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Meta Pool has issued an important clarification regarding their voting mechanism for validator selection. **Key Voting Rule:** - Only engagement (likes, reposts, and comments) on the **official Meta Pool post** counts as valid votes - Interactions on validators' own promotional posts do **not** count toward voting This rule ensures a fair and centralized voting process, preventing validators from artificially inflating their support through self-promotion. All community members participating in validator selection should direct their engagement to Meta Pool's official announcements to ensure their votes are counted. The clarification has been reiterated multiple times across late January and early February 2026, emphasizing its importance to the voting process.

Meta Pool has launched the **Validator World Cup 2026**, a community-driven competition where validators compete for advancement through public voting. **Current Match: Vietnam (Cohort 1)** - Competing validators: ttt.poolv1.near vs validatorvn.pool.near - Voting mechanism: Likes and retweets determine the winner - No judges or overtime—pure community decision **Recent Results:** - Mexico Cohort 2: staker-rene.pool.near advanced - Venezuela Week 2: blocksentry.pool.near moved forward - US Cohort 2: takeshi7.pool.near progressed The tournament runs throughout 2026, featuring validators from multiple countries competing in cohorts. Community engagement through social media interactions directly impacts match outcomes, creating a decentralized selection process for validator advancement.

Meta Pool is reminding users to verify and renew their votes as January comes to a close. **Key Action Required:** - Users need to check their voting status before the month ends - Renewal can be completed at [Meta Pool's voting portal](https://www.metapool.app/myvotes) This is a routine monthly reminder for Meta Pool participants to maintain their voting participation in the protocol's governance system.

**The referral points system follows a straightforward logic:** - You refer a new wallet - That wallet stakes for the first time - You earn points **Key mechanics:** - **Network diversity matters**: Using different networks increases your points - **No double-dipping**: The same wallet staking repeatedly won't break the system, but won't generate additional points - **First-time actions count**: Points are awarded for bringing in new participants who stake for the first time The system rewards genuine network growth while preventing gaming through repeated actions from the same wallet.

**The Last Block of 2025** campaign aims to onboard genuine users to staking, moving away from trading speculation and hype. **How it works:** - Bring a new wallet that stakes, and you earn points - First-time staking activity is prioritized - Using different networks increases rewards The initiative emphasizes **real adoption** over vanity metrics like clicks or trading volume. Participants earn by introducing new users to staking across multiple networks. The campaign runs through a straightforward referral system where bringing your first staker generates rewards. No complex mechanics or inflated promises—just direct incentives for growing the staking community. [Learn more about earning points](https://peppermint-daffodil-e37.notion.site/12d3f29d38d380779947db096ec04dce)