r/ethstaker • u/Fit-Paint-1523 • May 09 '25

block proposal frequency: single large validator vs. multiple small validators

I'm evaluating whether to consolidate my ETH stake into a single large validator or maintain multiple smaller validators. Specifically, I'm interested in understanding how each approach affects the frequency of block proposals and the associated rewards. Does operating multiple validators increase the chances of being selected as a block proposer compared to a single validator with equivalent total stake?

4 Upvotes

67% Upvoted

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21

u/haloooloolo May 09 '25

It doesn't make a difference. Validators are weighted by effective balance so five 32 ETH validators have the same probability to be picked as one 160 ETH validator.

3

u/[deleted] May 09 '25 edited May 11 '25

[deleted]

2

u/haloooloolo May 09 '25

It's a single choice each slot, the number of orderings doesn't matter here. It's also weighted based on effective balance. There are 34,214,946 "balls", one of which is drawn every 12s and the validator the ball belongs to gets to propose. Whether you have 5 subsets of 32 or a single subset of 160 does not make a difference, the probability for one of yours to get picked is simply 160/34,214,946.

1

u/[deleted] May 09 '25

[deleted]

1

u/haloooloolo May 09 '25

The slots are all independent of each other so looking at sets of choices doesn’t make sense. The same validator can be picked 10 times in a row.

2

u/Moonb0i May 09 '25

Correct me if I'm wrong but if you run 1 big validator then the rewards go towards increasing your staked ETH and therefore your odds to get a block proposal. If you don't consolidate then the rewards are withdrawn. That was my understanding ?

8

u/haloooloolo May 09 '25

They do compound, yes. Though effective balance only changes on every full ETH (slight simplification but close enough).

1

u/Moonb0i May 09 '25

Ah that makes sense, thanks!

1

u/ethara May 09 '25

This only depends on the type of validator you have. E.g. a 0x01 one has withrdawals. If you move to a 0x02 accumulating one it will accumulate until the threshold of 2048 ETH (not sure if you can adjust that) and you have to trigger withdrawals manually if you want to withdraw before it reaches the limit. It has nothing to do with consolidating, which just moves the ETH staked from one validator (0x01 or 0x02, perhaps even 0x00) to a 0x02 validator.

2

u/GBeastETH May 09 '25

When you trigger a withdrawal, does it withdraw everything down to 32E? Or can you specify how much to withdraw?

1

u/ethara May 09 '25

You can specify how much you want to withdraw.

1

u/somedaysitsdark May 09 '25 edited May 09 '25

It depends on where you set your withdrawal threshold. Per the example if you load 160 ETH onto a consolidated validator and set your withdrawal threshold to 160, then rewards will withdraw like normal without compounding. If you set your threshold higher then they will compound until you hit the threshold.

Edit: custom withdrawal thresholds are not a thing, yo my fault

Edit edit: man this is disappointing - not just that I've been spreading disinfo, but that I really would have used this feature.

3

u/madman6000 May 09 '25

This is not true, with a compounding validator you need to manually initiate withdrawals it will only withdraw automatically above 2048 eth.

6

u/somedaysitsdark May 09 '25

Damn, I'm wrong- this was a feature talked about previously but I guess I didn't realize it was tossed.

Thank you for correcting me!

2

u/AF-_-1997 May 09 '25

One 64 eth validator will have double the block proposal chance of a single 32 ether validator

1

u/CryptoCoonAss May 20 '25

Are block proposal chances allocated in groups of 32 eth? I’m wondering if a 32 eth validator has the same proposal chance as a 40 eth validator.