Welcome
We’re excited to have you join the Ethereum validator set!
This handbook guides you through running an Ethereum validator using Lido Community Staking Module (CSM).
By the end of Q1 2026, participants will have hands-on experience operating Ethereum validators on testnet and will have accumulated sufficient experience and points to apply for the Identified Community Staker role, which has benefits for home stakers supporting the network.
How this program works
Async first
- Modules include instructions, learning material, and reference links
- You may:
- Follow modules sequentially, or
- Jump directly to any section you’re already comfortable with
Syncs
There are 2-3 live sessions:
- Kickoff session, to set expectations.
- Midpoint checkpoint, to review progress
- Final meeting, lessons learned and next steps with your setup
Live support
- Weekly office hours on Tuesdays @ 15HR UTC
- Drop in with questions, debugging issues, or to sanity-check your setup
- No agenda or preparation required
What success looks like
By the end of the quarter, you should be able to confidently say:
- I have:
- Run Ethereum execution + consensus clients on testnet
- Generated validator keys safely
- Activated and operated at least one testnet validator
- I understand:
- Validator duties and risks
- Slashing and downtime scenarios
- What “good operator behavior” actually means
- I can articulate:
- How Ethereum validators work
- What broke while operating & how to fix it
Time commitment
You should expect to commit 2–6 hours per week. Learning and reading weeks will be on the lower end, while setup and activation weeks will require more time.
Infrastructure to run the validators
Home staking is the gold standard in Ethereum, and we encourage running a validator on your own machine when possible. That said, there are multiple paths:
- Home setup (preferred when feasible)
- Cloud servers, including free or trial tiers suitable for testnet
We’re happy to sponsor the machines for the memebers of this cohort to make sure you all have a home setup.
High level program timeline
Phase | Dates | Focus |
Coordination | Jan 6–12 | Scheduling kickoff & office hours |
Orientation | Jan 13–19 | Expectations & setup paths |
Fundamentals | Jan 20–Feb 1 | Staking concepts & infra decisions |
Client setup | Feb 3–16 | Execution + consensus client sync |
Midpoint checkpoint | Feb 17–23 | Progress review |
Validators live | Feb 24–Mar 9 | Key generation & deposits |
Operations | Mar 10–23 | Running, monitoring, fixing |
Closing & next steps | Mar 24–31 | Considerations for Mainnet |