Vitalik Buterin proposes simpler ‘distributed validator’ staking for Ethereum

[Yamane_Keto]

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has outlined a proposal to build distributed validator technology (DVT) directly into Ethereum’s staking protocol, aiming to make staking more resilient while dramatically reducing technical complexity for large ETH holders.
DVT allows validators to operate across multiple machines instead of relying on a single node. In existing implementations, a validator’s cryptographic key is split across several nodes, which collectively sign messages.

https://www.coindesk.com/tech/2026/01/21/vitalik-buterin-proposes-simpler-distributed-validator-staking-for-ethereum

It is proposed that Ethereum itself support validators that operate as clusters, and as long as more than two-thirds of these nodes behave ethically, the validator continues to operate normally without incurring penalties such as devaluation.

Under the design, a validator with sufficient ETH could register up to 16 individual keys, creating multiple “virtual identities” that each behave like independent validators but are treated as a single unit by the protocol.

I think the only improvement is reducing technical complexity and relying on centralized investment service providers, but this is still in the research phase.

[asriloni]

I think the only improvement is reducing technical complexity and relying on centralized investment service providers, but this is still in the research phase.

I absolutely support the idea, though it's still in a research phase. Staking ethereum is way too complicated as it's being limited with 32 eth for one validator. It's a very time consuming. That's why it needs to be simplified. The queue just to enter as validator is just getting massive, and it needs even more than a month to settle it all.