Can a Validator’s Stake Be Rented in a Similar Way to Hashrate?
Yes, a validator's stake can be rented, primarily through "liquid staking" protocols or specialized DeFi lending platforms. Liquid staking protocols allow a user to delegate their stake to a validator pool in exchange for a liquid token that represents their staked asset.
This is functionally similar to renting, as the user temporarily transfers the economic control (the staking power) for a return. However, direct rental of a validator's private keys is highly discouraged due to the risk of slashing and loss of funds.