Polkadot Referendum 1890 Proposes 10,000 DOT Minimum Self-Stake for Validators

According to BlockBeats, on May 25, Polkadot OpenGov is voting on Referendum 1890, which proposes requiring Polkadot validators to lock at least 10,000 DOT of their own funds as self-stake.

The reform is a mandatory prerequisite for the next major staking upgrade, which includes eliminating slashing risk for nominators and reducing unbonding time from approximately 28 days to 24 to 48 hours. If approved, validators will directly assume slashing exposure through higher self-bonding, while nominators can continue earning staking rewards without risking their principal, lowering participation risk and accelerating exit.