Understanding Governors

What are Governors?

Governors are a unique type of validator in the Elys network that focus exclusively on governance. Unlike traditional Cosmos validators that participate in block production and consensus, Governors are specialized entities that:

• Participate in governance decisions
• Represent stakers in voting processes
• Help secure the networks governance

How are Governors Different from Traditional Validators?

Elys operates on a Partial Shared Security (PSS) model where:

• Cosmos Hub validators provide the consensus layer and security
• Governors handle network governance and decision-making
• This separation allows for specialized focus on governance while maintaining robust security based on the Cosmos Hub

Governor Responsibilities

Governors play several crucial roles:

1. Governance Participation
   • Voting on protocol upgrades
   • Participating in parameter changes
   • Representing delegator interests
2. Community Engagement
   • Keeping delegators informed about governance proposals
   • Participating in community discussions
   • Contributing to the network's development

Becoming a Governor

To become a Governor, candidates must:

• Meet some level of technical requirements
• Demonstrate commitment to the network's governance
• Provide value to the network

For detailed requirements and setup instructions, please refer to our Governor Setup Guide.