eth2.0-specs/specs/validator/0_beacon-chain-validator.md

Ethereum 2.0 Phase 0 -- Honest Validator

NOTICE: This document is a work-in-progress for researchers and implementers. This is an accompanying document to Ethereum 2.0 Phase 0 -- The Beacon Chain that describes the expected actions of a "validator" participating in the Ethereum 2.0 protocol.

Table of Contents

• Ethereum 2.0 Phase 0 -- Honest Validator
  • Table of Contents
  • Introduction
  • Prerequisites
  • Constants
    • Misc
  • Becoming a validator
    • Initialization
      • BLS public key
      • BLS withdrawal key
    • Submit deposit
    • Process deposit
    • Validator index
    • Activation
  • Beacon chain responsibilities
    • Block proposal
      • Block header
        • Slot
        • Parent root
        • State root
        • Randao reveal
        • Eth1 Data
        • Signature
      • Block body
        • Proposer slashings
        • Attester slashings
        • Attestations
        • Deposits
        • Exits
    • Attestations
      • Attestation data
        • Slot
        • Shard
        • Beacon block root
        • Epoch boundary root
        • Shard block root
        • Latest crosslink
        • Justified epoch
        • Justified block root
      • Construct attestation
        • Data
        • Aggregation bitfield
        • Custody bitfield
        • Aggregate signature
  • Responsibility lookahead
  • How to avoid slashing
    • Proposer slashing
    • Attester slashing

Introduction

This document represents the expected behavior of an "honest validator" with respect to Phase 0 of the Ethereum 2.0 protocol. This document does not distinguish between a "node" (ie. the functionality of following and reading the beacon chain) and a "validator client" (ie. the functionality of actively participating in consensus). The separation of concerns between these (potentially) two pieces of software is left as a design decision that is out of scope.

A validator is an entity that participates in the consensus of the Ethereum 2.0 protocol. This is an optional role for users in which they can post ETH as collateral and verify and attest to the validity of blocks to seek financial returns in exchange for building and securing the protocol. This is similar to proof of work networks in which a miner provides collateral in the form of hardware/hash-power to seek returns in exchange for building and securing the protocol.

Prerequisites

All terminology, constants, functions, and protocol mechanics defined in the Phase 0 -- The Beacon Chain doc are requisite for this document and used throughout. Please see the Phase 0 doc before continuing and use as a reference throughout.

Constants

Misc

Name	Value	Unit	Duration
ETH1_FOLLOW_DISTANCE	2**10 (= 1,024)	blocks	~4 hours

Becoming a validator

Initialization

A validator must initialize many parameters locally before submitting a deposit and joining the validator registry.

BLS public key

Validator public keys are G1 points on the BLS12-381 curve. A private key, privkey, must be securely generated along with the resultant pubkey. This privkey must be "hot", that is, constantly available to sign data throughout the lifetime of the validator.

BLS withdrawal key

A secondary withdrawal private key, withdrawal_privkey, must also be securely generated along with the resultant withdrawal_pubkey. This withdrawal_privkey does not have to be available for signing during the normal lifetime of a validator and can live in "cold storage".

The validator constructs their withdrawal_credentials via the following:

• Set withdrawal_credentials[:1] == BLS_WITHDRAWAL_PREFIX_BYTE.
• Set withdrawal_credentials[1:] == hash(withdrawal_pubkey)[1:].

Submit deposit

In phase 0, all incoming validator deposits originate from the Ethereum 1.0 PoW chain. Deposits are made to the deposit contract located at DEPOSIT_CONTRACT_ADDRESS.

To submit a deposit:

• Pack the validator's initialization parameters into deposit_input, a DepositInput SSZ object.
• Set deposit_input.proof_of_possession = EMPTY_SIGNATURE.
• Let proof_of_possession be the result of bls_sign of the hash_tree_root(deposit_input) with domain=DOMAIN_DEPOSIT.
• Set deposit_input.proof_of_possession = proof_of_possession.
• Let amount be the amount in Gwei to be deposited by the validator where MIN_DEPOSIT_AMOUNT <= amount <= MAX_DEPOSIT_AMOUNT.
• Send a transaction on the Ethereum 1.0 chain to DEPOSIT_CONTRACT_ADDRESS executing deposit along with serialize(deposit_input) as the singular bytes input along with a deposit amount in Gwei.

