Step 3: Setting up Validator Keys

  1. Install dependencies, the Ethereum Foundation deposit tool and generate your two sets of key pairs.

Each validator will have two sets of key pairs. A signing key and a withdrawal key. These keys are derived from a single mnemonic phrase. Learn more about keys.

You will also set your ETH Withdrawal Address, preferably from your Ledger or Trezor hardware wallet.

🛑🛑 DO NOT USE AN EXCHANGE ADDRESS AS WITHDRAWAL ADDRESS. 🛑🛑

🛑🛑 Double check your work as this is permanent once set! 🛑🛑

The Withdrawal Address is:

  • where your ETH is returned upon "voluntary exiting a validator", or also known as full withdrawal.

  • where you receive partial withdrawals, which is where any excess balance above 32 ETH is periodically scraped and made available for use.

You have the choice of using the Wagyu GUI, downloading the pre-built Ethereum staking deposit tool or building it from source.

Install dependencies.

sudo apt update
sudo apt install python3-pip git -y

Download source code and install.

cd $HOME
git clone https://github.com/ethereum/staking-deposit-cli
cd staking-deposit-cli
sudo ./deposit.sh install

Make a new mnemonic and replace <ETH_ADDRESS_FROM_IDEALLY_HARDWARE_WALLET> with your ethereum withdrawal address, ideally from a Trezor, Ledger or comparable hardware wallet.

🛑🛑 DO NOT USE AN EXCHANGE ADDRESS AS WITHDRAWAL ADDRESS. 🛑🛑

🛑🛑 Double check your work as this is permanent once set! 🛑 🛑

./deposit.sh new-mnemonic --chain mainnet --eth1_withdrawal_address <ETH_ADDRESS_FROM_IDEALLY_HARDWARE_WALLET>

2. If using staking-deposit-cli, follow the prompts and pick a KEYSTORE password. This password encrypts your keystore files. Write down your mnemonic and keep this safe and offline.

Caution: Only deposit the 32 ETH per validator if you are confident your execution client and consensus client will be fully synched and ready to perform validator duties. You can return later to launchpad with your deposit-data to finish the next steps.

3. Follow the steps at https://launchpad.ethereum.org/ while skipping over the steps you already just completed. Study the eth2 phase 0 overview material. Understanding eth staking is the key to success!

🐳 Batch Depositing Tip: If you have many deposits to make for many validators, consider using Abyss.finance's eth2depositor tool. This greatly improves the deposit experience as multiple deposits can be batched into one transaction, thereby saving gas fees and saving your fingers by minimizing Metamask clicking.

Source: https://twitter.com/AbyssFinance/status/1379732382044069888

4. Back on the launchpad website, upload yourdeposit_data-#########.json found in the validator_keys directory.

5. Connect to the launchpad with your Metamask wallet, review and accept terms

6. Confirm the transaction(s). There's one deposit transaction of 32 ETH for each validator.

For instance, if you want to run 3 validators you will need to have (32 x 3) = 96 ETH plus some extra to cover the gas fees.

Tip for Ledger Nano Hardware wallet users: If you encounter difficulty making the deposit transaction, enable blind signing and contract data.

Your transaction is sending and depositing your ETH to the official ETH2 deposit contract address.

Check, double-check, triple-check that the official Eth2 deposit contract address is correct.0x00000000219ab540356cBB839Cbe05303d7705Fa

Critical Crypto Reminder: Keep your mnemonic, keep your ETH.

  • Write down your mnemonic seed offline. Not email. Not cloud.

  • Multiple copies are better. Best stored in a metal seed.

  • Make offline backups, such as to a USB key, of your validator_keys directory.

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