Staking via SSV Network

The Secret Shared Validators (SSV) Network is a decentralized, distributed staking infrastructure for Ethereum validators. It enables trust-minimized staking through a secure, fault-tolerant validator operation using Distributed Validator Technology (DVT). The network achieves decentralization and resilience by distributing validator keys across independent, trustless nodes.

Core Technology: Distributed Validator Technology (DVT)

SSV implements Distributed Validator Technology, allowing validator duties to be securely distributed among multiple independent operators. This reduces single points of failure and mitigates risks associated with validator downtime, slashing, or compromised keys.

DVT leverages two cryptographic techniques:

Shamir Secret Sharing

BLS Threshold Signatures

Integration via SSV Network

Node operators can integrate with Northstake Validator Marketplace via SSV Network. Here is how:

1. The Node Operator (or Node Operators) set up an SSV cluster and registers 4 operators (i.e. nodes/machines) running the SSV client (see more on this on the official SSV documentation). If the cluster is permissioned, the Node Operator needs to offer a programmatic way to whitelist the addresses of the Staking Vaults to enable the creation of validators.
2. Following a staking deposit in a Northstake Staking Vault, Northstake generates validator keys and distributes them to the operators in the cluster using the SSV API.
3. Northstake then generates the payload and calls queueValidator() on the staking vault to deposit 32 ETH into the Beacon Chain Deposit Contract, therefore creating an Ethereum validator.

⚠️ Warning: Node Operators must monitor cluster capacity and maintain operator availability at all times.