📥 Upload/Remove/View validator keys

Deposit queue

info

We encourage operators to see the queue before submitting new keys, as they may have to wait some time to get deposits, and there's a fee of 0.02 ETH for removing keys while in the queue.

The way validators are deposited in the CSM is through a FIFO (first in, first out) queue. You can see a visual representation of the queue under the deposit widget, or at the top of the View Keys tab.

Upload keys

• Go to the Lido CSM Widget and connect your wallet. MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE ON THE CORRECT NETWORK (i.e., Hoodi or Mainnet).
  • Mainnet: https://csm.lido.fi/
  • Hoodi: https://csm.testnet.fi/
• Select Become a Node Operator and then Create a Node Operator
• On the Lido CSM Widget, upload your deposit data file and select the corresponding bond type (ETH, stETH, wstETH), and provide the desired bond amount

Copy & Paste

Print the contents of the deposit_data.json file on your node machine, then copy & paste the contents into the CSM Widget directly.

• Identify the actual file name of your deposit_data.json file on your node:

find ~ -name "*deposit_data*" 2>/dev/null

The output will be a file path to your deposit data.

• Print the contents:

cat <FILEPATH_TO_DEPOSIT_DATA>
# replace with the actual file path

Upload File

Transfer the deposit_data-<timestamp>.json file from the USB used in the validator key generation step onto your working device (e.g., laptop with MetaMask), then upload the file.

• Finally, select Submit, sign the transaction with your connected wallet, and you are all set.
• Now you just need to wait for the Lido CSM to deposit your validator keys (using your deposit data file). This is a first-in, first-out process so expect a queue when demand is high. More details on this process here.

warning

DO NOT DEPOSIT 32 ETH using the deposit data file generated this way, as the Lido CSM will make a deposit for you.

Doing so will result in a loss of funds.

Remove keys

The Node Operator can delete uploaded keys voluntarily (e.g., duplicate keys) if it has not been deposited yet.

A fee is confiscated from the Node Operator's bond on each deleted key to cover maximal possible operational costs associated with the queue processing. Keys (via the deposit data file) can be deleted in continuous batches (e.g., from index 5 to 10).

More details here.

• Go to the Lido CSM Widget, under the KEYS header
• Select the REMOVE tab on the widget
• Select the keys you want to remove

Once your keys have been removed, the associated bond amounts that you deposited earlier will be available for claiming under the Bond & Rewards tab. You can learn more at the Rewards & Bonds page of this guide.

warning

Keys that have been deposited cannot be deleted and can only be exited from the Consensus Layer.

View keys

You can also view the status of the keys pertaining to your uploaded deposit data file and take the necessary actions.

Status	What it means	What to do?
Active	Key has been deposited & is either pending activation or active on the beacon chain.	Make sure your validator node is online to perform its duties
Depositable	Key is valid and bond is sufficient. Pending deposit from Lido Protocol	Maintain sufficient bond amounts
Exited	Key has been exited	None
Unbonded	Bond is insufficient for this key, which can be Active or otherwise	- Active key: Top up bond or exit key - Non-active key: Top up bond or do nothing
Duplicated	Key has been uploaded twice	Remove duplicate key
Invalid	Uploaded key has an invalid signature	Remove key
Stuck	Exit request for Active Key was not fulfilled within 96 hours	Exit key