Ethereum founder Vitalik Buterin revealed that the Ethereum Foundation used a simplified distributed validator technology called DVT-lite to acquire 72,000 Ether in February, a technology he said could make staking easier for institutions.
“My hope for this project is that in the process we can make it as easy and one-click distributed staking for institutions as possible,” Buterin said at X on Monday.
Buterin explained that with DVT-lite, users can “choose which computers manage their nodes, create a configuration file where they all have the same key, and from there everything is configured automatically.”
DVT-lite is a simplified form of distributed validator technology designed for easier deployment, especially in institutional or semi-professional Ethereum settings.
In regular solo staking, everything is done on one computer, which can lead to a “cut” or penalty if it crashes, gets hacked, or loses internet. Full DVT distributes secret keys among many computers that communicate continuously, which is very secure, but difficult to install.
DVT-lite uses the same validator key on multiple computers, so if one computer dies, another computer quickly takes over, resulting in virtually no downtime and greatly reduced risk of fines.
The Ethereum Foundation launched its staking program using this technology at the end of February, and the assets are currently sitting in the validator entry queue, awaiting staking on March 19.
“One click” staking for institutions
Buterin said the idea that governance infrastructure is a “horribly complex thing” where everyone involved must be a professional is “terrible and anti-decentralization, and we have to attack it head-on.”
He added that there should be a “docker container” or “nix image” or similar that has a “one-click” or command line on a node that automates the staking process.
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Buterin said that he plans to use DVT-lite soon and hopes that more institutions with ETH can contribute along the way.
“We want the authority to be highly distributed across the stacking nodes, and the first step to doing that is making it easy.”
In January, he proposed a “native DVT” network integration that would allow stakers to contribute “without relying on a single node.”
Great demand for staking despite low prices
Despite its market price action, demand for staking Ether (ETH) is still high.
According to ValidatorQueue, there are currently 3.2 million ETH in the validator’s input queue with a 55-day wait and a total of 29,000 in the output queue with a 12-hour wait.
There are currently 37.5 million ETH staked, which is worth about $76.5 billion at current prices (roughly the same market cap as DoorDash or Motorola) and 31% of the total supply.
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