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      • 🥩Guide | How to setup a validator for Ethereum staking on mainnet
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        • PART I - INSTALLATION
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        • PART II - MAINTENANCE
          • Updating Execution Client
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          • Checklist | Confirming a healthy functional ETH staking node
        • PART III - TIPS
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          • EIP2333 Key Generator by iancoleman.io
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        • Join the Community
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      • ⛓️Guide | How to setup a validator for Ethereum staking on testnet HOLESKY
        • Overview - Manual Installation
        • Step 1: Prerequisites
        • Step 2: Configuring Node
        • Step 3: Installing execution client
          • Nethermind
          • Besu
          • Geth
          • Erigon
          • Reth
        • Step 4: Installing consensus client
          • Lighthouse
          • Lodestar
          • Teku
          • Nimbus
          • Prysm
        • Step 5: Installing Validator
          • Setting up Validator Keys
          • Installing Validator
            • Lighthouse
            • Lodestar
            • Teku
            • Nimbus
            • Prysm
          • Next Steps
        • Maintenance
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          • Updating Consensus Client
          • Backups Checklist: Critical Staking Node Data
          • Uninstalling Staking Node
      • 💰Guide | MEV-boost for Ethereum Staking
        • MEV Relay List
      • 🔎Guide | Recover Ethereum Validator Mnemonic Seed
      • 🦉Update Withdrawal Keys for Ethereum Validator (BLS to Execution Change or 0x00 to 0x01) with ETHDO
      • 📜Archived Guides
        • Guide Version 1 | How to setup a validator for Ethereum staking on MAINNET
          • PART I - INSTALLATION
            • Step 1: Prerequisites
            • Step 2: Configuring Node
            • Step 3: Setting up Validator Keys
            • Step 4: Installing execution client
            • Step 5: Installing consensus client
            • Monitoring your validator with Grafana and Prometheus
            • Mobile App Node Monitoring by beaconcha.in
            • Security Best Practices for your ETH staking validator node
            • Synchronizing time with Chrony
            • Monitoring with Uptime Check by Google Cloud
          • PART II - MAINTENANCE
            • Updating your consensus client
            • Updating your execution client
            • Uninstalling V1 Staking Node
            • Finding the longest attestation slot gap
            • Checking my eth validator's sync committee duties
            • Pruning the execution client to free up disk space
            • Checklist | Confirming a healthy functional ETH staking node
          • PART III - TIPS
            • 🛡️Switching / Migrating Execution Client
            • Voluntary Exiting a Validator
            • Verifying Your Mnemonic Phrase
            • Adding a New Validator to an Existing Setup with Existing Seed Words
            • Switching / Migrating Consensus Client
            • Using All Available LVM Disk Space
            • Reducing Network Bandwidth Usage
            • How to re-sync using checkpoint sync
            • Important Directory Locations
            • Hosting Execution client on a Different Machine
            • Adding or Changing Graffiti flag
            • Improving Validator Attestation Effectiveness
            • EIP2333 Key Generator by iancoleman.io
            • Disk Usage by Execution / Consensus Client
            • Dealing with Storage Issues on the Execution Client
          • Join the Community
          • Credits
          • See Also
          • Changelog
        • Guide Version 1 | How to setup a validator for Ethereum staking on testnet GOERLI
          • Step 1: Prerequisites
          • Step 2: Configuring Node
          • Step 3: Setting up Validator Keys
          • Step 4: Installing execution client
          • Step 5: Installing consensus client
        • Guide Version 2 | How to setup a validator for Ethereum staking on testnet GOERLI
          • Step 1: Prerequisites
          • Step 2: Configuring Node
          • Step 3: Installing execution client
            • Nethermind
            • Besu
            • Geth
            • Erigon
          • Step 4: Installing consensus client
            • Lighthouse
            • Lodestar
            • Teku
            • Nimbus
            • Prysm
          • Step 5: Installing Validator
            • Setting up Validator Keys
            • Installing Validator
              • Lighthouse
              • Lodestar
              • Teku
              • Nimbus
              • Prysm
            • Next Steps
          • Maintenance
            • Updating Execution Client
            • Updating Consensus Client
            • Backups Checklist: Critical Staking Node Data
            • Uninstalling Staking Node
        • Guide | Ethereum Staking on Zhejiang Testnet
        • Guide | Besu + Lodestar | Most Viable Diverse Client | Staking Ethereum on Kiln testnet
        • Guide | How to setup a validator for Ethereum staking on Pithos testnet in 10 minutes or less
        • Ethereum Merge Upgrade Checklist for Home Stakers and Validators
        • Guide | Operation Client Diversity: Migrate Prysm to Teku
      • Guide: How to buy ETH
    • Cardano: ADA
      • Guide: How to Set Up a Cardano Stake Pool
        • PART I - INSTALLATION
          • Prerequisites
          • Hardening an Ubuntu Server
          • Setting Up chrony
          • Installing the Glasgow Haskell Compiler and Cabal
          • Compiling Cardano Node
        • PART II - CONFIGURATION
          • Downloading Configuration Files
          • Configuring Legacy Stake Pool Topology
          • Configuring an Air-gapped, Offline Computer
          • Creating Startup Scripts and Services
        • PART III - OPERATION
          • Starting the Nodes
          • Accessing Built-in Help
          • Generating Keys for the Block-producing Node
          • Setting Up Payment and Stake Keys
          • Registering Your Stake Address
          • Registering Your Stake Pool
          • Verifying Stake Pool Operation
          • Configuring Legacy Network Topology
          • Setting Up Dashboards
          • Configuring Slot Leader Calculations
          • Securing Your Stake Pool Using a Hardware Wallet
        • PART IV - ADMINISTRATION & MAINTENANCE
          • Checking Stake Pool Rewards
          • Claiming Stake Pool Rewards
          • Delegating to a Stake Pool
          • Issuing a New Operational Certificate
          • Updating Stake Pool Information
          • Upgrading a Node
          • Retiring Your Stake Pool
          • Auditing Your nodes configuration
          • KES Key Rotation / Operational Certificate Companion Script
        • PART V - TIPS
          • Submitting a Simple Transaction
          • Transferring Files Using SSH
          • Updating Configuration Files
          • Enabling Peer-to-peer Network Topology
          • Uploading Pool Metadata to GitHub Pages
          • Obtaining a PoolTool API Key
          • Configuring Glasgow Haskell Compiler Runtime System Options
          • Reducing Missed Slot Leader Checks and Improving Cardano Node Performance
          • Increasing Swap File Size
          • Setting Up an External Passive Relay Node
          • Setting Up WireGuard
          • Monitoring Node Security Using OSSEC Server and Slack
          • Resetting an Installation
          • Fixing a Corrupt Blockchain
          • Verifying an ITN Stake Pool
          • Fixing the Mnemonic Staking Balance Bug
        • Appendix A - Best Practices Checklist
        • Appendix B - Cardano Resource Index
        • Telegram Chat Channel
        • See Also
        • Credits
      • Guide: How to buy ADA
      • Guide: How to stake ADA
    • Monero: XMR
      • Guide | How to run your own Monero node
      • Guide: How to mine Monero
      • Create a XMR paper wallet
      • External Reading Material
        • Movie: Monero Means Money
        • Guide: Zero to Monero
        • Book: Mastering Monero
Powered by GitBook
On this page
  • Who is the guide for, what's involved, when do I need this?
  • How to Recover?
  • Step 1: Setup an offline PC with Ubuntu Live USB
  • Step 2: Install btcrecover
  • Step 3: Go offline
  • Step 4: Run the recovery process
  • About the flags
  • Usage Examples
  • Sample of logs when successfully recovering mnemonic.
  • Step 5: Shutdown offline PC
  • Next Steps
  • References
Edit on GitHub
  1. Coins
  2. Ethereum: ETH

