Participation Node

A participation node is a node that helps a blockchain reach agreement by proposing or voting on blocks, rather than only keeping a copy of the ledger and passing messages along. The term is most closely associated with Algorand, whose documentation distinguishes participation nodes, which hold special participation keys registered on-chain for a set period and are randomly selected in proportion to the stake of the accounts they represent, from relay nodes that route traffic between other nodes. An account owner can take part in consensus by running a participation node, or a service can run one for them, while the funds themselves stay in the owner's wallet. Similar roles on other networks are called validators, bakers or block producers. A participation node must stay online and up to date, since missing its turn weakens the network. Also see node (blockchain) and full node.