocks on the blockchain.

## Staking Rewards

### Rewards Rate

Each guardian will get 10% APR rewards and ⅔ of 10% (6.67%) will be distributed to delegators and ⅓ of 10% (3.33%) will be accumulated on guardian's address.

{% hint style="info" %}
A guardian can change rewards rate distributing to delegators at the guardians portal. 66.67%(of 10%) is max value which means network guarantees 33.33% delegating commission for the guardian. Please see [here](/pos/orbs-pos-universe/becoming-the-guardian/set-delegators-share.md) for more details.
{% endhint %}

### Minimum staking amount required

Guardians must maintain own stake more than 3% of total delegated staking amounts. If not, exceeded staking tokens will not generate rewards. For example, if total staked amount is 200,000 ORBS and the guardian has 3,000 ORBS as own staked amounts, protocol will distribute 10,000 ORBS per year to the guardian instead of 20,000 ORBS.

Available Capacity information is given at [Tetra staking wallet](https://staking.orbs.network/).

<div align="left"><figure><img src="https://3545397290-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2Fg5oTTPwJkXaserapTxr7%2Fuploads%2FLP0J4wWw3jXuNvFMvcyI%2Fimage.png?alt=media&amp;token=29d77496-714f-4eb1-b2bf-91ecd023a59c" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>

### Competitions

Please note that only top 22 guardians in order of total delegated amounts are eligible to earn staking rewards and bootstrap funds.