TL;DR ZetaChain announces round two of its 10M ZETA validator delegation program (5.5M ZETA) to grow the Universal Blockchain. Submit an application before March 21st to join the program!

At ZetaChain, our mission is to build a Universal Blockchain with native access to any blockchain, making crypto as accessible, diverse, and connected as the internet.

A key part of this effort includes strengthening and scaling an open, decentralized, and community-driven network to secure the ZetaChain blockchain. Today, we are excited to announce the Validator Delegation Program, which aims to support ecosystem partners helping secure and grow the Universal Blockchain.

Program Objectives

The primary objectives of the Validator Delegation Program include:

• Recognize Active Contributors: Reward validators who actively contribute to the ecosystem through reliable performance, community engagement, and technical expertise.
• Support Decentralization: Encourage growth of a diverse validator community by assisting smaller, independent validators in gaining delegations and earning staking rewards.
• Enhance Network Stability: Promote a balanced distribution of stake across dimensions including validator types, geographies, data centers, service providers, and operational setups.

Program Structure

The Validator Delegation Program will delegate tokens to a select group of active validators who meet specific criteria. The program aims to diversify the network, empower independent validators, and create a level playing field for network participants.

• Validator Cap: This round is limited to 6 new validators to ensure effective management and meaningful delegation amounts. We will evaluate applicants based on the order in which they were received and approve for anyone who passes KYB and has less than 1% Voting Power. The final decision regarding selection rests at our discretion and KYC/KYB verification.
• KYC/KYB Process: Validators must agree to complete the KYC/KYB process. We will stop after we have 6 applicants who pass the KYB process. If any applicants fail the KYB process, we'll resume selection from the applicant list.
• Delegation Amounts: We will delegate 250k ZETA immediately to each validator that meets all of the required criteria and an additional 100K ZETA every month until the delegation reaches a total of 750k per validator.
• Delegation Duration: Delegations will be granted for a set period and are subject to review.
• Review Cycle: After 3 months, we'll review validator performance to assess compliance with the program's criteria and make necessary adjustments. If a validator no longer meets the established criteria, they will be removed from the program and are able to reapply in the subsequent cycle.
• Previously Accepted Validators: If you were accepted to the delegation program under the old rules you will be transitioned to this new model with a delegation amount of 750k ZETA after 6 months.

Program Schedule

• Application Deadline: March 21st, 2025
• Announcement on Next Step (KYC/KYB) via Telegram: TBD
• Announcement on Approval via Telegram: Once KYC/KYB is completed
• Full Delegation: April

Eligibility Criteria

• We will accept candidates on a first come first service basis
• They must pass KYB process
• Any slashing event will be grounds for automatic dismissal from the program
• Failure to participate in voting on a valid proposal can be grounds for automatic dismissal from the program. This will be evaluated if or when a proposal fails to reach quorum

About ZetaChain

ZetaChain is the first Universal Blockchain with native access to Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, and more, offering seamless user experience and unified liquidity to the next billions of users. With its Universal EVM, ZetaChain empowers developers to build Universal Apps that operate natively across any blockchain, creating a fluid crypto ecosystem from a single platform.

Follow ZetaChain on Twitter @zetablockchain and join the conversation on Discord and Telegram. Reach out to partnerships@zetachain.com if you’re building on top of ZetaChain.

Any projects mentioned are 3rd party, not ZetaChain.