# Role of Validators

Validators play a critical role in securing and maintaining the Laika network. They act as the consensus mechanism's backbone, responsible for validating L2 transactions and participating in block production. This section dives into the functionalities and responsibilities of validators on Laika.

**Responsibilities**

Laika validators fulfill several key tasks:

* **Transaction Validation:** Validators verify the legitimacy and validity of L2 transactions based on the Laika consensus protocol (Proof-of-Stake). This ensures only valid transactions are processed on the network.
* **Block Production:** Validators participate in the block production process. They propose new blocks containing validated transactions and compete for the right to add them to the Laika blockchain.
* **Sequencer Verification:** Validators verify the work done by sequencers. They ensure sequencers have accurately included data proofs for L2 transactions within Dogecoin transactions on the L1 blockchain. This maintains the integrity and verifiability of Laika transactions.
* **Validator Consensus:** While Validators independently submit ZK Proofs to the smart contracts, they also verify the Proofs submitted by other validators to maintain consensus, in case of any mismatch the validators stop producing blocks until the issues are resolved.
* **Bridge Validation:** As Doge is the primary currency on the Laika Network , all Doge existing on Laika has been bridged from the L1 Dogecoin blockchain. Validators need to independently run their own Dogecoin nodes, and validate the balances between the L1 and L2 network to make sure Doge Circulation on Layer 2 is always less than or equal to the amount of Doge held in Layer 1 Vaults. This process also results in a stop in block production incase of any mismatch.

**Selection and Incentives**

Laika utilizes a permissioned or permissionless validator selection system (details to be confirmed in future documentation). Here's a general overview of the approaches:

* **Permissioned System (Initial Stage):** In the initial stages, the Laika team will manage a curated set of validators to ensure network stability and security during deployment.
* **Permissionless System (Future Goal):** Laika aims to transition towards a permissionless validator system where anyone can participate by staking Laika tokens. This incentivizes validators to contribute to network security and earn rewards.

**Rewards and Staking**

Validators are rewarded for their contributions to the network. The specific reward structure will be documented in detail in the future, but it likely involves:

* **Transaction Fees:** A portion of transaction fees collected on the Laika network will be distributed to validators as rewards.
* **Block Rewards:** Validators who successfully propose and add blocks to the Laika chain will also receive additional token rewards in the form of Laika tokens.

**Staking Mechanism**

Staking Laika tokens allows individuals to participate in the validator selection process and earn rewards. The specific staking requirements and mechanisms (e.g., minimum stake amount, slashing penalties) will be outlined in future documentation.

**Importance of Validators**

Secure and efficient validator operations are crucial for Laika's success. Validators play a vital role in maintaining network security, ensuring transaction validity, and contributing to the overall health and performance of the Laika L2 network.
