How to get started with a validator on Canton

The easiest way to get started on the Canton Network today is to access a validator.

Whether self-hosted or hosted by one of the network’s node or custody service providers, running a validator allows you to participate in the Global Synchronizer ecosystem and use institutional-grade tokenization applications and assets on the Canton Network. The software is open-source, and optional enterprise support is available. Once connected, you can explore different ways in which Canton Coin supports network utility and application adoption.

The Global Synchronizer mainnet is now live, operating in its invite only phase, meaning new validators and apps joining the network need to first be approved following a request made by an existing super validator, validator, application provider or member of the Global Synchronizer Foundation (GSF). Or you can request access via the Linux managed Global Synchronizer Foundation, or via the form here.

Spinning up your validator

Deployment or access to a validator is highly flexible, depending on your business requirements. You can:

1. Self host in your data center or chosen cloud environment.
2. Use a pre-integrated Node-as-a-Service, or crypto custody service provider.
3. Access via a specific application’s operator if they offer to distribute and maintain nodes on behalf of clients.

Self-hosted: Run a validator on-premise or in your chosen cloud with minimal hardware requirements. 

Once approved, you will be given VPN access to full documentation and the artifacts repo to download the build packages from your sponsoring super validator. You must then get your validator up and running on DevNet, before requesting access to TestNet and MainNet. 

The steps are as follows, covered in greater detail in the documentation:

1. Prepare a container environment (either in a Virtual Machine or a Kubernetes cluster) in any cloud or your own data center. 

2. Set up a fixed egress IP address for the cluster that will run the validator node, and ask your sponsor to submit that address to the super validators for whitelisting on DevNet.

3. Prepare the OIDC authentication setup (follow documentation to find the best route based on your enterprise’s authentication system e.g. Auth0).

4. Download the packages and follow the installation instructions in the documentation and receive your onboarding secret from your sponsor super validator.

5. Use this to join DevNet, and follow the documentation to get your validator live.

6. Once on DevNet, you can then ask to connect your validator to TestNet and/or MainNet too. Your sponsor will submit a request to the Featured Applications and Validators committee at the Global Synchronizer Foundation.

Once completed, you will have a live validator connected to the Global Synchronizer! As the operator, you will be eligible to mint validator liveness rewards in the form of Canton Coin. All you have to do is keep your node running.

For a list of Canton Network participants you can ask to provide you access, please visit: canton.network/connect