diff --git a/crates/apps_lib/src/client/rpc.rs b/crates/apps_lib/src/client/rpc.rs
index bb44f82881..d29c0c03fd 100644
--- a/crates/apps_lib/src/client/rpc.rs
+++ b/crates/apps_lib/src/client/rpc.rs
@@ -830,6 +830,7 @@ pub async fn query_protocol_parameters(
                 liveness_threshold,
                 rewards_gain_p,
                 rewards_gain_d,
+                min_commission_rate,
             },
         max_proposal_period: _,
     } = query_pos_parameters(context.client()).await;
@@ -929,6 +930,12 @@ pub async fn query_protocol_parameters(
         "",
         tm_votes_per_token
     );
+    display_line!(
+        context.io(),
+        "{:4}Minimum allowable validator commission rate: {}",
+        "",
+        min_commission_rate
+    );
 }
 
 pub async fn query_bond<C: Client + Sync>(
diff --git a/crates/apps_lib/src/config/genesis/chain.rs b/crates/apps_lib/src/config/genesis/chain.rs
index ac4ad408c4..628b887a3d 100644
--- a/crates/apps_lib/src/config/genesis/chain.rs
+++ b/crates/apps_lib/src/config/genesis/chain.rs
@@ -400,6 +400,7 @@ impl Finalized {
             liveness_threshold,
             rewards_gain_p,
             rewards_gain_d,
+            min_commission_rate,
         } = self.parameters.pos_params.clone();
 
         namada_sdk::proof_of_stake::parameters::PosParams {
@@ -420,6 +421,7 @@ impl Finalized {
                 liveness_threshold,
                 rewards_gain_p,
                 rewards_gain_d,
+                min_commission_rate,
             },
             max_proposal_period: self.parameters.gov_params.max_proposal_period,
         }
diff --git a/crates/apps_lib/src/config/genesis/templates.rs b/crates/apps_lib/src/config/genesis/templates.rs
index 5e3aaf881e..7170bac033 100644
--- a/crates/apps_lib/src/config/genesis/templates.rs
+++ b/crates/apps_lib/src/config/genesis/templates.rs
@@ -415,6 +415,8 @@ pub struct PosParams {
     pub rewards_gain_p: Dec,
     /// PoS gain d (read only)
     pub rewards_gain_d: Dec,
+    /// Minimum validator commission rate
+    pub min_commission_rate: Dec,
 }
 
 #[derive(
diff --git a/crates/node/src/shell/init_chain.rs b/crates/node/src/shell/init_chain.rs
index 05624f1871..6a5bcb5cbc 100644
--- a/crates/node/src/shell/init_chain.rs
+++ b/crates/node/src/shell/init_chain.rs
@@ -635,7 +635,10 @@ where
                             eth_cold_key: &eth_cold_key.pk.raw,
                             eth_hot_key: &eth_hot_key.pk.raw,
                             current_epoch,
-                            commission_rate: *commission_rate,
+                            commission_rate: std::cmp::max(
+                                *commission_rate,
+                                params.min_commission_rate,
+                            ),
                             max_commission_rate_change:
                                 *max_commission_rate_change,
                             metadata: metadata.clone(),
diff --git a/crates/proof_of_stake/src/error.rs b/crates/proof_of_stake/src/error.rs
index 40b1b46592..fa6cfbf499 100644
--- a/crates/proof_of_stake/src/error.rs
+++ b/crates/proof_of_stake/src/error.rs
@@ -91,6 +91,11 @@ pub enum CommissionRateChangeError {
     LargerThanOne(Dec, Address),
     #[error("Rate change of {0} is too large for validator {1}")]
     RateChangeTooLarge(Dec, Address),
+    #[error(
+        "Invalid commission rate of {0}; the minimum allowed by the protocol \
+         is {1}"
+    )]
+    RateBelowMin(Dec, Dec),
     #[error(
         "There is no maximum rate change written in storage for validator {0}"
     )]
diff --git a/crates/proof_of_stake/src/lib.rs b/crates/proof_of_stake/src/lib.rs
index c93126c44a..10a0948040 100644
--- a/crates/proof_of_stake/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/proof_of_stake/src/lib.rs
@@ -1667,6 +1667,7 @@ where
     S: StorageRead + StorageWrite,
     Gov: governance::Read<S>,
 {
+    // Check that the rate is a number between 0.0 and 1.0
     if new_rate.is_negative() {
         return Err(CommissionRateChangeError::NegativeRate(
             new_rate,
@@ -1674,7 +1675,6 @@ where
         )
         .into());
     }
-
     if new_rate > Dec::one() {
         return Err(CommissionRateChangeError::LargerThanOne(
             new_rate,
@@ -1690,6 +1690,16 @@ where
             })?;
 
