# Join Amber testnet as a Validator

This document introduces how to join the amber as a validator node.

Before you start, you must have a trusted server running bitcoincashnode's client with RPC enabled. The executable `smartbchd` will connect to it for querying staking information.

#### 1. build the binary

Running the steps of [this document](https://github.com/smartbch/docs/blob/master/developers-guide/build-smartbchd.md).

Then clone the source code of smartBCH and build the executable of `smartbchd`.

```bash
cd ~/smart_bch
git clone -b v0.4.2 --depth 1 https://github.com/smartbch/smartbch
cd smartbch
go build -tags "params_amber cppbtree" github.com/smartbch/smartbch/cmd/smartbchd
```

After successfully executing the above commands, you'll get a \~/smart\_bch/smartbch/smartbchd file for amber.

#### 2. prepare the working directory

```bash
cp ~/smart_bch/smartbch/smartbchd ~/build/smartbchd
cd ~
rm -rf .smartbchd
~/build/smartbchd init mynode --chain-id 0x2711
wget https://github.com/smartbch/artifacts/releases/download/v0.0.5/dot.smartbchd.tgz
tar zxvf dot.smartbchd.tgz
cp -rf dot.smartbchd/* .smartbchd/
```

#### 3. Prepare the validator keys

Running step 1 and step 2 of [this doc](/smartbch/archives/runmultinode.md#1-on-the-nodes-which-do-not-generate-the-genesis-file) to generate validator key and consensus pubkey.

Then, copy the priv\_validator\_key.json to work directory by running command below:

```
cp ./priv_validator_key.json ~/.smartbchd/config/
```

#### 4. Modify App config

Open the `~/.smartbchd/config/app.toml` file to modify the information of the bitcoincashnode's client with RPC enabled.

```
# BCH mainnet rpc url
mainnet-rpc-url = "http://ip-address:8332"

# BCH mainnet rpc username
mainnet-rpc-username = "<my user name>"

# BCH mainnet rpc password
mainnet-rpc-password = "<my password>"
```

#### 5. start smartbchd

```bash
cd ~/build
~/build/smartbchd start --mainnet-genesis-height=602983
```

#### 6. Build createValidator Tx

Using validator private key and consensus pubkey generated in step 3 to build command below:

```
./smartbchd staking \
--validator-key=<your validator private key> \
--staking-coin=1 \
--consensus-pubkey=<your consensus pub key> \
--introduction=<your validator introduction> \
--type=create \
--nonce=0 \
--gas-price=10000000000 \
--chain-id=0x2711	
```

This command generate createValidator tx raw data, send it in step 8 below.

#### 7. Get some BCH to Send Tx

Get some BCH from some one has BCH in smartBCH already to your validator account. To check your account balance like this.

```
curl -X POST --data '{"jsonrpc":"2.0","method":"eth_getBalance","params":["<your validator account address>","latest"],"id":1}' -H "Content-Type: application/json" http://127.0.0.1:8545
```

#### 8. Send Tx to smartBCH Amber

Please follow step 1, 2 of [this doc](/smartbch/archives/runmultinode.md#step-1-send-transaction-to-register-as-a-validator).

#### 9. Vote your consensus pubkey in Amber Xhedge Contract

Please go to <https://amber.xhedge.cash/> to split your BCH to LeverNFT and HedgeNFT, and vote for your validator just created.


---

# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://docs.smartbch.org/smartbch/testnets_validator.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.