ICF Delegation Program: Q3 2026 Selected Validators
The ICF’s redesigned ATOM delegation program is now in its third quarterly adjustment cycle. This post provides a short reminder of how the program works, the changes made since the last cycle, and shares the Q3 2026 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% over the last 12 months, counting only proposals where the validator was in the active set. 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 on at least 90 of the last 100 days.
- No disqualifying slashes in the last 90 days.
- At least six Hypha testnet points across the quarter, plus a passing testnet uptime result for the quarter.
Changes since the last cycle
- Governance lookback. The July post announced a 6-month lookback for this cycle. This cycle uses a rolling 12-month lookback instead, counting only proposals where the validator was in the active set, as shared on the Oct 14 validator call.
- Active set. Validators need to be in the active set on at least 90 of the last 100 days.
- Testnet participation. Hypha testnet points and testnet uptime are now required, evaluated on the quarter’s participation.
- Ecosystem growth delegations. New ecosystem growth delegations are now added on top of any default delegation the validator qualifies for. Agreements made before this cycle (node101 and The Cybernetics) keep their fixed amounts in place of a default delegation.
- Downtime. Downtime and jailing from Sept 7 to 30 were excused for this cycle.
- Round naming. Rounds are now named for the quarter of their snapshot. This round uses the Sept 30, 2026 snapshot, so it is Q3. The round announced in August as “Q3 Selected Validators” used the June 15 snapshot, so it is now edited as Q2.
Validators that did not meet the criteria this quarter can qualify automatically in future cycles as soon as they meet them.
Q3 2026 selected validators
This quarter, 47 validators qualified for default tranche delegations of 275,575.17 ATOM each, and two new partners hold ecosystem growth allocations, for a total of four with those allocated in Q2. Across both tranches, 14,474,826.99 ATOM was delegated to 50 validators. The full validator-level allocations and qualifying criteria data are available here.
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Data collection and compliance screening were again performed with Range, with testnet data from Hypha, using the following snapshot windows:
- Snapshot: Cosmos Hub block 33,200,403 (Sept 30, 2026).
- Governance participation: the 12 months ending Sept 30, 2026.
- 90-day criteria: the 90 days ending Sept 30, 2026.
- Active set: the 100 days ending Sept 30, 2026.
- Testnet participation: July through September 2026.
Ecosystem growth delegation recipients: Q3 2026
The ecosystem growth tranche supports validators providing strategic services and infrastructure to the Cosmos Hub and broader ecosystem. This quarter, two new partners hold ecosystem growth delegations:
InfStones: 597,794 ATOM. Selected to build and operate an institutional-grade ATOM staking API, so custodians and brokerages can offer ATOM staking through channels they already run. The API covers delegating, undelegating, redelegating, and claiming rewards. It also provides reporting on balances and rewards that institutional clients need for their own books. InfStones was chosen because it already has a network of institutional partners and runs staking infrastructure for enterprises moving into digital assets.
Solva (CryptoCrew): 75,000 ATOM, on top of its default delegation. Selected through the Cosmos Hub PebbleDB Snapshot Provider RFP.
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 Q3 2026 delegations have been executed.
The next quarterly adjustment uses a snapshot at the last block before 00:00 UTC on Jan 1, 2027, and will evaluate testnet participation from October through December 2026. Validators not yet participating in the testnet program should join now.
