Validators

Validators are the active operators inside Ethereum's proof-of-stake system. They do not just sit on staked ETH; they join a schedule, propose blocks when selected, and attest to other blocks as the chain moves forward.

Most validators spend far more time attesting than proposing. Proposals are occasional opportunities to build the next block; attestations are the steady background process that helps the network agree on what block is valid.

That is why validator operations matter so much. Client diversity, secure key handling, and reliable infrastructure are not side concerns - they directly affect decentralization, liveness, and the cost of attacking Ethereum.