Lido node operators expand DVT use and APM adoption in Q3 2025

In Q3 2025, Lido’s validator set saw broader use of new infrastructure as lido node operators pushed further into DVT and advanced proposer tools.

How did basic Lido validator metrics evolve in Q3 2025?

The latest Q3 2025 VaNOM report highlights +9.46% growth in unique Node Operators, with 59 new operators joining, most via the Community Staking Module. Moreover, roughly 545,000 staked ETH is now run using Distributed Validator Technology through Obol, SafeStake, and SSV Network, underscoring Lido’s push toward decentralization.

In Q3 2025, the Simple DVT Module and CSM each hit their respective stake share caps of 4% and 3%. Together, they accounted for about 600,000 staked ETH in the protocol. As of October 1, 2025, these two decentralized modules represented 1.67% of total Ethereum stake, signaling steady progress in permissionless participation for Lido’s operator set.

How is the Community Staking Module reshaping Lido’s stake?

The CSM delivered the strongest growth among Lido’s staking modules, expanding by 0.99 percentage points and adding 72,448 ETH to reach its 3% stake limit. However, this cap was short-lived. On October 2, 2025, it was lifted to 5% as part of the CSM v2 mainnet upgrade, opening additional room for community-driven staking.

That said, CSM’s rapid expansion also illustrates rising demand from independent and smaller operators seeking Ethereum exposure through Lido’s permissionless path. The upgraded parameters and higher cap are expected to translate into visible shifts in CSM-related validator metrics over coming quarters.

What role did the Simple DVT Module and Curated Module play?

The SDVTM added 32,224 ETH in Q3 2025, equal to +0.61 percentage points in stake share. By quarter-end, all clusters were fully allocated: 36 regular Obol, 36 regular SSV Network, and 10 Super Clusters (five using Obol and five using SSV Network). Consequently, the SDVTM reached its 4% stake share ceiling set by the Lido DAO.

The Curated Module, Lido’s largest staking module, saw a 1.59 percentage point decline, corresponding to a 680,032 ETH reduction, as most protocol withdrawals passed through it. Around one-third of those withdrawals, or 223,456 ETH, were precautionary exits linked to the Kiln security incident, which triggered the removal of 6,983 validators run by the Kiln team.

To rebalance stake distribution, Pier Two—which previously operated 1,000 active validators—was allocated an additional 2,766 validators. By the end of Q3 2025, Pier Two ran 3,766 validators, improving internal stake dispersion across the Curated Module and mitigating concentration risks.

How fast is Distributed Validator Technology adoption growing?

Until the previous quarter, only the SDVTM and CSM used distributed validator technology through Obol, SafeStake, and SSV Network. However, DVT’s proven reliability and performance in these modules led contributors to propose expanding its use into the Curated Module, enabling intra-operator DVT setups for established operators.

This proposal was approved by LDO tokenholders in the June 2025 voting slot, marking an important milestone for protocol decentralization and fault tolerance. As of October 1, 2025, a total of 547,968 ETH, representing 17,124 validators, ran on DVT implementations from Obol, SafeStake, and SSV Network across the protocol.

Following extensive Hoodi testnet trials, Q3 2025 saw the first five Curated Node Operators—A41, Blockscape, Ebunker, RockX, and Stakin—migrate 4,900 validators (or 156,800 ETH) to DVT setups using Obol and SSV Network. As a result, total DVT utilization in Lido climbed to 17,124 validators, a 57.65% quarter-over-quarter increase from 10,862 validators in Q2 2025.

How are SDVTM and CSM operators using Obol, SSV, and SafeStake?

Within the Simple DVT Module, 5,300 validators rely on Obol and 5,342 validators use SSV Network setups. These figures reflect quarter-on-quarter increases of +80 validators and +1,087 validators, respectively. Moreover, those setups are operated by 217 Obol and 229 SSV Network Node Operators, strengthening geographical and operational dispersion.

In the CSM, where DVT remains fully voluntary, adoption also expanded. During Q3 2025, 332 additional validators began using SSV Network compared with the prior quarter, while 66 validators operated by eight Node Operators adopted Obol. SafeStake, available only in the CSM, continued to run eight validators overseen by four operators, keeping its footprint stable.

Taken together, this cross-module growth shows how DVT is becoming standard practice for many operators. From permissionless modules to the Curated set, Lido is steadily building a more decentralized, diversified, and robust validator network anchored in shared-key infrastructure.

How is consensus client diversity evolving in the Curated Module?

