StarkWare Bets on Fewer Validators in STRK Program Overhaul

StarkWare, the developer behind Starknet, has proposed an overhaul to its STRK delegation program, shifting its focus from expanding the number of validators to building a smaller, more reliable set as the network moves toward decentralization.

According to the company’s announcement, after two earlier rounds that prioritized breadth and attracted over 130 validators, the network is now pivoting to quality over quantity. The proposed Round 3 would limit delegations to up to 31 validators, with larger allocations per participant. 

Selected validators would typically receive between 5 million and 20 million STRK, compared to the previous range of 2 million to 5 million STRK. Participants will be required to maintain high standards, including rigorous testnet participation, 99% mainnet and testnet uptime, active feedback on protocol upgrades, and eventually 24/7 on-call operations once decentralized validation launches (estimated for early 2027).

Why StarkWare is proposing the change

StarkWare said maintaining a Starknet validator is a serious operational commitment. The updated program aims to better support the off-chain resources, infrastructure, and human expertise needed for long-term reliability. The delegation program’s core goal remains bootstrapping a healthy, decentralized validator ecosystem for Starknet. The proposal includes two tracks: 

Route A (Partner Delegation): Up to 26 recipients, each receiving at least 15 million STRK (potentially up to 20 million). Candidates must show 99% mainnet liveness and qualify under one of three categories: top external stakers, top-tier infrastructure providers from other chains, or significant ecosystem contributors.

Route B (Symbolic Delegation): Up to 5 recipients receiving 5 million STRK each, targeting dedicated enthusiasts with strong participation and high uptime.

StarkWare thanked validators from previous rounds whose delegations may end, acknowledging their role in getting staking off the ground. The network invited community feedback over the next two weeks before finalizing details. The new structure is expected to take effect in approximately five weeks.

Potential risks associated with the move 

StarkWare’s proposal risks centralizing influence among a small group of well-funded validators. Reducing participation from over 130 to just 31 could undermine true decentralization goals and create barriers for smaller operators. 

Larger delegations may also concentrate power and potential rewards, raising concerns about fairness and resilience. The tight timeline and subjective selection criteria (especially for ecosystem contributors) could favor insiders or established players, potentially discouraging broader community involvement. 

If not carefully managed, this shift from breadth to depth may slow genuine decentralization and expose the network to higher risks if a few key validators face operational issues.

Previous roadmap focused on post-quantum security

In a separate development, on June 30, 2026, StarkWare released a post-quantum roadmap for Starknet, outlining its plans to prepare the network for advances in quantum computing. 

According to the company, Starknet’s architecture relies on STARK proofs based on collision-resistant hash functions rather than vulnerable elliptic-curve cryptography. This design avoids the cryptographic weaknesses that threaten Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana. Additionally, Starknet’s native account abstraction enables seamless upgrades to quantum-resistant signatures without protocol-level breaking changes. 

Projects like S2morrow and OpenZeppelin have already demonstrated Falcon-512 and other post-quantum accounts in Cairo. The roadmap outlines three phases, with the first two under StarkWare’s control. The third phase will depend on Ethereum’s progress.

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