Do I need to stake to run a validator on Autheo?

Both the NFT License and staking requirements are enforced on-chain by Autheo's consensus protocol. Neither requirement alone is sufficient to activate a validator.

Direct Answer

Yes. Autheo's consensus model (Proof of Autheo) has two requirements before a node joins the active validator set. First, you must hold an Autheo NFT License, which is your eligibility credential. Second, you must meet the required staking or bonding threshold. Both gates must be satisfied. Meeting only one is not enough to activate your validator.

Understand the broader Autheo platform

This answer covers one part of the Autheo ecosystem. To understand how this capability fits into the full platform, start with the core Autheo overview and architecture pages.

Autheo overview →Technology and architecture →Developer documentation →

Gate 1: NFT License

The Autheo NFT License is the eligibility gate. It establishes that your validator position is licensed, tracked on-chain, and associated with a specific tier (Core, Prime, or Sovereign). The license is an NFT, so it is transferable and verifiable on-chain. Without a license, your node cannot be considered for the active validator set regardless of how much you stake.

Gate 2: Staking Threshold

Once you hold an NFT License, you must meet the required staking or bonding threshold to activate your validator. This threshold creates economic accountability: validators have skin in the game proportional to their commitment. Once both gates are met, your node enters the active set and earns THEO token emissions proportional to your stake.

Managed Hosting Option

You do not need to operate the hardware yourself. Managed hosting partners InfStones and Zeeve handle the technical operations. You hold the NFT License and provide the stake; they run the node infrastructure with 99.9%+ uptime SLAs. This option is available for all three validator tiers.