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Run a Pool

A pool operator creates a nomination pool, bonds the first stake as its depositor, and decides who manages it, which validators it backs and what it charges. Members then join with as little as 1 ORB.

What you need
  • At least the minimum to create — 100 ORB on testnet, 1,000 ORB on mainnet — plus a little for fees. It becomes the depositor's stake and stays in the pool until the pool is destroyed.
  • An account that does not stake directly and is not already in a pool.

Roles​

RoleCan
DepositorThe creator. Its stake is the pool's floor; it leaves last
RootEverything: change roles, commission, state, nominations
NominatorChoose the validators the pool backs (up to 16), or stop nominating
BouncerChange the state: Open, Blocked, Destroying

One account can hold every role. A pool can never validate.

1. Create the pool​

In Staking → Pools, open Create a pool. Four steps:

Step 1 · Pool bond — the depositor's stake, at least the minimum to create.

Create a pool, step 1: the pool bond with the minimum, free balance and the amount chosen

Step 2 · Roles — the root, nominator and bouncer addresses, or All me.

Create a pool, step 2: addresses for the root, nominator and bouncer roles

Step 3 · Validators — the validators the pool will back, or Skip for now.

Create a pool, step 3: the validator picker for the pool's nominations

Step 4 · Confirm — review and press Create pool.

Create a pool, step 4: the summary of bond, roles and validators with the Create pool button

Creating and nominating are two transactions: after Create pool, the Manage tab asks you to sign the nomination of the validators you picked.

2. Manage the pool​

Accounts that hold a pool role get a Manage tab: commission, members and nominations at a glance, and the pool's state.

The Manage tab: the pool summary, its state with Block, Open and Destroy pool, and its nominations
StateMembers can joinNotes
OpenYes
BlockedNoExisting members stay
DestroyingNoPermanent. Members unbond; the depositor leaves last and the pool closes

Pool nominations uses the same picker as a nominator; Stop nominating leaves the pool's stake idle until it nominates again.

3. Commission​

The root sets the pool's commission, taken from the pool's rewards before members share them, and paid to a payee account it chooses.

The Commission card: current commission, maximum, change rate, who can claim and the amount claimable
SettingEffect
Set commissionThe rate and the payee
Set maximumA ceiling members can rely on. It can only be lowered afterwards
Change rateThe largest increase and the minimum blocks between increases. It can only be tightened; decreases are never throttled
Who can claimOnly the root, anyone, or one account
Claim commissionPays the accumulated commission to the payee

A maximum and a change rate are what make a pool trustworthy: without them the root can raise the commission to 100 % in one step, and members cannot leave faster than the 28-era unbonding. If governance sets a global maximum, every pool's commission is capped at it from its next payout.

4. Destroy the pool​

Destroy pool sets the state to Destroying — permanently. Members unbond and withdraw; once only the depositor remains, it unbonds and withdraws too, and the pool closes.