The introduction of Obol and SSV Network DVT setups within the Curated Module has materially increased consensus client diversity. Starting Q3 2025, these configurations powered 5,900 Curated Module validators. That said, 1.94% of Curated validators now operate through SSV Network, equal to 4,800 validators, while 100 validators use Obol and are expected to ramp up over the next quarters.

Beyond DVT, Vouch, developed by Attestant, remains central to diversification efforts. Designed to work with multiple Beacon Nodes, Vouch improves flexibility and security and now serves 22.59% of Curated Module validators. This multi-client infrastructure helps reduce finality and supermajority risks.

Compared with the broader Ethereum CL client landscape, where Lighthouse holds 48.57% share (up from 47.96% in Q2), Lido’s Curated Module exhibits a more balanced mix. Lighthouse and Vouch each account for roughly a quarter of Curated validators, at 26.70% and 22.59%, respectively.

They are followed closely by Teku at 18.52% and Prysm at 15.44%. Meanwhile, Nimbus grew modestly to 11.77%, staying in line with other major clients. Moreover, this balanced distribution is the direct result of deliberate operator policies around client diversity and fault tolerance.

By spreading usage across multiple CL clients, Lido mitigates correlated failure and supermajority risks that could threaten Ethereum’s finality. In turn, this approach contributes to the broader health and resilience of the Ethereum network, reinforcing alignment between Lido’s strategy and ecosystem safety goals.

How are Auxiliary Proposer Mechanisms used by Lido operators?

The auxiliary proposer mechanisms framework allows Lido to safely test and adopt new block-proposal tools on Ethereum without compromising decentralization or security. These mechanisms aim to improve block production efficiency, reliability, and flexibility, while also unlocking additional rewards for stakers and operational efficiencies for Node Operators.

As of Q3 2025, Curated Module Node Operators were using various infrastructure setups related to proposer-builder infrastructure. A prime example is Proposer-Builder Separation (PBS), which decouples block building from block proposing to reduce transaction censorship and improve reward fairness. Its most common implementation, MEV-Boost, is now deployed by around half of Lido validators.

Other APM implementations in the protocol include Vouch, used by 22.6% of operators, and Commit Boost’s PBS Module, used by 19% of operators. Additionally, Consensus Layer clients’ native integrations with the MEV Boost protocol are used by only 2.8% of Lido validators, as these direct setups offer more limited capabilities than MEV-Boost sidecars.

This measured mix of tools reflects Lido contributors’ cautious yet forward-looking approach to proposer infrastructure. As Ethereum’s block production stack evolves, the protocol aims to stay at the forefront of innovation while preserving strong safety, decentralization, and ethical standards around MEV extraction.

What upgrades are coming for Lido Node Operators?

The period leading up to 2026 is expected to bring further improvements across Lido’s validator set. On October 2, 2025, the CSM v2 upgrade went live on mainnet. It raised the stake share cap to 5%, introduced differentiated parameters for various Node Operator types, and enabled the optional Identified Community Staker (ICS) framework.

The ICS model represents an important step in Lido’s roadmap, empowering more independent operators to enter Ethereum validation with clearer identities and accountability. Moreover, these changes are likely to shape CSM stake trajectories and validator charts in subsequent VaNOM reports, offering fresh data for governance and risk assessments.

Continuation of DVT rollout within the Curated Module is also expected, following explicit commitments from CM operators. That said, these migrations should further strengthen resiliency, reduce single-operator risk, and enhance diversity within the overall Curated set.

Looking further ahead, upcoming Lido V3, Staking Router v3, and Curated Module v2 upgrades are poised to redefine how Node Operators interact with the protocol. Collectively, they aim to expand flexibility, improve modularity, and set the stage for the next era of Ethereum staking.

Where can operators track Lido validator metrics?

Lido DAO contributors continue refining dashboards and metrics to reflect the protocol’s increasing complexity and to support data-driven oversight. Interested readers can explore the Lido Node Operator Portal for operator-level data and configuration details.

For more granular network-wide and staking insights, users can reference public Ethereum analytics platforms such as Beaconscha.in or client-diversity views on ClientDiversity.org. These sources complement Lido’s own VaNOM publications and help contextualize Lido’s footprint in the wider Ethereum ecosystem.

In summary, Q3 2025 saw Lido grow its operator set, deepen DVT adoption, increase client diversity, and broaden APM usage, laying the groundwork for a more decentralized and resilient Ethereum staking architecture.