---
title: Ethereum proof-of-stake (PoS) protocol and the potential for remote validators
tags: summer-of-protocols-sop
description: Ethereum proof-of-stake (PoS) protocol and the potential for remote validators
image: https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_banners/3540691454/1535710532/1500x500
---

# Ethereum proof-of-stake (PoS) protocol and the potential for remote validators

Remote-friendly validators for Ethereum proof-of-stake (PoS) helps to improve decentralization. Remote-friendly means that one can participate as a validator while not permanently residing in one location, e.g. Digital nomads. This will research the requirements of Ethereum PoS and the capability of technologies that could make remote validation possible. By exploring these proof-of-concepts, it will help push the boundaries of PoS validation, increases access, participation, and improve the health of the Ethereum ecosystem. Vitalik Buterin has communicated the goal of mobile-friendly staking in the long-term, e.g., September 2022 on Bankless' show, "138 - What’s Next? Vitalik Buterin | Part I" (51:45) [1].

Potential emerging technology includes staking protocols (Rocket Pool minipools [2], Stakewise, etc.), decentralized hosting services (Akash [3] and Aleph), and hardware (Staking-specific devices like Avado, Dappnode, Proteus, laptops, and some in the Rocket Pool community even running Linux virtual machines on Google Pixel phones). These tools have the potential to provide non-developers who are tech-savvy the ability to run validators. The remote-friendly requirement increases access for everyone.

This aligns well with Ethereans values of geographic diversity as their are local communities, meetups, and events in cities around the world. Another aspect could be comparing the feasibility remote Ethereum validation to other PoS protocols that provide value back to Ethereum, e.g. data storage networks (IPFS and Arweave), and related chains like Gnosis Chain.

The first step would be to research and open-source the results of what is possible with existing hardware and software solutions.

- Given there is a viable path forward, launch a working proof-of-concept (PoC) on a testnet and sharing the process and results along the way.
- If there is not a reasonable solution, potentially due to technical or cost limits, documenting these bottlenecks and researching potential solutions.

Implementing a new type of validator or infrastructure for nomadic people could be a longer-term result of this research as builders see the areas to improve upon.

[1]: https://pca.st/j0tofrlx#t=51m45s
[2]: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1BJi0R1Ud6AH1dr-_Oy4pV5PjWX7u81-Qz4jBtLmG8Zw/edit#heading=h.f1gy0tusu7q
[3]: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1oREoMRVYY9IjdELcwwNISlEDdLKTBtbgqDJX0c3X8xA/edit#heading=h.r8x937dz3njs