---
title: "Nodes & Validators"
canonical_url: "https://nimiq.dev/nodes"
---
# Nodes & Validators

This hub helps you choose between being a validator or hosting your own RPC endpoint.

<u-page-grid>
<u-page-card description="Deploy a full or history node that matches your infrastructure and security needs." icon="i-tabler:server-bolt" title="Run a Node" to="https://github.com/nimiq/core-rs-albatross?tab=readme-ov-file#configuration" variant="outline">



</u-page-card>

<u-page-card description="Meet staking requirements, configure keys, and maintain uptime to earn rewards for securing the network." icon="i-nimiq:verified" title="Become a Validator" to="https://nimiq.dev/nodes/validators/becoming-a-validator" variant="outline">



</u-page-card>
</u-page-grid>

## Choose your path

<table>
<thead>
  <tr>
    <th>
      Goal
    </th>
    
    <th>
      Jump In
    </th>
    
    <th>
      Outcome
    </th>
  </tr>
</thead>

<tbody>
  <tr>
    <td>
      Prototype quickly
    </td>
    
    <td>
      <a href="https://nimiq.dev/rpc">
        Explore the RPC
      </a>
    </td>
    
    <td>
      Make JSON-RPC calls right away using hosted or local endpoints
    </td>
  </tr>
  
  <tr>
    <td>
      Control your own endpoint
    </td>
    
    <td>
      <a href="https://github.com/nimiq/core-rs-albatross?tab=readme-ov-file#configuration" rel="nofollow">
        Run a node
      </a>
    </td>
    
    <td>
      Tune availability, security, and data retention to your needs
    </td>
  </tr>
  
  <tr>
    <td>
      Stake or pool NIM
    </td>
    
    <td>
      <a href="https://nimiq.dev/nodes/validators/becoming-a-validator">
        Become a validator
      </a>
    </td>
    
    <td>
      Enter consensus and earn rewards from bonded or delegated stake
    </td>
  </tr>
</tbody>
</table>

## Helpful references

- [Web Client vs RPC Client](https://nimiq.dev/web-client/concepts/web-client-vs-rpc) — decide when a hosted node is necessary.
- [JSON-RPC Methods](https://nimiq.dev/rpc/methods) — integrate your applications once the endpoint is live.
- [Protocol documentation](https://nimiq.dev/protocol) — understand how validators and staking fit into Albatross.


## Sitemap

See the full [sitemap](https://nimiq.dev/sitemap.md) for all pages.