A validator is a participant in a Proof of Stake (PoS) blockchain chosen to create new blocks and validate transactions based on the amount of cryptocurrency they ‘stake’ in the network. Responsible for validating new transactions and maintaining the security of the blockchain, validators play a crucial role in achieving consensus, as they confirm the authenticity and accuracy of the transaction records and add the verified data to the blockchain.
Delegated Proof of Stake (DPoS) is a variation of PoS, where coin holders vote to elect a limited number of validators responsible for validating transactions and creating new blocks.