diff --git a/.changelog/unreleased/bug-fixes/3445-export-consensus-validators.md b/.changelog/unreleased/bug-fixes/3445-export-consensus-validators.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..daf910e347
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changelog/unreleased/bug-fixes/3445-export-consensus-validators.md
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+- Export only validators that are participating in consensus
+    ([\#3445](https://github.com/cosmos/gaia/pull/3445))
diff --git a/app/export.go b/app/export.go
index b82996ea88..f9d9236f1c 100644
--- a/app/export.go
+++ b/app/export.go
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package gaia
 
 import (
 	"encoding/json"
+	"sort"
 
 	tmproto "github.com/cometbft/cometbft/proto/tendermint/types"
 
@@ -43,6 +44,18 @@ func (app *GaiaApp) ExportAppStateAndValidators(
 	}
 
 	validators, err := staking.WriteValidators(ctx, app.StakingKeeper)
+	if err != nil {
+		return servertypes.ExportedApp{}, err
+	}
+	sort.SliceStable(validators, func(i, j int) bool {
+		return validators[i].Power > validators[j].Power
+	})
+	// we have to trim this to only active consensus validators
+	maxVals := app.ProviderKeeper.GetMaxProviderConsensusValidators(ctx)
+	if len(validators) > int(maxVals) {
+		validators = validators[:maxVals]
+	}
+
 	return servertypes.ExportedApp{
 		AppState:        appState,
 		Validators:      validators,