Polkadot is pushing forward with a staking mechanism adjustment. According to the upcoming OpenGov 1890 referendum, the network plans to require each validator to use at least 10,000 DOT as their own staked funds. If implemented, the proposal will impose a more direct economic constraint on validators, while reducing the principal risk for nominators.
The threshold for validators to self-stake has been raised.
Polkadot currently uses the Nominated Proof-of-Stake (NPoS) mechanism. In this model, validators are responsible for running nodes, processing transactions, and maintaining network security, while ordinary DOT holders can act as nominators, delegating their tokens to validators for staking.
Under the current structure, many validators rely heavily on the financial support of their nominators. If a validator makes a mistake, goes offline, or engages in other punishable acts, the nominator may also be penalized. The new scheme aims to have validators bear this risk themselves first.
Nominators may be exempt from confiscation
According to the proposed referendum, if a validator violates the rules or malfunctions, the system will first deduct from their staked 10,000 or more DOT tokens, rather than directly causing a large number of nominators to bear the principal loss. In this way, nominators can still receive staking rewards, but the risk of confiscation of their principal will be significantly reduced.
Polkadot stated that under the new design, nominators will continue to receive staking rewards without directly losing their principal due to validator errors. This means the network aims to place greater emphasis on security responsibility and economic penalties on the validators.
The unbinding period is planned to be shortened to within two days.
In addition to risk transfer, Polkadot also plans to shorten the unbinding period for DOT. Previously, users typically had to wait 28 days after unstaking before they could retrieve their tokens, during which time the funds could not be transferred, sold, or reused.
The new plan aims to reduce this cycle to 24 to 48 hours. If implemented, it will significantly improve the liquidity of DOT staking and reduce restrictions on user fund allocation.
- Referendum 1890 proposed requiring validators to stake at least 10,000 DOT tokens.
- The risk of principal forfeiture for the nominator is proposed to be transferred to the validator.
- The DOT unbinding time is proposed to be shortened from 28 days to 24 to 48 hours.
The article mentions that Polkadot ranks seventh among Layer 1 public chains in terms of staking market capitalization, at approximately $1.1 billion; Ethereum's figure is approximately $82.1 billion during the same period, still far exceeding other networks. The report also states that the staking market capitalization per chain is projected to decline in 2026 compared to 2025.
As of the time of this report, the price of DOT was approximately $1.25. The focus of this adjustment is not on short-term price movements, but rather on redistributing risk between validators and nominators, and improving the liquidity of staked funds.