     let params = read_pos_params::<S, Gov>(storage)?;
+
+    // Check that the new rate is allowed by the min commission rate
+    if new_rate < params.min_commission_rate {
+        return Err(CommissionRateChangeError::RateBelowMin(
+            new_rate,
+            params.min_commission_rate,
+        )
+        .into());
+    }
+
     let commission_handle = validator_commission_rate_handle(validator);
     let pipeline_epoch = checked!(current_epoch + params.pipeline_len)?;
 
diff --git a/crates/proof_of_stake/src/parameters.rs b/crates/proof_of_stake/src/parameters.rs
index 1e1032dbe5..88286b77eb 100644
--- a/crates/proof_of_stake/src/parameters.rs
+++ b/crates/proof_of_stake/src/parameters.rs
@@ -80,6 +80,8 @@ pub struct OwnedPosParams {
     pub rewards_gain_p: Dec,
     /// PoS gain d (read only)
     pub rewards_gain_d: Dec,
+    /// Minimum validator commission rate
+    pub min_commission_rate: Dec,
 }
 
 impl Default for OwnedPosParams {
@@ -108,6 +110,7 @@ impl Default for OwnedPosParams {
             liveness_threshold: Dec::new(9, 1).expect("Test failed"),
             rewards_gain_p: Dec::from_str("0.25").expect("Test failed"),
             rewards_gain_d: Dec::from_str("0.25").expect("Test failed"),
+            min_commission_rate: Dec::from_str("0.05").expect("Test failed"),
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/crates/sdk/src/tx.rs b/crates/sdk/src/tx.rs
index 9e74fd3cc5..fd98b5fe5c 100644
--- a/crates/sdk/src/tx.rs
+++ b/crates/sdk/src/tx.rs
@@ -636,6 +636,18 @@ pub async fn build_validator_commission_change(
                 *rate,
             )));
         }
+        if *rate < params.min_commission_rate {
+            edisplay_line!(
+                context.io(),
+                "New rate is below the minimum allowed by the protocol: {}",
+                params.min_commission_rate
+            );
+            if !tx_args.force {
+                return Err(Error::from(TxSubmitError::InvalidCommissionRate(
+                    *rate,
+                )));
+            }
+        }
 
         let pipeline_epoch_minus_one =
             epoch.unchecked_add(params.pipeline_len - 1);
@@ -873,6 +885,19 @@ pub async fn build_validator_metadata_change(
                 )));
             }
         }
+        if *rate < params.min_commission_rate {
+            edisplay_line!(
+                context.io(),
+                "New rate is below the minimum allowed by the protocol: {}",
+                params.min_commission_rate
+            );
+            if !tx_args.force {
+                return Err(Error::from(TxSubmitError::InvalidCommissionRate(
+                    *rate,
+                )));
+            }
+        }
+
         let pipeline_epoch_minus_one =
             epoch.unchecked_add(params.pipeline_len - 1);
 
diff --git a/crates/tests/src/e2e/ledger_tests.rs b/crates/tests/src/e2e/ledger_tests.rs
index dceed2b2ac..af8bb62972 100644
--- a/crates/tests/src/e2e/ledger_tests.rs
+++ b/crates/tests/src/e2e/ledger_tests.rs
@@ -29,9 +29,11 @@ use namada_core::chain::ChainId;
 use namada_core::token::NATIVE_MAX_DECIMAL_PLACES;
 use namada_sdk::address::Address;
 use namada_sdk::chain::Epoch;
+use namada_sdk::dec::Dec;
 use namada_sdk::time::DateTimeUtc;
 use namada_sdk::token;
 use namada_test_utils::TestWasms;
+use regex::Regex;
 use serde::Serialize;
 use serde_json::json;
 use setup::constants::*;
@@ -503,10 +505,13 @@ fn stop_ledger_at_height() -> Result<()> {
 fn pos_bonds() -> Result<()> {
     let pipeline_len = 2;
     let unbonding_len = 4;
+    let min_commission_rate = Dec::from_str("0.1").unwrap();
     let test = setup::network(
         |mut genesis, base_dir: &_| {
             genesis.parameters.pos_params.pipeline_len = pipeline_len;
             genesis.parameters.pos_params.unbonding_len = unbonding_len;
+            genesis.parameters.pos_params.min_commission_rate =
+                min_commission_rate;
             genesis.parameters.parameters.min_num_of_blocks = 6;
             genesis.parameters.parameters.epochs_per_year = 31_536_000;
             let mut genesis = setup::set_validators(
@@ -576,7 +581,51 @@ fn pos_bonds() -> Result<()> {
     let rpc = get_actor_rpc(&test, Who::Validator(0));
     wait_for_block_height(&test, &rpc, 2, 30)?;
 
