ICF Delegation Program: Q2 Selected Validators
Editor’s note: As of Q3 2026, naming conventions for the ICF delegation program changed, and this post was edited from Q3–2026 to Q2–2026 (Date of snapshot).
The ICF’s redesigned ATOM delegation program is now in its second quarterly adjustment cycle. This post provides a short reminder of how the program works and shares the Q2 selected validator set and this quarter’s ecosystem growth delegation recipients. For the full rationale behind the program redesign, see the original announcement.
A reminder: how validators qualify
The program runs across two tranches, with delegations reviewed and adjusted quarterly.
Default delegations tranche. ATOM is allocated equally to all active validators meeting the on-chain criteria:
- Governance participation greater than 80%. Delegations are reduced by 50% if more than 20% of a validator’s votes are ABSTAIN.
- Commission no greater than 10%.
- 90-day rolling uptime greater than 95%.
- Participation in the active set for at least the last 90 days.
- No downtime slashes in the last 90 days.
- Validators receiving ecosystem growth delegations are ineligible for default delegations.
New this quarter: testnet participation is required.
Beginning with the Q2 adjustment, validators must participate in the Cosmos Hub testnet program run by Hypha to qualify for default tranche delegations. Starting with the next quarterly adjustment, qualifying validators will need 80% testnet uptime and six testnet points per quarter, evaluated using the prior quarter’s participation. To get started, visit Hypha’s program page.
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Validators that did not meet the criteria this quarter can qualify automatically in future cycles as soon as they meet them.
Notice: Next Quarter Adjustment
Based on feedback from validators we are making the following adjustments to the program beginning with the next quarterly adjustment cycle:
- Governance lookback period: shortened to a 6-month lookback window from the quarterly snapshot date.
Q2 selected validators
This quarter, 58 validators qualified for default tranche delegations, and two additional validators were selected for fixed ecosystem growth allocations. Across both tranches, 13,878,518.49 ATOM is allocated to 60 validators. The full validator-level allocations and qualifying criteria data are available here.
Data collection and compliance screening were again performed with Range, using the following snapshot windows:
- Governance participation: cosmoshub-4 genesis through June 15, 2026.
- 90-day criteria: the 90 days ending June 15, 2026.
Ecosystem growth delegation recipients: Q2
The ecosystem growth tranche supports validators providing strategic services and infrastructure to the Cosmos Hub and broader ecosystem. This quarter, two recipients were selected:
The Cybernetics: 350,000 ATOM. Selected to deliver targeted Cosmos Hub community activation through live programming and follow-up content.
node101: 500,000 ATOM. Selected to support the initial development and ongoing maintenance of Validatier, a public validator-intelligence dashboard that helps the ATOM community evaluate validator participation, staking-reward sales, and long-term contribution.
Ecosystem growth allocations are deducted from the default tranche pro rata, in accordance with the program design. Information about applying for future ecosystem growth delegations is available on the Cosmos Hub Forum.
Adjustments and what’s next
The Q2 allocations remain subject to final ICF approval. Delegation adjustments will be executed after that review and the associated operational processes are complete, with timing shared once confirmed.
Validators who believe a mistake in the data excluded them can contact @RoboMcGobo on Telegram.
The next quarterly adjustment will evaluate testnet participation from Q2. Validators not yet participating in the testnet program should join now.
