> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.exsat.network/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.exsat.network/guides-of-data-consensus/others/operation-references/validator-operations/compete-to-win-a-validator-quota.md).

# Compete to win a Validator quota

### 1. Navigate to the "Compete to win a Validator quota" menu

If you're running from source code, please execute "yarn start-commander" to run the client. 

```
yarn start-commander
```

If you're running with Docker, please use the following commands to run it in interactive mode (assume the name of the container is "commander")

```
docker rm commander
docker run -it --name commander -v $HOME/.exsat/:/app/.exsat -e CLIENT_TYPE=commander exsatnetwork/exsat-client:latest
```

Then you can perform the "Compete to win a Validator quota" action by choose : 

Validator -> Compete to win a Validator quota

### 2. Execute "Compete to win a Validator quota"

When selecting "Compete for a Validator Quota," you may encounter the following scenarios:

1. **If quotas are available**, you will see a message: "Please confirm to participate in the competition." Press "Enter" to confirm.
   * The system will then attempt to call the Compete Contract for a validator quota. If successful, you’ll receive a congratulatory message as below. If unsuccessful, refer to scenario 2.<br>

     <figure><img src="/files/JDQJxGWCiLZdmYfGWLLD" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>
2. **If no quotas are available**, the message will state: "All quotas have been claimed. Please wait for the next round." Press "Enter" to exit, and wait for the next competition round to try again.<br>

   <figure><img src="/files/nIEKvdphOlqhigRHaGcG" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

If you successfully obtain a validator quota, you can become a Validator and participate in exSat consensus by keeping your client running. If you do not receive a quota, you can wait for the bridge to go live, bridge BTC to exSat, and complete the [staking ](/guides-of-data-consensus/others/operation-references/validator-operations/stake-for-validator-via-xbtc-staking-or-xsat-staking.md)process to become a Validator.