+    // 1.1 Query the validator commission rate (should be the min parameter)
     let validator_0_rpc = get_actor_rpc(&test, Who::Validator(0));
+    let tx_args = vec![
+        "commission-rate",
+        "--validator",
+        "validator-0-validator",
+        "--node",
+        &validator_0_rpc,
+    ];
+    let mut client =
+        run_as!(test, Who::Validator(0), Bin::Client, tx_args, Some(40))?;
+
+    let str1 = client.exp_regex(r".* commission rate: [0-1]\.[0-9]*,.*")?.1;
+    client.assert_success();
+
+    let rate1 = Regex::new(r"commission rate: ([0-1]\.[0-9]+),")?
+        .captures(&str1)
+        .unwrap()
+        .get(1)
+        .unwrap()
+        .as_str();
+    let rate1 = Dec::from_str(rate1).unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(rate1, min_commission_rate);
+
+    let tx_args = vec![
+        "commission-rate",
+        "--validator",
+        "validator-1-validator",
+        "--node",
+        &validator_0_rpc,
+    ];
+    let mut client =
+        run_as!(test, Who::Validator(1), Bin::Client, tx_args, Some(40))?;
+
+    let str2 = client.exp_regex(r".* commission rate: [0-1]\.[0-9]*,.*")?.1;
+    client.assert_success();
+
+    let rate2 = Regex::new(r"commission rate: ([0-1]\.[0-9]+),")?
+        .captures(&str2)
+        .unwrap()
+        .get(1)
+        .unwrap()
+        .as_str();
+    let rate2 = Dec::from_str(rate2).unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(rate1, rate2);
 
     // 2. Submit a self-bond for the first genesis validator
     let tx_args = vec![
diff --git a/crates/tests/src/integration/ledger_tests.rs b/crates/tests/src/integration/ledger_tests.rs
index 7d6322d448..cf1146df9e 100644
--- a/crates/tests/src/integration/ledger_tests.rs
+++ b/crates/tests/src/integration/ledger_tests.rs
@@ -1666,6 +1666,131 @@ fn change_validator_metadata() -> Result<()> {
     assert_matches!(captured.result, Ok(_));
     assert!(captured.contains(TX_APPLIED_SUCCESS));
 
