Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin proposed integrating distributed validator technology (DVT) directly into the staking protocol. The initiative aims to enhance network security and decentralisation.
The new architecture will allow validators to register multiple independent keys within a single group. Operations such as block proposals or attestations will only be considered valid upon reaching a threshold number of signatures from all participants.
This approach minimises the risk of validator downtime due to a single failure or node compromise, while maintaining the slashing mechanism with correct threshold settings.
“DVT is a way for Ethereum stakers to participate in the network without relying entirely on a single node,” Buterin explained.
According to him, with DVT implementation, a validator will continue to operate “as long as more than two-thirds of nodes act honestly.”
The initiative suggests integrating the technology directly into the protocol. Current implementations require complex configurations and depend on external coordination infrastructure.
Participants with multiples of the minimum required stake will be able to specify up to 16 signing keys and set a threshold for them. This will effectively allow managing a cluster of standard nodes acting as a single validator.
Buterin noted that DVT will reduce operational costs. The architecture will add only a slight delay in block generation, not affecting attestation speed and maintaining compatibility with any signature scheme.
In the long term, it will also reduce dependency on cryptographic properties, whose potential vulnerabilities may increase over time.
A Lever for Decentralisation
Besides technical advantages, Buterin described his proposal as an important step towards decentralisation.
He believes native DVT could encourage conservative market participants and institutional investors to engage in self-staking, reducing reliance on large providers.
Such a transition would positively impact metrics like the Nakamoto coefficient, making the network more resilient and distributed, the programmer asserts.
On an infrastructural level, the technology is already in use: for instance, in August 2025, one exchange scaled DVT usage through the SSV protocol.
Buterin emphasised that the solution has proven effective, but configuration remains complex. Native support aims to remove this barrier and simplify operation.
BitMine and Staking
Last week, the largest corporate holder of Ethereum, BitMine Immersion Technologies, staked an additional 581,920 ETH.
The total amount of assets locked by the company reached 1,838,003 ETH ($5.9 billion). The position’s yield is estimated at 2.81% per annum.
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As of January 19, 2026, Bitmine total staked ETH stands at 1,838,003 ($5.9 billion at $3,211 per ETH).— This is an increase of 581,920 in the past week.
Total staked $ETH by week:
— 1/19/26: 1,838,003 ETH
— 1/11/26: 1,256,083 ETH
— 1/4/26: 659,219 ETH
— 12/28/24: 408,627…— Bitmine (NYSE-BMNR) $ETH (@BitMNR) January 20, 2026
“BitMine has staked more ETH than any other organisation in the world. At full scale (when all of the company’s ETH is staked through MAVAN and partners), annual revenue from lock-up fees will be $374 million, or more than $1 million per day,” commented BitMine Chairman Tom Lee.
The company also purchased 35,268 ETH at an average price of $3,211 per coin. It now manages over 4.2 million ETH worth $12.8 billion, accounting for 3.5% of the Ethereum supply.

BitMine provided its latest holdings update for January 20th, 2026:$14.5 billion in total crypto + “moonshots”:
— 4,203,036 ETH at $3,211 (@coinbase)
— 193 Bitcoin (BTC)
— $22 million stake in Eightco Holdings (NASDAQ: $ORBS) (“moonshots”) and
— total cash of $979…— Bitmine (NYSE-BMNR) $ETH (@BitMNR) January 20, 2026
In addition to the second-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalisation, BitMine owns:
- 195 BTC ($17.5 million);
- a stake in Eightco worth about $22 million;
- cash amounting to $979 million.
In mid-January, the share of ETH locked in staking reached a record 30%.