Overview
Cosmos is an ecosystem of interoperable, application-specific blockchains designed to create an “Internet of Blockchains.” Instead of relying on a single monolithic chain where all applications share the same execution environment, Cosmos enables independent blockchains to communicate and exchange value through standard protocols. The Cosmos Hub, secured by the ATOM token, acts as a key routing and coordination center within this network.
Cosmos separates core blockchain functions into modular components: consensus, networking, and application logic. Using the Cosmos SDK and CometBFT (formerly Tendermint), developers can build sovereign chains that define their own state machines, tokens, and governance rules, while still remaining connected to the wider ecosystem. This “app-chain” model lets projects optimize their chains for specific use cases such as DeFi, gaming, infrastructure, or identity.
Interoperability in Cosmos is powered by the Inter-Blockchain Communication (IBC) protocol. IBC allows blockchains to securely send tokens, messages, and other data between each other without relying on centralized bridges. This creates a composable environment where applications on different chains can integrate, share liquidity, and coordinate functionality.
Cosmos’ architecture leads to three major advantages:
- Interoperability – IBC enables secure, standardized communication and asset transfer across many independent chains.
- Sovereignty – Each chain controls its own governance, economics, and upgrades while still participating in the wider Cosmos ecosystem.
- Customization & scalability – The Cosmos SDK makes it easier to build specialized blockchains that scale horizontally by adding more chains instead of overloading a single one.
In summary, Cosmos provides a modular, interoperable framework for building and connecting sovereign blockchains, making decentralized networks more flexible, scalable, and collaborative.
Guide
This guide provides a complete and reliable setup for running a Cosmos mainnet node and validator. Here you’ll find everything you need - from downloading binaries and configuration files to initializing the node, managing keys, applying snapshots, and maintaining a stable validator environment. Follow the steps carefully to ensure a smooth and secure deployment on the Cosmos network.
Prepare
Update and install packages
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y && \ sudo apt install curl tar wget clang pkg-config libssl-dev libleveldb-dev jq build-essential bsdmainutils git make ncdu htop screen unzip bc fail2ban htop -y
Installing Go
VER="1.22.0" cd $HOME && \ wget "https://golang.org/dl/go$VER.linux-amd64.tar.gz" && \ sudo rm -rf /usr/local/go && \ sudo tar -C /usr/local -xzf "go$VER.linux-amd64.tar.gz" && \ rm "go$VER.linux-amd64.tar.gz" && \ echo "export PATH=$PATH:/usr/local/go/bin:$HOME/go/bin" >> $HOME/.bash_profile && \ source $HOME/.bash_profile && \ go version
Binary
git clone cd git checkout make install version --long | grep -e version -e commit # version: # commit:
Initialization
Initialize the node (replace VALIDATOR_NAME with your own)
init VALIDATOR_NAME --chain-id && \ config chain-id && \ config keyring-backend os
Genesis
Download genesis
wget -O $HOME//config/genesis.json
Addrbook
Download addrbook
wget -O $HOME//config/addrbook.json
Configuration
EXTERNAL_IP=$(wget -qO- eth0.me) NODE_NUMBER="1" sed -i.bak \ -e "s/\(proxy_app = \"tcp:\/\/\)\([^:]*\):\([0-9]*\).*/\1\2:$(($NODE_NUMBER + 266))58\"/" \ -e "s/\(laddr = \"tcp:\/\/\)\([^:]*\):\([0-9]*\).*/\1\2:$(($NODE_NUMBER + 266))57\"/" \ -e "s/\(pprof_laddr = \"\)\([^:]*\):\([0-9]*\).*/\1localhost:$(($NODE_NUMBER + 60))60\"/" \ -e "/\[p2p\]/,/^\[/{s/\(laddr = \"tcp:\/\/\)\([^:]*\):\([0-9]*\).*/\1\2:$(($NODE_NUMBER + 266))56\"/}" \ -e "/\[p2p\]/,/^\[/{s/\(external_address = \"\)\([^:]*\):\([0-9]*\).*/\1${EXTERNAL_IP}:$(($NODE_NUMBER + 266))56\"/; t; s/\(external_address = \"\).*/\1${EXTERNAL_IP}:$(($NODE_NUMBER + 266))56\"/}" \ -e "s/\(prometheus_listen_addr = \":\)\([0-9]*\).*/\1$(($NODE_NUMBER + 266))60\"/" $HOME//config/config.toml sed -i.bak \ -e "/\[api\]/,/^\[/{s/\(address = \"tcp:\/\/\)\([^:]*\):\([0-9]*\)\(\".