Validator delegation using child hotkeys

This guide helps you delegate a portion of your stake to the official Masa validator using a child hotkey on Subnet 42. Delegating through child hotkeys enhances security, simplifies operations, and enables direct support of the Masa network.

What is a Child Hotkey?

A child hotkey is a hotkey that receives a delegated portion of stake from a parent hotkey. This lets you safely stake across subnets and validators without exposing your primary hotkey to risk.

Why Delegate to the Masa Validator?

0% Take Rate

βœ“ Keep 100% of your rewards
βœ“ Zero commission currently
βœ“ Take rates may adjust in future

Trusted Infrastructure

βœ“ Run by Masa core team
βœ“ Enterprise-grade reliability
βœ“ Professional monitoring

Simple Setup

βœ“ Delegate in minutes
βœ“ Clear documentation
βœ“ Easy to get started

Scalable Design

βœ“ Multi-subnet staking
βœ“ Isolated operational risk
βœ“ Flexible delegation
Masa is currently one of the most delegator-friendly validators on Bittensor Subnet 42 with a 0% take rate, though this rate may be adjusted in the future.

πŸͺͺ Masa Validator Hotkey for Delegation

To delegate to the official Masa Validator on Subnet 42, use this hotkey address:
5CZv4oXgYsAFjJj8rLmmbLG29y7x9RGEc6hM9tzCwRU8NeDe

πŸ› οΈ Step-by-Step Guide

1

Register Your Child Hotkey

Run the following command to register your child hotkey:
btcli register --wallet.name <child_wallet_name> --netuid 42
2

Delegate Stake to Masa Validator

Execute this command to delegate your stake:
btcli stake set_children \
  --netuid 42 \
  --children <your_child_hotkey_ss58> \
  --proportions 1.0 \
  --hotkey 5CZv4oXgYsAFjJj8rLmmbLG29y7x9RGEc6hM9tzCwRU8NeDe \
  --wallet.name <your_coldkey_name>
Tip: The --proportions flag should reflect the portion of stake you want to delegate (e.g., 0.5 for 50%).
By default, the child hotkey starts with a take rate of 0%, and the Masa validator does not charge any fee. You keep 100% of your rewards.

View Your Delegation

Check that your delegation is active:
btcli stake get_children --netuid 42 --hotkey 5CZv4oXgYsAFjJj8rLmmbLG29y7x9RGEc6hM9tzCwRU8NeDe --all

Update or Revoke Delegation

Update proportions:
btcli stake set_children \
  --netuid 42 \
  --children <your_child_hotkey> \
  --proportions <new_proportion> \
  --hotkey 5CZv4oXgYsAFjJj8rLmmbLG29y7x9RGEc6hM9tzCwRU8NeDe \
  --wallet.name <your_coldkey_name>
Revoke delegation:
btcli stake revoke_children --hotkey 5CZv4oXgYsAFjJj8rLmmbLG29y7x9RGEc6hM9tzCwRU8NeDe --netuid 42

Optional: Set Take Rate for Your Child Hotkey

Control how much your child key keeps from rewards: Set take rate:
btcli stake set_childkey_take --hotkey <your_child_hotkey> --netuid 42 --take 0.18
Check take rate:
btcli stake get_childkey_take --hotkey <your_child_hotkey> --netuid 42
Note: You can only update the take rate once every 30 days.

Important Considerations

  • The total proportion across child keys must be ≀ 1.0
  • You must have registered your child hotkey on Subnet 42
  • Minimum stake may apply depending on network settings
  • Masa validator’s default take rate is 0%, so you keep 100% of your earnings