Polkadot Approves Cut to 500 Validators
Referendum 1966 passed with 99.9% approval, reducing the active validator set from 600 to 500 on the Polkadot network.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Elections
Polkadot governance approved Referendum 1966 on Sunday, November 8, with 99.9% approval, cutting the active validator set from 600 to 500. About 48.14 million DOT votes supported the change and about 36,388.1 DOT votes opposed it.
Why it matters
The change reduces validator-incentive spending in proportion to the smaller set, shifting how rewards are distributed across the network. Nominators whose selected validators fall outside the active set may miss staking rewards for an era.
The referendum passed with about 48.14 million DOT in favor against roughly 36,388.1 DOT opposed, a 99.9% approval rate. The exact timing of the first election under the smaller set remains unclear until the next election runs after enactment.
The players
Polkadot
Polkadot is a multichain blockchain network whose governance system voted on Referendum 1966 to reduce its active validator set.
The details
The approved call takes effect at Relay Chain block 33,814,400, with the 500-validator limit applying in the first era after enactment. The referendum also includes configuration changes for the Relay Chain and Coretime chain.
Timeline
Sunday, November 8, 2026: Referendum 1966 passed with 99.9% approval.
November 8, 2026, 12:49 a.m. ET (5:49 UTC): Referendum confirmed and vote tallies recorded.
Relay Chain block 33,814,400: Approved call takes effect.
First era after enactment: 500-validator limit applies.
Governance Trajectory
Referendum 1966 uses Polkadot's on-chain referendum process to adjust validator set size, the same mechanism the network relies on for protocol upgrades. The proposed reductions to 400 and then 320 validators over three weeks would continue a narrowing of the active set tied to operators running collators for Asset Hub and People Chain.
Nominators whose selected validators fall outside the new 500-validator active set may miss staking rewards for an era. Validator operators tied to Asset Hub, People Chain, and Polkadot App services face a smaller active set after enactment.
The takeaway
Staking participants should confirm that their chosen validators remain in the active set after the change takes effect. Monitoring the first election under the 500-validator limit will show how the reduction affects rewards in practice.
What happens next
The proposal would reduce the active validator set to 400 and then 320 over three weeks, tied to operators running collators for Asset Hub and People Chain and providing light-node and RPC services for Polkadot App.
Further reading
For related coverage of how votes are tallied and decided, see Elections.
Source note: This article includes information reported by TokenPost.
