Staking Modules Updates
Community Staking Module
Stronger Decentralization for Lido Core
Following LDO tokenholder approval via on-chain Vote #199 and the successful completion of the Dual Governance review, the Community Staking Module’s stakeShareLimit was increased to 8.5%, while the priority exit threshold — to 10.3%.
Following this share increase, the CSM reached 7.59% of Lido Core TVL by the end of April, securing 1.76% of all staked ETH and further strengthening the role of permissionless validators within the Lido protocol.
Round Four ICS Application Results
The fourth Identified Community Staker (ICS) application round concluded on April 13, evaluating applications submitted since January 23.
Since its introduction alongside the CSM v2 upgrade, the ICS framework has continued to gain strong traction, empowering independent operators by providing tailored staking conditions and enhanced capital efficiency: 542 applications evaluated and 375 approvals to date.
As a result of this round, 12 additional Node Operators qualified for ICS status. Applicants can check their results via the CSM interface:
- Eligible operators may claim their ICS operator type directly in the UI,
- New operators will have the ICS type assigned automatically upon creating their operator profile.
If you're an independent staker and haven’t applied yet, there’s still plenty of time to submit your application for the next review round. Applications remain open, with the next evaluation expected in late Q2 or early Q3 — stay tuned for updates on the exact timeline.
Curated Module
Curated Module v2 Migration Testnet
The stake migration from the legacy Curated Module to the new Curated Module v2 (CMv2) represents a major step toward making Lido Core remain competitive, sustainable, and aligned with Lido and Ethereum’s roadmap.
To help ensure a smooth testnet rollout and avoid delays with the mainnet migration, Lido contributors hosted a dedicated CMv2 Migration Townhall in April to walk Curated Node Operators (NOs) through the migration process (also available in the Migration Guide), present a live demo of the new CMv2 UI and validator consolidation process, and answer questions.
The townhall was recorded — Curated Node Operators can find the recording link and passcode in the Lido Validators Telegram group.
On top of that, Lido contributors distributed Hoodi ETH for the bond to operators that had already submitted requests.
Testnet Progress
The CMv2 Hoodi migration testnet officially began on May 4, with Curated NOs starting the onboarding and validator migration process following the previously published Testnet Migration Schedule.
Curated Node Operators should note that migration timing may be adjusted as testing progresses, so they are encouraged to closely monitor ongoing updates and coordination channels.
Node Operator Type Assessment Framework
Lido contributors introduced a proposed Node Operator Type Assessment Framework to improve transparency and consistency in how NOs qualify for different types in the new CMv2. The proposal outlines qualification criteria, scoring methodology and assessment logic, as well as reassessment and review flow processes.
The framework is intended to provide a clearer and more structured process for evaluating Curated NOs as the module evolves into a more flexible and parameterized system.
The proposal is now live on Snapshot. Curated Node Operators and LDO tokenholders are invited to review the framework and signal support before voting closes on May 18.
Simple DVT Module
Participants in several SimpleDVT Module clusters — Brave Binturong, Cheerful Cockatoo, Fearless Firefly, Resilient Rabbit, and Splendid Swan — have decided to wind down their operations. Thus, Lido contributors, together with previously approved backup SimpleDVT participants, are working on the rotation processes.
Lido x Obol
Lido x SSV
Mainnet | Status: Active ▶️
- Cohort 1 is active, 10 clusters running 80 validators each, 1 cluster running 5 validators
- Cohort 2 is active: 12 clusters running 80 validators each, 1 cluster running 5 validators
- Cohort 3 is active, 9 clusters running 80 validators each
- Obol Super Clusters are active, 5 clusters running 500 validators each
Mainnet | Status: Active ▶️
- Cohort 1 is active, 12 clusters running 80 validators each
- Cohort 2 is active, 7 clusters running 80 validators each, 1 cluster running 5 validators
- Cohort 3 is active, 15 clusters running 80 validators each
- SSV Super Clusters are active, 5 clusters running 500 validators each
2026 Staking Survey by EthStaker
This annual survey by the EthStaker community helps capture a broad snapshot of the Ethereum staking ecosystem and community sentiment. It also aims to identify where ecosystem advocacy and education efforts are working well or where additional support may be needed.
