7.3 The Validator Network

At the heart of ValueChain’s security and decentralization is its validator network, which operates under a Proof-of-Stake (PoS) consensus mechanism powered by CometBFT. To become a validator, participants must stake the native $SOSO token, which serves as both an economic security layer and a coordination signal for network trust. Validators are rewarded with:

• A share of trading fees generated on SoDEX

• Gas fees collected from transactions on the EVM chain and other subchains

Anyone can run a node on ValueChain, either as a validator or a non-validator full node. This openness ensures inclusivity while allowing a robust, decentralized infrastructure to emerge. Validators in ValueChain are organized into two tiers:

• Active Validators: The top-staked validators actively participate in block production and consensus

• Inactive Validators: Nodes with lower stake rankings that validate blocks but do not participate in consensus unless promoted

In its initial mainnet phase, ValueChain will operate with a streamlined validator set, designed to ensure stability and performance at launch. The validator pool will progressively expand in subsequent phases, reaching a larger and more distributed set to enhance decentralization and network resilience.This structured approach balances performance and decentralization at launch, while laying the groundwork for an open and permissionless validator economy as the ecosystem matures.