Fix VN registration detection timeout in state sync test

[sdbondi]

Bounty: Fix VN Registration Detection Timeout in State Sync Test

Tier: M — 60,000 XTM

Description

The "New validator node registers and syncs" cucumber test times out waiting for VN2 to report itself as registered after sending a registration transaction. The miner mines to the next epoch, but VN2 gets stuck at block height 40 and never picks up its registration. This could be a race condition where VN2 hasn't processed the block containing its registration, or the epoch boundary logic doesn't trigger registration pickup in time.

Acceptance Criteria

• The the validator node VN2 is listed as registered step passes
• "New validator node registers and syncs" scenario passes end-to-end
• Investigation confirms whether the mines to the next epoch step mines enough blocks for VN2 to see the registration

Context

• Issue opened by @sdbondi
• Error: Timed out waiting for validator node to pick up registration (current block height: 40)
• Affected step: integration_tests/tests/steps/validator_node.rs:255
• Affected scenario in tests/features/state_sync.feature

How to Claim

1. Comment on this issue to signal intent (courtesy, not a lock)
2. Fork the repo and do the work
3. Submit a PR that meets the acceptance criteria
4. First PR that passes review and gets merged wins the bounty
5. On acceptance, XTM payment is processed

Notes

• AI-assisted development is expected and encouraged
• If you get stuck, ask in Discord
• If you can't complete it within 14 days of claiming, let us know so someone else can pick it up

[metalaureate]

Original issue description (preserved before bounty rewrite)

Description

After VN2 sends a registration transaction and the miner mines to the next epoch, the test times out waiting for VN2 to report itself as registered (stuck at block height 40). This could be a race condition where VN2 hasn't processed the block containing its registration, or the epoch boundary logic doesn't trigger registration pickup in time.

Affected scenario: "New validator node registers and syncs" (tests/features/state_sync.feature)

Error:

Timed out waiting for validator node to pick up registration (current block height: 40)

Step: integration_tests/tests/steps/validator_node.rs:255

Acceptance criteria

• the validator node VN2 is listed as registered step passes
• "New validator node registers and syncs" scenario passes end-to-end
• Investigate whether the mines to the next epoch step mines enough blocks for VN2 to see the registration

Size: M

[Ltbltbltbltb]

The timeout error you're seeing — "Timed out waiting for validator node to pick up registration (current block height: 40)" — suggests a synchronization gap between the registration transaction finalization and VN2's block processing. I've worked with similar state sync issues in blockchain integration tests.

Here's my diagnostic approach:

1. Verify block mining: Confirm that mines to the next epoch actually reaches the block where the registration transaction is included, not just the epoch boundary.

2. Trace registration pickup logic: Debug the registration listener in VN2 to see if it's being triggered at all or if the block containing the registration hasn't reached VN2's chain yet.

3. Check epoch boundary handling: Inspect whether the epoch transition logic waits for all nodes to process the epoch block before allowing registration to proceed.

4. Add instrumentation: Insert logging to track block height progression, registration event emission, and listener state.

The issue likely stems from incomplete block propagation before the epoch transition, or the test not waiting long enough for VN2 to sync after mining.

Estimate: 1–2 days. This involves tracing async block propagation and test timing, which typically requires careful debugging.

What's the relationship between the epoch transition and block finality in your consensus implementation — does VN2 need to see block finality before processing registration?

[0xPepeSilvia]

Claiming this bounty. Will have a PR up within the 14-day window.