The survey is open to everyone — results will be published and open-sourced (all responses are anonymous to protect responders’ privacy).
Broad community participation allows building a more accurate and representative picture of the Ethereum landscape today, so Lido contributors are inviting everyone to join and help create a current picture of the staking ecosystem.
Node Operator Community
Lido Poolside: Institutional
April’s edition of Lido Poolside community call focused on the growing role of institutions in Ethereum staking and the evolving infrastructure supporting them.
The community call covered institutional perspectives and emerging trends, Credora’s new risk assessment framework and its stETH rating, and EIP-8205, a proposed protocol-level improvement aimed at making delegated staking deposits safer.
Watch the full 65-minute recording on YouTube or catch the main highlights in the recap.
Lido Mainnet MEV-Boost Relays List Update
Following Easy Track Motion #1024, the SecureRPC (Manifold) relay was removed from the Mainnet (must use some) list.
The relay had been consistently unavailable for approximately four months. Multiple attempts to contact the Manifold team received no response, and no recovery timeline was provided. As relays in the Mainnet (must use some) category are expected to be reliably operational, Lido contributors proposed its removal to maintain reliability and operational stability across the broader Lido validator set.
Action Required
Lido Node Operators should remove the following relay from their configurations:
Lido Oracles Update
1. Key rotation
Stakefish old address REMOVED
0x946D3b081ed19173dC83Cd974fC69e1e760B7d78
Stakefish new address ADDED
0x042a9e5acCfa17e28300F1b5967f20891E973922
2. Member Replacement
Chorus One REMOVED
0x285f8537e1dAeEdaf617e96C742F2Cf36d63CcfB
Bitwise Onchain Solutions ADDED
0x8dB977C13CAA938BC58464bFD622DF0570564b78
Action required: if you're a Curated or Simple DVT Node Operator using Ejector or referencing the Lido Oracle Allowlist in a custom setup, please update your mainnet Ejector ORACLE_ADDRESSES_ALLOWLIST configuration immediately. These changes are mandatory, as the rotation has already been executed on-chain.
Reminder: After the update, don’t forget to restart your Ejector to apply the changes.
How to Verify the Updated Allowlist?
You can confirm the new allowlist using the getMembers() method on the VEBO contract, accessible via Etherscan. Full instructions are available in this guide.
Validator Exits at Scale Case Study
Lido contributors published a case study on optimizing the exit of approximately 7,000 validators, detailing the approach and selected strategy, execution process, and lessons learned during the flight.
A batched coordinated voluntary exit approach enabled
a 4.42x reduction in staking reward loss compared to the estimated ~78 ETH organic baseline. Total rewards losses were brought down to 17.64 ETH, while the average skimming wait time dropped from a historical ~4.5 days to approximately 0.8 days.
While the specific execution strategy was designed for a particular operational context, the underlying principles can be broadly applicable by Node Operators managing validator exits at scale. Read the full breakdown in the blog and share your thoughts.
ETHCC 2026
Panels and talks
The Lido contributors joined the Ethereum community at EthCC 2026, diving into the latest conversations on staking future, Lido protocol and Ethereum design, decentralization, and more.
Lido stVaults and Earn: Staking Infra That Powers DeFi Yields (Izzy)
0x02 is not for Home Stakers! Right? (Dmitriy G)
Blocmates panel with Lido, LI.FI, Gearbox Protocol and Jumper (Jakov)
Lido Day 2026 in Cannes
Lido Day in Cannes brought together contributors, Node Operators, builders, and institutional participants for a full day focused on the future of Ethereum staking.
The agenda featured technical deep-dives and forward-looking discussions across the ecosystem, including presentations on stVaults, Lido Earn, and the evolution of Lido Core modules such as the Curated Module and the Community Staking Module. The event also hosted perspectives from leading institutional players driving broader crypto adoption, including WisdomTree, Copper, and Fireblocks.
Couldn’t make it to Cannes, or want to revisit the discussions? Explore the full playlist below and dive back into the conversations.
Check out some photos from the event to get a feel for the atmosphere throughout the day.
