Compound or Consolidate

The Pectra upgrade has enabled two additional validator operations: Compound and Consolidate.

Compound

Also known as: Conversion to 0x02 credentials.

Converts a 0x01 validator to 0x02, thereby halting “sweeping” withdrawals and enabling compounding staking rewards. This is an irreversible operation, so be careful!

Consolidate

Transfers the balance of a 0x01 or 0x02 validator to a 0x02 validator. This will exit the source validator and move its remaining balance to the balance of the target validator. This is also irreversible.

Preconditions

See Pectra maxEB docs for full list of validator preconditions.

node server is powered on and running geth (EL), prysm-beacon (CL), and prysm-validator (validator(s)) as services
EL and CL are fully synced to the Ethereum network and validator(s) are active
client PC is powered on and able to SSH into the node server

Steps

1. Time the conversion carefully

If you want to go straight from 0x00 to compounding without receiving any ETH at your withdrawal address, you must complete the 0x00 → 0x01 → 0x02 sequence before the first 0x01 automatic sweep occurs. You should thus time the conversion carefully, with as much lead time as possible.

You can estimate the automatic sweep intervals for a particular validator like this:

On the Client PC:

cd ethereum-node
./tools/estimate-withdrawal-sweep.sh <validator-index-or-pubkey>

Keep in mind that it will take at least 27.3 hours to complete the conversion, plus queue time.

2. Convert source validator to 0x01 if not already

See conversion to 0x01 credentials.

Wait for the 0x01 conversion to be finalized. In the meantime, move a small amount of ETH to the withdrawal address to pay for the gas of the ConsolidationRequest.

3. Compound or Consolidate via Launchpad page

Launchpad page (mainnet)
Launchpad page (hoodi)

connect withdrawal account via MetaMask
follow the directions on-page