diff --git a/javascript/packages/orchestrator/src/paras-decorators/moonbeam.ts b/javascript/packages/orchestrator/src/paras-decorators/moonbeam.ts
index cdd33a9a3..ba7d115ab 100644
--- a/javascript/packages/orchestrator/src/paras-decorators/moonbeam.ts
+++ b/javascript/packages/orchestrator/src/paras-decorators/moonbeam.ts
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ import { generateKeyForNode as _generateKeyForNode } from "../keys";
 import { ChainSpec, Node } from "../types";
 
 // track 1st staking as default;
-let paraStakingBond: number | undefined;
+let paraStakingBond: bigint | undefined;
 
 export type GenesisNodeKey = [string, string];
 
@@ -130,9 +130,18 @@ async function addParaCustom(specPath: string, node: Node) {
 
   const { eth_account } = node.accounts;
 
+  const stakingBond = paraStakingBond || BigInt("1000000000000000000000");
+  const reservedBalance = BigInt("100000000000000000000");
+
+  // Ensure collator account has enough balance to bond and add candidate
+  runtimeConfig.balances.balances.push([
+    eth_account.address,
+    stakingBond + reservedBalance,
+  ]);
+
   runtimeConfig.parachainStaking.candidates.push([
     eth_account.address,
-    paraStakingBond || 1000000000000,
+    stakingBond,
   ]);
 
   writeChainSpec(specPath, chainSpec);