This article is published on HackMD.

Currently, when delegating to a block producer (aka validator) on MINA, the distribution of rewards is conducted off-chain, so block producers are responsible for calculating and distributing payouts according to their terms and conditions. Typical terms and conditions would include the fee percentage, the payout frequency, and perhaps the payout algorithm used. While the delegator’s funds are not at risk (you merely delegate the right to produce a block), a pool operator can steal any rewards in the worst-case scenario. The only recourse for a delegator would be to switch, which due to the latency involved in delegation transactions, would result in at least two epochs of rewards lost.