Guide | Recover Ethereum Validator Mnemonic Seed

How to recover an ethereum validator's 24 word secret recovery phrase with seedrecovery.py by btcrecover.

PreviousMEV Relay ListNextUpdate Withdrawal Keys for Ethereum Validator (BLS to Execution Change or 0x00 to 0x01) with ETHDO

Who is the guide for, what's involved, when do I need this?

  • WHO: If you are an Ethereum validator experiencing errors due to a problematic secret recovery phrase or mnemonic, this guide can help you fix the majority of common errors.

  • WHAT: Using Seedrecover.py can fix the majorty of simple "invalid mnemonic" or "invalid seed" type errors. This commonly occurs when you have a valid seed backup that simply has a typo in it or missing word(s).

  • WHEN: Typical scenarios include attempting to set withdrawal credentials or re-generate keystore files.

How to Recover?

Step 1: Setup an offline PC with Ubuntu Live USB

  • First, you'll need to create an Ubuntu Live USB. and flash image the ISO to USB drive with . See below video demos or .

Video Demos

Windows: Installing BTCRecover in Windows:

Linux: Installing BTCRecover in Ubuntu Live USB:

Step 2: Install btcrecover

Open a terminal window from anywhere by typing Ctrl+Alt+T.

With a terminal open inside your Ubuntu Live session, run the following.

# Install dependencies
sudo apt install python3-tk
sudo add-apt-repository universe
sudo apt install python3-pip

# Download btcrecover and install requirements
cd ~
wget https://github.com/3rdIteration/btcrecover/archive/master.zip
unzip master.zip
cd btcrecover-master
pip3 install -r requirements.txt
pip3 install git+https://github.com/ethereum/staking-deposit-cli.git@v2.5.0
pip3 install py_ecc

# Verify the install by running tests
python3 run-all-tests.py -vv

Step 3: Go offline

  • Disconnect ethernet cable and/or disable WIFI.

  • Verify no internet access by attemping to ping.

ping 8.8.8.8

Ping result should say Network is unreachable.

Step 4: Run the recovery process

Recovery for Ethereum Validator seeds is the same as a standard seed recovery, but uses the validators public key (Also known as Signing Key) in the place of an address.

