Hyperchains Delegator Setup Guide

Introduction

This guide will walk you through the process of delegating your tokens to a Validator on a Hyperchain using the Delegator Setup tool. Delegation allows you to contribute to network security and earn rewards without running a validator node yourself. By delegating, you lend your tokens to an existing validator, increasing their stake and sharing in their block production and pinning rewards.

Hyperchains combine the security benefits of Proof-of-Work (PoW) with the efficiency of Proof-of-Stake (PoS) systems, allowing you to participate in the network's economy without the high energy consumption of traditional mining.

Note: This feature is currently in BETA. Some functionality may change in future releases.

Prerequisites

Before you begin, make sure you have:

• A Superhero Wallet installed and configured
• Sufficient tokens for staking (minimum required stake varies by Hyperchain)
• Basic understanding of blockchain validation concepts

Step 1: Provide Hyperchain Information

Navigate to the Delegator Setup page. Under "Tell us about the hyperchain" (page 1/3), enter the following information:

• Node URL: Enter the URL of the Hyperchain node you want to connect to
  • Example: https://demo.hyperchains.aeternity.io/
• Delegation Contract: Enter the contract address for the staking delegation
  • This will begin with ct_ followed by a string of alphanumeric characters
  • Note: You will need to obtain this contract address from the Hyperchain operator. If you're not running the Hyperchain yourself, contact the operator to get this information.

Click "Next" to proceed to the wallet configuration.

Step 2: Configure Your Wallet Network

On the "Configure Your Wallet Network" page (2/3), you'll need to ensure your Superhero Wallet is properly configured to connect to the Hyperchain:

1. Set Up Superhero Wallet (if not already installed)

   • Visit the Superhero Wallet website or your browser's extension store
   • Download and install the wallet extension
   • Create a new wallet or import an existing one
   • Secure your wallet with a strong password and backup your seed phrase

2. Open Superhero Wallet

   • Launch your Superhero Wallet extension or application

3. Enter Network Details

   • In your Superhero Wallet, navigate to the network settings
   • Add a new custom network with the following details:
     • Network Name: Choose a recognizable name for this Hyperchain
     • Node URL: The same URL you entered in Step 1
     • Network ID: This is specific to each Hyperchain (provided by the Hyperchain operator)

4. Connect to Network

   • Select the newly added network in your wallet
   • Confirm that your wallet shows it's connected to the correct network

5. Click "Next" in the Delegator Setup tool to proceed

Step 3: Connect Your Wallet and Stake

On the "Connect Your Wallet" page (3/3), you'll connect your wallet and specify the amount to stake:

Connect Wallet Click the "Connect Your Wallet" button. Your Superhero Wallet will prompt you to approve the connection. Once connected, your wallet balance will be displayed.

Specify Staking Amount Under "Stake Aeternity (AE)", enter the amount of tokens you wish to stake. Ensure this amount is at least the minimum required by the Hyperchain. Remember that staked tokens will be locked and cannot be withdrawn immediately.

Complete Staking Click the "Save" button to confirm your staking amount. Confirm the transaction in your Superhero Wallet when prompted, and wait for the transaction to be processed.

What Happens Next?

After successfully staking your tokens:

• Your stake will be registered with the validator on the Hyperchain
• It will take approximately 4 epochs (typically a few hours) before the validator you're delegating to registers your participation and begins distributing rewards to you
• Once registered, you'll start earning your share of the validator's rewards for block production and potentially for pinning operations

Managing Your Stake

After completing the initial staking process, you can adjust or cancel your stake by going through the same setup flow again. There is no separate delegator management interface.

Adjusting Your Stake

To change your staked amount:

Go through the same 3-step Delegator Setup process again. Connect your wallet when prompted. On the final page, you'll see:

• Your current wallet balance
• Your currently staked amount
• The validator you're staking with

To increase your stake: Enter a higher amount in the staking field To decrease your stake: Enter a lower amount in the staking field Click the "Save" button to confirm your changes

Canceling Your Stake

To completely withdraw your stake:

Go through the same 3-step Delegator Setup process again. Connect your wallet when prompted. On the final page, click the "Cancel Stake" button. Confirm the cancellation when prompted.

Important considerations:

• Unstaking (decreasing or canceling) typically involves a waiting period (usually multiple epochs)
• During this period, your tokens remain locked but stop earning rewards
• After the waiting period completes, the tokens will be returned to your wallet
• The exact waiting period is determined by the Hyperchain configuration

Troubleshooting

• Wallet Connection Issues: Ensure your wallet is configured with the correct network parameters
• Transaction Failures: Verify you have sufficient balance for both staking and transaction fees
• Validator Not Producing Blocks: Remember there is a delay before new validators join the block production rotation

Important Terms:

• Delegator: An entity that stakes tokens to support validators without running a node
• Validator: A node that participates in block production and chain validation
• Staking: The process of locking tokens in a smart contract to participate in network validation
• Epoch: A time period in which specific activities from a staking cycle occur
• Pinning: The process of anchoring child chain state to the parent chain

Refer to the Hyperchains Glossary for more detailed definitions.