Delegation FAQ

Delegation FAQ

Frequently asked questions about the Flux node delegation system. For detailed setup instructions, see the Delegation Guide for Node Owners or the Provider Delegation Reference.

General Questions

What is delegation?
Delegation is a protocol-level feature (introduced with PoUW v2 / fluxd v9.0.0) that lets a node owner authorize up to 4 public keys to restart and manage their node. The delegate can restart the node, but cannot access, move, or unlock the collateral.

Is delegation mandatory?
No. Delegation is entirely optional and opt-in. If you prefer managing your own node, nothing changes for you. You can continue using the traditional method.

Does delegation cost anything?
Adding delegates is free. The only cost is the standard network transaction fee (less than 0.001 FLUX) when you start or restart your node — the same fee you'd pay without delegation.

Can I delegate to multiple providers?
Yes. You can assign up to 4 delegate keys per node. You could delegate to your primary hosting provider, a backup provider, and still keep one or two personal keys for yourself. Each delegate key works independently.

Security Questions

Can a delegate steal my collateral?
No. This is guaranteed at the protocol level. A delegate key can only sign restart transactions. The blockchain code explicitly rejects any attempt by a delegate to move, unlock, or modify collateral. Even if a delegate key is compromised, your funds are safe.

Can a delegate add more delegates or remove me?
No. Delegates cannot modify the delegate list. Only the collateral owner (you) can add or remove delegates. This prevents any escalation-of-privilege attacks.

What if my provider goes out of business?
Your node and your collateral remain yours. If your provider disappears, you can simply restart the node yourself (using your collateral key), or re-delegate to a new provider. The provider never had access to your funds, so nothing is lost — you just need to manage restarts yourself until you find a new provider.

What if a delegate key is compromised?
The worst an attacker can do with a compromised delegate key is restart your node — they cannot steal funds or change settings. To fix it, simply restart your node with a new delegate list that excludes the compromised key. The old key loses access immediately upon confirmation.

Practical Questions

How do I know if my provider supports delegation?
On Fluxme.io, providers that support delegation display a "Delegation Available" badge on their listing card and profile page. You can also ask the provider directly for their delegate public key.

Can I revoke delegation at any time?
Yes. You can revoke one or all delegates at any time by restarting your node with an updated delegate list (or no delegates at all). The change takes effect as soon as the transaction confirms on the blockchain — typically within 1-2 minutes.

Does delegation affect my PNR eligibility?
No. Delegation has no impact on Progressive Node Rewards eligibility. Your PNR status depends on ArcaneOS, confirmed blocks, and uptime — not on who restarts the node. In fact, delegation can improve your PNR eligibility because a professional provider restarts your node faster, reducing downtime.

Does my collateral stay liquid?
Your collateral is locked as part of running a Flux node — this is true regardless of whether you use delegation or not. Delegation does not change the locking mechanism. If you unlock your collateral (by moving it), the node stops, but delegation itself does not lock or unlock anything.

Can I use delegation with a P2SH (multisig) node?
Yes. The delegation system fully supports P2SH nodes. Use the createp2shstarttx command (or the equivalent wallet interface) to include delegate keys when starting a P2SH node. Delegates use startp2shasdelegate to restart P2SH nodes.

Which wallets support delegation?
Both Zelcore and SSP Wallet support delegation through their Node Management interfaces. You can also use the Flux daemon CLI directly if you prefer command-line tools.