Proposal: Additions to the Lido ICS framework to streamline the SSV community NOs path to verification

Proposals
1

Summary

This proposal introduces new avenues to score points in the ICS framework, supporting SSV community node operators (NOs) to earn their Verified Operator (VO) and Identified Community Staker (ICS) status, and increasing net new verified SSV NOs participating in CSM.

Proposed additions to the ICS Framework:

  • Add a new score source: SSV pre-VO KYC to Proof of Humanity category [4 points]

  • Add a new score source: SSV High Signal score to Proof of Engagement [2 - 5 points]

Background and motivation

Becoming a VO in SSV Network requires 90 days of validator performance metrics above 98%. Permissionless community NOs in SSV Network generally find it hard to get a first validator allocated to them. Mainly because they don’t have 32 ETH to spin up their own validator, or don’t get validators allocated to them. VO status is a reputational signal that proves they are professional and reliable, and increases the chances of getting a validator allocated to them in SSV Network by a staker.

Therefore, the core bottleneck for new community operators is not only verification, but access to their first validator. Without performance history, it is difficult to become a trusted operator; but without access to a validator, it is difficult to build that history. This proposal aims to reduce that circular dependency by recognizing credible upstream verification and community engagement signals.

Goals

  • Streamline the process for SSV community NOs to earn VO + ICS status.

  • Grow the number of verified SSV community NOs participating in CSM and SSV Network.

  • Accelerate DVT adoption within Lido’s community operator set.

Pain Points Solutions
To earn SSV VO status NOs need to run a validator on mainnet. Pre-VOs join CSM and run their first mainnet validator with a smaller bond (2.4 ETH). And later, even lower bond costs after achieving ICS and onboarding to IDVTC.
Lower likelihood of community operators chosen to run validators in SSV Network without VO status. By getting their first mainnet validator on CSM, NOs can complete the VO program and get a reputation boost as a trusted NO in the SSV ecosystem.
Adoption of DVT in CSM. CSM becomes the gateway for SSV NOs to earn VO status.

The key changes are solely to the ICS framework score as mentioned above. The reasoning behind this is that both ICS and VO have a form of KYC for Proof of Humanity (SSV Verified Operator Committee uses Sumsub). The SSV Network VO program’s KYC/KYB stack is provided by the SSV Foundation, currently using SumSub, the number one provider in the space, as its primary service provider.

If the score is added an SSV NO can start their journey in the SSV VO program, join CSM, and if they meet requirements at the end of 60 days (SSV Operator committee will change monitoring period to 60 days for this cohort as opposed to 90d mentioned above) they can have both ICS and VO status; granted Proof of Experience and Engagement (reason for adding High Signal score for SSV) requirements are met.

Potential path to ICS + VO status

  1. Register for the SSV VO program to get pre-VO status for doing KYC [4 points] + X account [1 point].

  2. CSM mainnet participant [6 points].

  3. Complete 2 months’ performance metrics to get VO status [remaining 2 points for PoE].

  4. High signal score of 30+ in Lido/SSV Discord [2 points].

PoExperience (8) + PoEngagement (2) + PoHumanity(5) = 15 score for ICS

With this proposal, we want to formalize a path for new and existing (unverified) SSV community NOs to earn ICS and VO status by participating in CSM and, later on, potentially support the bootstrapping of the IDVTC (more on the potential synergy is described at the end of the proposal).

This new path is specifically focused on solo/community stakers, barring enterprise participants and professional organizations.

Additional alignment for SSV community operators

  • SSV Staking on mainnet went live in Q2 2026.

  • The SSV network switched from SSV to ETH operator fees for all new clusters (reduced operational friction).

  • SSV NOs in Lido earn SSV token rewards as part of the Incentivized Mainnet Program.

  • SSV distributed to SSV NOs can be staked to earn additional ETH rewards.

Synergies with the IDVTC

With the recently proposed Identified DVT Cluster (IDVTC), SSV NOs that follow this path will be eligible to earn this credential when it goes live. This sets up the playing field for SSV community NOs to run validators in dedicated clusters as per the IDVTC proposal.

Perceived benefits for Lido, SSV, and community NOs:

  • Net new community NOs in SSV Network and Lido.

  • Backstop IDVTCs leading up to launch.

  • Increase DVT adoption in the CSM module.

  • Higher returns and lower barriers for SSV community VOs that run validators in CSM using DVT.