Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin is pushing for a major simplification of the network’s staking process to boost participation. The Ethereum Foundation is testing a new one-click distributed staking system using 72,000 ETH, valued at approximately $146 million, based on lightweight Distributed Validator Technology. The initiative aims to make validator operation accessible without technical expertise, requiring users only to select nodes and create a configuration.
Vitalik Buterin is advocating for a simpler staking process on Ethereum, stating the current system is too complex and discourages participation. He emphasized that staking, especially with larger amounts, should not require special knowledge.
The Ethereum Foundation is experimenting with distributed staking using 70,000 ETH and a lightweight version of Distributed Validator Technology (DVT). This technology allows validator nodes to run across multiple machines instead of a single server.
The foundation stated the move aligns with its treasury policy, with staking rewards directed back to its treasury. The goal is to make institutional staking with large ETH holdings easier and more accessible.
Under the proposed system, participants need no technical skills. “Choose which computers run your nodes, make a config… and then all computers share a key, and the network handles the rest,” Buterin explained.
Buterin rejected the idea that running blockchain infrastructure is a complex task for professionals only. He argued this perception is dreadful and works against the core principle of decentralization.
He envisions a future where staking can be initiated with deployment tools where a node can boot with a single command. The aim is to create a maximally easy, one-click process for distributed staking by institutions.
Interest in ETH staking remains high, with about 3.2 million ETH waiting to become validators, implying a 55-day queue. Approximately 29,000 ETH is queued for withdrawal, with a 12-hour wait time.
In total, roughly 37.5 million ETH, worth about $76.5 billion, is already staked. This represents about 31% of Ethereum’s total supply and underscores significant network participation.
