# Validator & Operator Prerequisites

{% hint style="info" %}
NOTE: To become a reffiner operator, you must first contact the covalent team on discord or telegram so that your operator address and staking address are whitelisted.

Discord: <https://discord.com/invite/VHgmzB9973>

Telegram: <https://t.me/CovalentHQ>
{% endhint %}

1. Provide Covalent with **two public addresses**

* **Staking Address**: This is the address of the wallet holding your CXT on Ethereum mainnet.
* **Operator Address**: This is a public address tied to the private-public key pair an operator will use to sign proof transactions to the proof-chain contract. It is not tied to any network. It can be generated using the **BIP-44** mnemonic multi-account deterministic algorithm. It can be generated using <https://iancoleman.io/bip39/> (select 24 words, Coin: ETH)
* Please provide the public address to this pair to Covalent. Keep the private key secret and safe. **Please make sure that the Staking address and Operator Address are separate.**

2. Min 35,000 CXT & Max 70,000 CXT on Ethereum mainnet.
3. **GLMR is needed to pay for gas on Moonbeam**
   * **in order to send proofs of block specimens.** This costs approximately 5 GLMR per day. This should be held at the same address as the Operator Address.
   * **in order to stake your CQT**
4. Access the **Covalent Network Operator Dashboard**. Import your Validator private key into Metamask, select the Ethereum mainnet network and connect your **Staking wallet** to the [operator dashboard](https://www.covalenthq.com/staking/#/operator-dashboard/).Your operator should be currently disabled.

<figure><img src="https://www.datocms-assets.com/86369/1719102408-1-staking.png" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

<figure><img src="https://www.datocms-assets.com/86369/1719373894-brp-guide-2.png" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

5. Self-Stake the Minimum CXT Staking requirement on Ethereum (35,000 CXT) for BRP. This is done using the **Change Stake** button in your [operator dashboard](https://www.covalenthq.com/staking/#/operator-dashboard/). Proceed to first set Stake Amount to 35000 and click **Approve**.

<figure><img src="https://www.datocms-assets.com/86369/1719373904-brp-guide-3.png" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

6. After the on chain approval transaction completes, click on **Stake**. Once the staking transaction completes, your Staking Status should display **Sufficiently Staked** and **Enabled**.

<figure><img src="https://www.datocms-assets.com/86369/1719373913-brp-guide-4.png" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

7. Get access to a reliable Moonbeam https RPC. Providers and RPC URLs can be found [here](https://docs.moonbeam.network/builders/get-started/endpoints/#endpoint-providers) . Ping the Covalent team on discord for recommendations.
8. Validators can create a [web3.storage](https://web3.storage/) account and have `did key`, `W3-agent-key` and `proof.out` for `das-pinner` file or can reach out to covalent team on discord for these details.