+    // 6. Query the metadata to see that the validator website is removed
+    let captured =
+        CapturedOutput::of(|| run(&node, Bin::Client, metadata_query_args));
+    assert_matches!(captured.result, Ok(_));
+    assert!(captured.contains("Email: theokayestvalidator@namada.net"));
+    assert!(captured.contains(
+        "Description: We are just an okay validator node trying to get by"
+    ));
+    assert!(captured.contains("No website"));
+    assert!(captured.contains("No discord handle"));
+    assert!(captured.contains("commission rate:"));
+    assert!(captured.contains("max change per epoch:"));
+
+    // 6. Try to change the validator commission below the minimum
+    let commission_change_args = apply_use_device(vec![
+        "change-commission-rate",
+        "--validator",
+        "validator-0-validator",
+        "--commission-rate",
+        "0.01",
+        "--node",
+        &validator_one_rpc,
+    ]);
+    let captured =
+        CapturedOutput::of(|| run(&node, Bin::Client, commission_change_args));
+    assert_matches!(captured.result, Err(_));
+
+    // 7. Query to ensure it hasn't changed
+    let commission_change_args = apply_use_device(vec![
+        "commission-rate",
+        "--validator",
+        "validator-0-validator",
+        "--node",
+        &validator_one_rpc,
+    ]);
+    let captured =
+        CapturedOutput::of(|| run(&node, Bin::Client, commission_change_args));
+    assert_matches!(captured.result, Ok(_));
+    assert!(
+        captured.contains("commission rate: 0.05, max change per epoch: 0.01")
+    );
+
+    Ok(())
+}
+
+/// Change validator metadata
+#[test]
+fn check_validator_commission() -> Result<()> {
+    // This address doesn't matter for tests. But an argument is required.
+    let validator_one_rpc = "http://127.0.0.1:26567";
+    // 1. start the ledger node
+    let (node, _services) = setup::setup()?;
+
+    // 2. Query the validator metadata loaded from genesis
+    let metadata_query_args = vec![
+        "validator-metadata",
+        "--validator",
+        "validator-0-validator",
+        "--node",
+        &validator_one_rpc,
+    ];
+    let captured = CapturedOutput::of(|| {
+        run(&node, Bin::Client, metadata_query_args.clone())
+    });
+    assert_matches!(captured.result, Ok(_));
+    assert!(captured.contains("No validator name"));
+    assert!(captured.contains("Email:"));
+    assert!(captured.contains("No description"));
+    assert!(captured.contains("No website"));
+    assert!(captured.contains("No discord handle"));
+    assert!(captured.contains("commission rate:"));
+    assert!(captured.contains("max change per epoch:"));
+
+    // 3. Add some metadata to the validator
+    let metadata_change_args = apply_use_device(vec![
+        "change-metadata",
+        "--validator",
+        "validator-0-validator",
+        "--name",
+        "theokayestvalidator",
+        "--email",
+        "theokayestvalidator@namada.net",
+        "--description",
+        "We are just an okay validator node trying to get by",
+        "--website",
+        "theokayestvalidator.com",
+        "--node",
+        &validator_one_rpc,
+    ]);
+
+    let captured =
+        CapturedOutput::of(|| run(&node, Bin::Client, metadata_change_args));
+    assert_matches!(captured.result, Ok(_));
+    assert!(captured.contains(TX_APPLIED_SUCCESS));
+
+    // 4. Query the metadata after the change
+    let captured = CapturedOutput::of(|| {
+        run(&node, Bin::Client, metadata_query_args.clone())
+    });
+    assert_matches!(captured.result, Ok(_));
+    assert!(captured.contains("Validator name: theokayestvalidator"));
+    assert!(captured.contains("Email: theokayestvalidator@namada.net"));
+    assert!(captured.contains(
+        "Description: We are just an okay validator node trying to get by"
+    ));
+    assert!(captured.contains("Website: theokayestvalidator.com"));
+    assert!(captured.contains("No discord handle"));
+    assert!(captured.contains("commission rate:"));
+    assert!(captured.contains("max change per epoch:"));
+
+    // 5. Remove the validator website
+    let metadata_change_args = apply_use_device(vec![
+        "change-metadata",
+        "--validator",
+        "validator-0-validator",
+        "--website",
+        "",
+        "--node",
+        &validator_one_rpc,
+    ]);
+    let captured =
+        CapturedOutput::of(|| run(&node, Bin::Client, metadata_change_args));
+    assert_matches!(captured.result, Ok(_));
+    assert!(captured.contains(TX_APPLIED_SUCCESS));
+
     // 6. Query the metadata to see that the validator website is removed
     let captured =
         CapturedOutput::of(|| run(&node, Bin::Client, metadata_query_args));
diff --git a/genesis/hardware/parameters.toml b/genesis/hardware/parameters.toml
index cda15160aa..ffd3abdad5 100644
--- a/genesis/hardware/parameters.toml
+++ b/genesis/hardware/parameters.toml
@@ -71,6 +71,8 @@ liveness_threshold = "0.9"
 rewards_gain_p = "0.25"
 # The D gain factor in the Proof of Stake rewards controller
 rewards_gain_d = "0.25"
+# Minimum allowable validator commission rate
+min_commission_rate = "0.05"
 
 # Governance parameters.
 [gov_params]
diff --git a/genesis/localnet/parameters.toml b/genesis/localnet/parameters.toml
index 161e4da0ab..f843bdd17f 100644
--- a/genesis/localnet/parameters.toml
+++ b/genesis/localnet/parameters.toml
@@ -71,6 +71,8 @@ liveness_threshold = "0.9"
 rewards_gain_p = "0.25"
 # The D gain factor in the Proof of Stake rewards controller
 rewards_gain_d = "0.25"
+# Minimum allowable validator commission rate
+min_commission_rate = "0.05"
 
 # Governance parameters.
 [gov_params]
diff --git a/genesis/starter/parameters.toml b/genesis/starter/parameters.toml
index 79b53b6b1c..1a09c1c8cc 100644
--- a/genesis/starter/parameters.toml
+++ b/genesis/starter/parameters.toml
@@ -71,6 +71,8 @@ liveness_threshold = "0.9"
 rewards_gain_p = "0.25"
 # The D gain factor in the Proof of Stake rewards controller
 rewards_gain_d = "0.25"
+# Minimum allowable validator commission rate
+min_commission_rate = "0.05"
 
 # Governance parameters.
 [gov_params]
diff --git a/wasm/tx_change_validator_commission/src/lib.rs b/wasm/tx_change_validator_commission/src/lib.rs
index bc30b89ebd..5dd14e0c24 100644
--- a/wasm/tx_change_validator_commission/src/lib.rs
+++ b/wasm/tx_change_validator_commission/src/lib.rs
@@ -114,7 +114,11 @@ mod tests {
 
         assert_eq!(commission_rates_pre[0], Some(initial_rate));
 
-        apply_tx(ctx(), signed_tx.batch_first_tx())?;
+        let res = apply_tx(ctx(), signed_tx.batch_first_tx());
+        if commission_change.new_rate < pos_params.min_commission_rate {
+            assert!(res.is_err());
+            return Ok(());
+        }
 
         // Read the data after the tx is executed