Seedrecover.py will automatically run through four search phases that should take a few hours at most. The four search phases include:

  • Single typo

  • Two typos, including one where you might have a completely different word

  • Three typos, including one where you might have a completely different word

  • Two typos that could be completely different words

Here's the command to recover your ETH validator's secret recovery phase. Update accordingly.

python3 seedrecover.py --mnemonic "<secret recovery phrase>" --addrs <pubkey of validator> --wallet-type ethereumvalidator --addr-limit <number of validators created> --mnemonic-length 24
  • --mnemonic : Enter your best guess for your seed/mnemnoic/secret recovery phrase

  • --addrs : this is your validators public key without the 0x prefix. For example, if you have the keystores files the pubkey can be found inside "keystore-m_12381_3600_0_0_0-xxxxxxx.json" Without keystore files, you can look up your validator's pubkey online at beaconcha.in or etherscan.io by following the validator's 32ETH deposit transaction.

  • --addr-limit : Adjust this to the number of validators you created on this mnemonic.

Not recommended: Running recovery on an online machine? Add the flag --dsw

Best guess - Only have 23 words. Missing one word somewhere.

python3 seedrecover.py --mnemonic "cousin fury spatial aisle day write bulk empower fog fault stick broom demand valve fine able subway absent valve inform coconut oval season" --addrs 99722e2d3cdf850ef76516273273b5b2bfd062a6b706f6c395e116183fecd1ba6f9e9a479006a621168154e260f1a9d9 --wallet-type ethereumvalidator --addr-limit 1 --mnemonic-length 24

Place an x where the wrong word is, position is known.

python3 seedrecover.py --mnemonic "cousin fury spatial aisle day write bulk empower fog fault stick broom demand valve fine able x absent valve inform coconut oval season master" --addrs 99722e2d3cdf850ef76516273273b5b2bfd062a6b706f6c395e116183fecd1ba6f9e9a479006a621168154e260f1a9d9 --wallet-type ethereumvalidator --addr-limit 1 --mnemonic-length 24

Two wrong or missing words, position is known.

python3 seedrecover.py --mnemonic "cousin fury spatial aisle day write bulk empower fog fault stick broom demand valve fine able x x absent valve inform coconut oval season master" --addrs 99722e2d3cdf850ef76516273273b5b2bfd062a6b706f6c395e116183fecd1ba6f9e9a479006a621168154e260f1a9d9 --wallet-type ethereumvalidator --addr-limit 1 --mnemonic-length 24

Created 3 validators. Addr-limit is 3. One missing word somewhere.

python3 seedrecover.py --mnemonic "cousin fury spatial aisle day write bulk empower fog fault stick broom demand valve fine able absent valve inform coconut oval season master" --addrs b9bf3e3781f288547a10a65f3ec18d38668be0af5b498b446b95530e2adee6eb30fa4c0a47abe93b198d8fed7d68385a --wallet-type ethereumvalidator --addr-limit 3 --mnemonic-length 24
Starting seedrecover 1.13.0-CryptoGuide, btcrecover 1.13.0-Cryptoguide on Python 3.10.12 64-bit, 21-bit unicodes, 64-bit ints

Assuming a 24 word mnemonic. (This can be overridden with --mnemonic-length)
2024-03-03 12:41:45 : Phase 1/4: up to 2 mistakes, excluding entirely different seed words.
Not enough entirely different seed words permitted; skipping this phase.
2024-03-03 12:41:45 : Search Complete
 Seed not found
2024-03-03 12:41:45 : Phase 2/4: 1 mistake which can be an entirely different seed word.
Wallet Type: btcrseed.WalletEthereumValidator
2024-03-03 12:41:48 : Using 10 worker threads
1660 of 2048 [#############################################################################################----------------------] 0:00:01, ETA:  0:00:00
2024-03-03 12:41:50 : Search Complete

If this tool helped you to recover funds, please consider donating 1% of what you recovered, in your crypto of choice to:
BTC: 37N7B7sdHahCXTcMJgEnHz7YmiR4bEqCrS 
BCH: qpvjee5vwwsv78xc28kwgd3m9mnn5adargxd94kmrt 
LTC: M966MQte7agAzdCZe5ssHo7g9VriwXgyqM 
ETH: 0x72343f2806428dbbc2C11a83A1844912184b4243 

Find me on Reddit @ https://www.reddit.com/user/Crypto-Guide

You may also consider donating to Gurnec, who created and maintained this tool until late 2017 @ 3Au8ZodNHPei7MQiSVAWb7NB2yqsb48GW4

Seed found: cousin fury spatial aisle day write bulk empower fog fault stick broom demand valve fine able subway absent valve inform coconut oval season master

Step 5: Shutdown offline PC

By shutting down Ubuntu Live ISO session, all data used during this task is forgotten.

Congrats on recovering your ETH Validator!!! Consider donating to the tool makers, btcrecover.

About the flags

Usage Examples

Sample of logs when successfully recovering mnemonic.

Next Steps

Backup your secret recovery phrase!

Update

Re-generate

Manage your node with

​ Support us on Gitcoin Grants: We build this guide exclusively by community support!🙏

References

btcrecover github:

official docs:

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