*\)/\1\2:$(($NODE_NUMBER + 13))17\4/}" \ -e "/\[grpc\]/,/^\[/{s/\(address = \"\)\([^:]*\):\([0-9]*\)\(\".*\)/\1\2:$(($NODE_NUMBER + 90))90\4/}" \ -e "/\[grpc-web\]/,/^\[/{s/\(address = \"\)\([^:]*\):\([0-9]*\)\(\".*\)/\1\2:$(($NODE_NUMBER + 90))91\4/}" \ -e "/\[json-rpc\]/,/^\[/{s/\(address = \"\)\([^:]*\):\([0-9]*\)\(\".*\)/\1\2:$(($NODE_NUMBER + 85))45\4/}" \ -e "/\[json-rpc\]/,/^\[/{s/\(ws-address = \"\)\([^:]*\):\([0-9]*\)\(\".*\)/\1\2:$(($NODE_NUMBER + 85))46\4/}" $HOME//config/app.toml echo "export NODE=http://localhost:$(($NODE_NUMBER + 266))57" >> $HOME/.bash_profile && \ source $HOME/.bash_profile && \ config node $NODE
Create a service file
sudo tee /etc/systemd/system/.service > /dev/null <<EOF [Unit] Description=_node After=network.target [Service] User=$USER Type=simple ExecStart=$(which ) start --home $HOME/ Restart=on-failure LimitNOFILE=65535 [Install] WantedBy=multi-user.target EOF
Start the node
sudo systemctl daemon-reload && \ sudo systemctl enable && \ sudo systemctl restart && \ sudo journalctl -u -f -o cat
Restore node from snapshot
sudo apt install lz4 -y && \ sudo systemctl stop && \ cp $HOME//data/priv_validator_state.json $HOME//priv_validator_state.json.backup && \ rm -rf $HOME//data && \ curl | lz4 -dc - | tar -xf - -C $HOME/ && \ mv $HOME//priv_validator_state.json.backup $HOME//data/priv_validator_state.json && \ sudo systemctl restart && \ sudo journalctl -u -f
State Sync
Restore node from state sync
SNAP_RPC=":443" && \ sudo systemctl stop && \ cp $HOME//data/priv_validator_state.json $HOME//priv_validator_state.json.backup && \ tendermint unsafe-reset-all --home $HOME/ --keep-addr-book && \ peers="@" && \ sed -i.bak -e "s/^persistent_peers *=.*/persistent_peers = \"$peers\"/" $HOME//config/config.toml && \ LATEST_HEIGHT=$(curl -s "$SNAP_RPC/block" | jq -r .result.block.header.height) && \ BLOCK_HEIGHT=$((LATEST_HEIGHT - 1000)) && \ TRUST_HASH=$(curl -s "$SNAP_RPC/block?height=$BLOCK_HEIGHT" | jq -r .result.block_id.hash) && \ echo "$LATEST_HEIGHT $BLOCK_HEIGHT $TRUST_HASH" && sleep 2 && \ sed -i.bak -E "s|^(enable[[:space:]]+=[[:space:]]+).*$|\1true| ; s|^(rpc_servers[[:space:]]+=[[:space:]]+).*$|\1\"$SNAP_RPC,$SNAP_RPC\"| ; s|^(trust_height[[:space:]]+=[[:space:]]+).*$|\1$BLOCK_HEIGHT| ; s|^(trust_hash[[:space:]]+=[[:space:]]+).*$|\1\"$TRUST_HASH\"| ; s|^(seeds[[:space:]]+=[[:space:]]+).*$|\1\"\"|" $HOME//config/config.toml && \ mv $HOME//priv_validator_state.json.backup $HOME//data/priv_validator_state.json && \ sudo systemctl restart && \ sudo journalctl -u -f
Upgrade Node
VER="" git clone && \ cd $HOME && \ rm -rf && \ git clone && \ cd && \ git checkout tags/$VER -b $VER && \ make install && \ sudo systemctl restart && \ sudo journalctl -u -f
Delete Node
sudo systemctl stop && \ sudo systemctl disable && \ sudo rm -rf /etc/systemd/system/.service && \ sudo rm "$(which )" && \ sudo rm -rf "$HOME/"
Key management
# This command generates a new wallet with a unique keypair. # Use this to create a secure, brand-new wallet for transactions. # Your wallet name = "wallet" keys add wallet
Validator management
tx staking create-validator \ --amount 1000000 \ --moniker "VALIDATOR_NAME" \ --identity "" \ --website "" \ --details "" \ --from wallet \ --commission-rate 0.1 \ --commission-max-rate 0.2 \ --commission-max-change-rate 0.01 \ --min-self-delegation 1 \ --pubkey $(celestia-appd tendermint show-validator) \ --chain-id \ --gas auto \ --gas-adjustment 1.4 \ --gas-prices 0.002 \ -y
Validator commands
# Retrieves comprehensive information regarding the validator. # This command is utilized to fetch details about the current validator, including its address, public key, and associated data. # Your wallet name = "wallet" q staking validator $( keys show wallet --bech val -a)
Onchain
# Withdraw all accumulated rewards from your account. # This command retrieves and withdraws all rewards earned from staking. # Your wallet name = "wallet" tx distribution withdraw-all-rewards --from wallet --chain-id --gas-adjustment=1.15 --gas auto --gas-prices 0.002 -y


