Validator Liveness

Definition ∞ Validator liveness refers to the continuous and active participation of validators in a proof-of-stake blockchain network. A validator is considered “live” when it is online, correctly validating transactions, and proposing new blocks as required by the protocol. Maintaining high validator liveness is crucial for the network’s uninterrupted operation and security. It directly impacts transaction finality and network throughput.
Context ∞ Validator liveness is a critical performance metric for all proof-of-stake blockchains, frequently reported in network health updates and analyses. News often discusses strategies to incentivize consistent validator uptime and the consequences of prolonged inactivity. Ensuring robust liveness is a constant challenge, requiring careful balancing of economic incentives and technical infrastructure.