> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.peaq.xyz/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Join Candidate Pool

## Request to Join a Validator Pool

Go to the [polkadot.js portal](https://polkadot.js.org/apps/?rpc=wss%3A%2F%2Fpeaq.api.onfinality.io%2Fpublic#/explorer), open the **Developer** tab, and click **Extrinsics**. There, you'll need to submit the extrinsic:

`Developer → Extrinsic → parachainStaking → joinCandidates(stake)`
<Note>The min stake amount for the validator is 50,000 \$PEAQ.</Note>

<img src="https://mintcdn.com/peaq/2Vy2W4qW7FfmdArp/assets/img/validator-5.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=2Vy2W4qW7FfmdArp&q=85&s=8f5f2bd720f88475dd27bde30c668101" alt="validator-5" width="2533" height="778" data-path="assets/img/validator-5.png" />

Keep in mind that peaq has `18` decimals, so if you want to stake `50,000` tokens, you'll need to enter `50000000000000000000000`.

1. Enter your stake into the `stake: u128 (BalanceOf)` field.
2. Click `Submit Transaction`.

### Check if You Are in the Active Set of Validators

Open the **Developer** tab, and click **Chain state**. There, you will be able to check whether your stake was big enough to get a set in the active set of validators (top `42` validators by total stake).

`Developer → Chain state → Storage → parachainStaking → topCandidates()`

<img src="https://mintcdn.com/peaq/2Vy2W4qW7FfmdArp/assets/img/validator-6.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=2Vy2W4qW7FfmdArp&q=85&s=93f8ba36983f6b871f1a93859a2c8c31" alt="validator-6" width="2553" height="1077" data-path="assets/img/validator-6.png" />

Confirm that your validator account is in the result

### Confirm that Your Validator Node is Authoring Blocks

Wait for **two sessions** (2400 blocks or \~4hrs) to see whether your node starts authoring blocks. You can **verify** it by going to the peaq block explorer and checking that your address started getting validator rewards.