Request
We request that Sigma Prime, ChainSafe, Develp and Nethermind be recognised collectively as an Identified DVT Cluster using Obol’s DVT solution. We seek the DVT Cluster category to reflect our use of Obol’s distributed validator technology and the combined strength of four independent, highly-experienced node operators.
The cluster is operated by four of Ethereum’s core infrastructure teams, all of whom build and maintain critical Ethereum client software:
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Sigma Prime
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ChainSafe
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Develp
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Nethermind
Each operator has previously been identified as an individual Node Operator, and together they aim to be recognised as an Identified DVT Cluster.
Operator Descriptions & Credentials
| Operator | Description & Credentials |
|---|---|
| Sigma Prime | Australian-based blockchain security and research firm who develop and maintain the Lighthouse consensus client and a long-time Lido Curated set node operator. |
| ChainSafe | A blockchain R&D firm and infrastructure provider. ChainSafe maintains Lodestar, an Ethereum consensus and validator client, Forest, a Rust implementation of the Filecoin protocol, and is also a long-time Lido Curated set node operator. |
| Develp | Develp GmbH is a professional node-operation and staking-infrastructure provider that grew out of supporting infra for Nimbus Ethereum client team. Their mission is maximizing decentralisation by running minority execution and consensus clients and contributing to client development. |
| Nethermind | A blockchain research and software-engineering company that develops the Nethermind execution client which secures roughly one-third of Ethereum mainnet. |
Market Size & Opportunity
The first planned vault, the Ethereum Client Team Vault targets stakers who value infrastructure quality, security, and client diversity over maximum yield. This includes:
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ETH-aligned stakers and protocols
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DAO treasuries and foundations
User Segments, Channels & Partners
The vault will be marketed collectively through contributors owned channels. The deposit interface will be embedded in the Obol launchpad as well as the operator’s owned distribution channels.
Timelines
| Milestone | Date |
|---|---|
| Planning began | November–December 2025 |
| Testnet deployment | 13 January 2026 |
| Expected public deposits | Q1 2026 |
Fee Policy
Fees will follow Lido’s stVault guidelines and be aligned with market standards, including a modest Lido fee plus node operator fees which will vary based on the type of stVault being deployed.
DVT Technology
The cluster will use Obol’s Distributed Validator Technology (DVT) leveraging the Charon middleware. The architecture is designed to improve resilience and fault tolerance by:
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Using a Distributed Key Generation (DKG) ceremony to distribute key shares across operators, ensuring no single operator controls validator keys.
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Each operator runs a unique, diverse stack of execution (EL) and consensus (CL) clients protecting the cluster from correlated downtime.
Links
| Operator | Key Links |
|---|---|
| Sigma Prime | Website: https://sigmaprime.io; Lighthouse client: https://lighthouse.sigmaprime.io |
| ChainSafe | Infrastructure & staking: https://infra.chainsafe.io; Official site: https://chainsafe.io |
| Develp | Official site: https://develp.co |
| Nethermind | Website: https://nethermind.io; Documentation: https://docs.nethermind.io |
| Obol | Website: https://obol.org; Docs: https://docs.obol.org |
Key Value Drivers
| Value Driver | Description |
|---|---|
| Trust & Security First | Multi-operator DVT architecture, diverse geographies, and battle-tested operators (client developers or security experts) that minimise single-points of failure and slashing risks. |
| Client Diversity & Decentralisation | The use of unique and minority execution/consensus clients improves network resilience and promotes the long-term health of Ethereum. |
| Aligned Incentives | The participants emphasise ETH-alignment and decentralised values. |
| Scalability & Professionalism | Operators manage large existing validator fleets and have infrastructure ready to scale with security best practices. |
Conclusion
By forming an Identified DVT Cluster, Sigma Prime, ChainSafe, Develp, and Nethermind combine their individual strengths into a single, resilient operator group. This offers stakers a conservative, infrastructure-aligned product that leverages Obol’s distributed validator technology, diversified client stacks, and global infrastructure to minimise correlated risks.