Removing a Validator Node

This document covers the process of removing a validator node by unbonding the associated staked THEO, withdrawing any rewards and, finally, stopping the node itself.

Step 1: Unbonding the Validator's Stake

The process of removing the staked THEO from your validator node will also effectively remove the validator node's bonded status. You can do this using the following command:

autheod tx staking unbond <validator_address> <amount><denom> --from <key_name> --chain-id <chain_id> --fees <fee><denom>

Which should return something similar to the following output:

{
    "height": "1234567",
    "txhash": "A1B2C3D4E5F67890ABCDEF1234567890ABCDEF1234567890ABCDEF1234567890",
    "codespace": "",
    "code": 0,
    "data": "0A090A07756E626F6E64",
    "raw_log": "[{\"msg_index\":0,\"log\":\"\",\"events\":[{\"type\":\"message\",\"attributes\":
    [{\"key\":\"action\",\"value\":\"unbond\"},{\"key\":\"sender\",\"value\":\"autheo1abcd...\"},
    {\"key\":\"module\",\"value\":\"staking\"}]}]}]",
    "logs": [
        {
            "msg_index": 0,
            "log": "",
            "events": [
                {
                    "type": "message",
                    "attributes": [
                        {
                            "key": "action",
                            "value": "unbond"
                        },
                        {
                            "key": "sender",
                            "value": "autheo1abcd..."
                        },
                        {
                            "key": "module",
                            "value": "staking"
                        }
                    ]
                }
            ]
        }
    ],
    "info": "",
    "gas_wanted": "200000",
    "gas_used": "150000",
    "tx": {
        "@type": "/cosmos.tx.v1beta1.Tx",
        "body": {
            "messages": [
                {
                    "@type": "/cosmos.staking.v1beta1.MsgUndelegate",
                    "delegator_address": "autheo1abcd...",
                    "validator_address": "autheovaloper1xyz...",
                    "amount": {
                        "denom": "aauth",
                        "amount": "1000000"
                    }
                }
            ]
        }
    },
    "timestamp": "2025-03-24T12:34:56Z"
}

Any delegators that staked THEO to your validator node will also need to manually unbond their tokens using the same command as above.

Step 2: Withdraw Rewards

Any remaining rewards earned through performing as a validator node will need to be withdrawn using the following command:

autheod tx distribution withdraw-rewards <validator_address> --from <key_name> --commission --chain-id <chain_id> --fees <fee><denom>

Step 3: Stop and Remove the Node

Once the validator's stake is fully unbonded and you've withdrawn any remaining rewards, you can safely shut down the node using the following command:

pkill -f "autheod start --home <node_home_directory>"

You may then subsequently remove the node's files by deleting the validator's home directory:

// Generic Example
rm -rf <node_home_directory>
 
// Example with mock data
rm -rf ./autheo-node1

This process does not remove the node's historical data from the blockchain and delegators will still have the option of unbonding from the dormant node.

Removing a Validator Node

Step 1: Unbonding the Validator's Stake

Step 2: Withdraw Rewards

Step 3: Stop and Remove the Node

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