Originally, the validator set size in the Cosmos Hub was capped at 100, ordered by total delegated Atoms.
The Cosmos whitepaper stated that the validator set size should increase 13% per year until it hits 300 validators as a cap.
In July 2019, proposal #10 suggested a new way to set the validator set size: through governance. This proposal also extended the active validator set size to 125, which still is the current network parameter.
Almost two years have been passed since this last set validator increase and the network has proven its reliability and stability. This proposal suggests increasing the validator set to 150 to improve network decentralization.
Other Cosmos-based networks, like Terra, have already raised the cap to 130 validators, proving that this parameter upgrade is feasible.
Edit 29/08/2021: Proposal 54 is in the voting period:
Currently, the minimum stake to become a validator is 65k ATOM, which is $737K at current prices. Increasing the validator size to 150 would lower the barrier for new validators, and thus helping to decentralize the Cosmos Network.
2 years ago in 2019, it was voted for 125 seats as the network could go without any problems to 180 seats.
With the large amounts of new features and progress in the chain, I think it would be great to adjust to 150 as well.
There are many new validators that are working well on others cosmos chains, that didn’t deploy yet on cosmos as there is no space for them.
These 25 seats will be taken fast with the number of newcomers and builders in the ecosystem. A lot of more builders in the main chain can only be great.
This looks like a modest proposal to increase decentralization, and thus the power to scale the network’s capabilities. Certainly it will dilute governance pull and rewards of existing validators, but that is inevitable if we are to become competitive.
The proposal passed and it has become immediately effective . The number of active validators in the Cosmos Network is now 150. Thanks for the support!!
Is there any chance that we have another proposal to increase again? I believe there are plenty of candidates are waiting for this opportunity to join the network.