Skip to main content
Skip to main content
Polkadot logo

Staking Update: August 2021

August sees Polkadot staking improved with a semi-sorted nominator list and multi-block elections. Discover how these changes impact scalability and governance.

By Polkadot•August 31, 2021

By Kian Paimani, Parity Technologies

  • This month's main focus was on a PR that will allow the staking pallet to maintain a semi-sorted list of all nominators. This will allow governance to remove the count limit on nominators (or increase it significantly) and make the nominate transaction available at all times again. That being said, the sorted list will still act as an entry barrier: When the time for a staking election comes, we will only take the top x nominators, where x will most likely be the same as our current limit, 22500 or very similar. We propose removing this limit once we achieve our next milestone, multi-block elections (read below).
  • The semi-sorted list will act as the foundation of our next big step, which is multi-block elections. Sometime in the future, Polkadot will, for example, be able to allocate 5 blocks to its staking election, during which the 5 most highly staked pages of nominators (where each page has a fixed size) need to processed and used for the election. This is why the sorted list of nominators is important! The multi-block election change is being actively designed and prototyped, see this tracking issue. Furthermore, in the long term future something like an NPoS election parachains could enable virtually unbounded nominator participation as all blocks could be used to process elections.)
  • In motion 31 we proposed the increase of the minimum nomination bond to 80 DOTs. This is (inevitably) the chain's only strategy to deal with the influx of nominators as of now, until the multi-block elections are deployed. Most of nominators who had staked less than this amount have already been chilled through the permissionless chill_other transaction.
  • Kusama's number of nominators is still below 7000, with a slight decrease over the last month, which can be attributed to the launch of parachains and stakers moving into crowdloans. So, for now, exceptionally, no chaos is expected 🦜.

From the blog

Security isn’t optional: What builders are factoring into chain choice

Security is no longer an afterthought in blockchain development. Builders are looking beyond incentives to long-term infrastructure stability. Here's why resiliency is critical and how the Polkadot Assurance Legion is helping developers launch safely.

How to set up a Polkadot wallet: A step-by-step guide

New to Polkadot? This beginner-friendly guide walks you through how to set up a Polkadot-compatible wallet, from choosing the right option to securing your seed phrase and getting started with staking and managing your DOT.

What is a DAO? How decentralized communities are reshaping governance

DAOs are changing how communities organize online. Learn what a DAO is, how decentralized governance works, the different types of DAOs, and how you can participate in blockchain-powered decision-making.

Governance, side by side: Polkadot, Ethereum, and NEAR

Decentralized Mic pulled together experts from leading experts from Polkadot, Ethereum, and NEAR to discuss decentralized decision-making approaches, address participation challenges, and explore the potential impact of AI on future governance models.

Where real-world value meets access: How Polkadot powers RWA and DePIN

Polkadot is making real-world assets and infrastructure accessible through tokenization, unlocking new opportunities in finance and energy for everyday participants and communities.

Understanding DeFi: A starter guide to decentralized finance

DeFi transforms traditional finance by replacing banks and brokers with smart contracts on blockchain networks. Discover how dapps enable lending, trading, and earning interest without intermediaries—and how Polkadot’s interoperability brings these tools together for a connected financial future.

The evolution of digital ownership: How tokenization is transforming gaming, music, and beyond

Tokenization is redefining digital ownership in gaming and music, enabling players and artists to control their assets. With blockchain, NFTs, and Polkadot’s interoperability, digital economies are becoming more decentralized, secure, and accessible.

Web3 funding playbook for builders, creators, and founders

Discover funding opportunities in the Polkadot ecosystem, from grants and bounties to venture capital and community-driven fundraising. Explore pathways for builders at every stage, with insights on securing support for DeFi, DePIN, AI, gaming, and real-world asset tokenization.

From speculation to sustainability: Top ETHDenver takeaways

ETHDenver 2025 highlighted Web3’s shift toward sustainability, emphasizing talent development, decentralized governance, and aligned incentives. Polkadot’s insights reinforced the industry’s move beyond speculation toward long-term, community-driven growth.

Build, Play, Connect: Join Polkadot at ETHDenver 2025

Get ready for ETHDenver 2025 with Polkadot! Join Polkadot for keynotes, hacker houses & parties, immersive booth experiences, and hands-on workshops. Whether you’re building, playing, or connecting, there’s something for everyone at one of blockchain’s biggest events.

The most impactful blockchain use cases in 2025 and why Polkadot is leading the way

Explore the top blockchain trends of 2025, from decentralized AI and tokenized assets to enterprise adoption and Web3 gaming. Learn how projects powered by Polkadot are shaping the future of finance, infrastructure, and digital identity.

Decentralization’s ripple effect: How Web3 is rewriting digital sovereignty

Centralized platforms dictate access, control data, and pose security risks, leaving individuals without control over their digital presence. Decentralization offers a resilient alternative, paving the way to a digitally sovereign future.