Ethereum 2.0 Mainnet Staking Guide (Ubuntu/Nimbus)

This tutorial provides a step-by-step walkthrough for participating in Ethereum 2.0 mainnet staking using the Nimbus client. Below is a structured guide to help you set up your validator node securely and efficiently.

Table of Contents

1. Acknowledgements
2. Disclaimer
3. Prerequisites
4. Hardware Requirements
5. Workflow Overview
6. Step-by-Step Guide
7. FAQ
8. Additional Resources

Acknowledgements

This guide consolidates knowledge from various online resources. Special thanks to:

• The EthStaker community for their support.
• The Eth2 client teams and Ethereum Foundation researchers.

👉 Join the EthStaker Discord

Disclaimer

This tutorial is for informational purposes only. The author assumes no responsibility for any losses incurred. Always verify actions before proceeding.

Prerequisites

• Basic understanding of Ethereum, Staking, Linux, and MetaMask.
• Ubuntu Server v20.04 (LTS) (local or cloud-based).
• MetaMask or a compatible wallet.
• 32 ETH + gas fees per validator.

👉 Get started with MetaMask

Hardware Requirements

| Component | Recommended Spec |
|-----------|------------------|
| CPU | Modern multi-core |
| RAM | 8GB (16GB ideal) |
| SSD | 500GB (1TB ideal) |
| Network | Stable connection |

Note: Check disk space with df -h. If limited, see Appendix C.

Workflow Overview

1. Generate validator keys (deposit_data.json and keystore files).
2. Set up Ubuntu (firewall, security, updates).
3. Sync an Eth1 node (Go Ethereum).
4. Configure Nimbus beacon node.
5. Deposit ETH via the Ethereum 2.0 Launchpad.

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Generate Staking Data

• Use the Eth2.0 Deposit CLI to create:

  • deposit_data-[timestamp].json
  • keystore-m...json (encrypted validator keys).
• Secure your mnemonic phrase!

2. Secure Ubuntu Server

• Create a non-root user:

  sudo adduser <username>  
  sudo usermod -aG sudo <username>  

• Update packages:

  sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade  

3. Configure Firewall

sudo ufw allow <SSH_PORT>/tcp  
sudo ufw allow 30303/tcp  # Go Ethereum  
sudo ufw allow 9000/tcp   # Nimbus  
sudo ufw enable  

4. Sync Go Ethereum Node

• Install Geth:

  sudo add-apt-repository -y ppa:ethereum/ethereum  
  sudo apt install geth  

• Monitor sync status:

  geth attach http://127.0.0.1:8545  
  > eth.syncing  

5. Install Nimbus

curl -LO https://github.com/status-im/nimbus-eth2/releases/download/v1.0.0-rc1/nimbus-eth2_Linux_amd64.tar.gz  
tar xvf nimbus-eth2_Linux_amd64.tar.gz  
sudo cp build/nimbus_beacon_node /usr/local/bin  

6. Import Validator Keys

sudo nimbus_beacon_node deposits import --data-dir=/var/lib/nimbus <PATH_TO_KEYS>  

7. Start Nimbus Beacon Node

sudo systemctl start nimbus  
sudo journalctl -fu nimbus.service  # Monitor logs  

8. Deposit ETH

1. Visit Ethereum 2.0 Launchpad.
2. Upload deposit_data.json.
3. Connect MetaMask and confirm transactions.

FAQ

Q1: What if my Eth1 node isn’t syncing?

A: Ensure ports 30303 are open. Use --bootnodes for peer connections.

Q2: How do I check validator status?

A: Use beaconcha.in with your public key or wallet address.

Q3: Can I run multiple validators?

A: Yes, but each requires 32 ETH.

Additional Resources

• Nimbus Docs
• EthStaker Discord
• Geth Troubleshooting

Happy Staking! 🚀