Note: Deposits made for the same pubkey are treated as for the same validator. A singular Validator will be added to state.validator_registry with each additional deposit amount added to the validator's balance. A validator can only be activated when total deposits for the validator pubkey meet or exceed MAX_DEPOSIT_AMOUNT.

Process deposit

Deposits cannot be processed into the beacon chain until the eth1.0 block in which they were deposited or any of its descendants is added to the beacon chain state.eth1_data. This takes a minimum of ETH1_FOLLOW_DISTANCE eth1.0 blocks (~4 hours) plus ETH1_DATA_VOTING_PERIOD epochs (~1.7 hours). Once the requisite eth1.0 data is added, the deposit will normally be added to a beacon chain block and processed into the state.validator_registry within an epoch or two. The validator is then in a queue to be activated.

Validator index

Once a validator has been processed and added to the beacon state's validator_registry, the validator's validator_index is defined by the index into the registry at which the ValidatorRecord contains the pubkey specified in the validator's deposit. A validator's validator_index is guaranteed to not change from the time of initial deposit until the validator exits and fully withdraws. This validator_index is used throughout the specification to dictate validator roles and responsibilities at any point and should be stored locally.

Activation

In normal operation, the validator is quickly activated at which point the validator is added to the shuffling and begins validation after an additional ENTRY_EXIT_DELAY epochs (25.6 minutes).

The function is_active_validator can be used to check if a validator is active during a given epoch. Usage is as follows:

validator = state.validator_registry[validator_index]
is_active = is_active_validator(validator, epoch)

Once a validator is activated, the validator is assigned responsibilities until exited.

Note: There is a maximum validator churn per finalized epoch so the delay until activation is variable depending upon finality, total active validator balance, and the number of validators in the queue to be activated.

Beacon chain responsibilities

A validator has two primary responsibilities to the beacon chain -- proposing blocks and creating attestations. Proposals happen infrequently, whereas attestations should be created once per epoch.

Block proposal

A validator is expected to propose a BeaconBlock at the beginning of any slot during which get_beacon_proposer_index(state, slot) returns the validator's validator_index. To propose, the validator selects the BeaconBlock, parent, that in their view of the fork choice is the head of the chain during slot. The validator is to create, sign, and broadcast a block that is a child of parent and that executes a valid beacon chain state transition.

There is one proposer per slot, so if there are N active validators any individual validator will on average be assigned to propose once per N slots (eg. at 312500 validators = 10 million ETH, that's once per ~3 weeks).

Block header

Slot

Set block.slot = slot where slot is the current slot at which the validator has been selected to propose. The parent selected must satisfy that parent.slot < block.slot.

Note: there might be "skipped" slots between the parent and block. These skipped slots are processed in the state transition function without per-block processing.

Parent root

Set block.parent_root = hash_tree_root(parent).

State root

Set block.state_root = hash_tree_root(state) of the resulting state of the parent -> block state transition.

Note: To calculate state_root, the validator should first run the state transition function on an unsigned block containing a stub for the state_root. It is useful to be able to run a state transition function that does not validate signatures for this purpose.

Randao reveal

Set block.randao_reveal = epoch_signature where epoch_signature is defined as:

epoch_signature = bls_sign(
    privkey=validator.privkey,  # privkey store locally, not in state
    message_hash=int_to_bytes32(slot_to_epoch(block.slot)),
    domain=get_domain(
        fork=fork,  # `fork` is the fork object at the slot `block.slot`
        epoch=slot_to_epoch(block.slot),
        domain_type=DOMAIN_RANDAO,
    )
)

Eth1 Data

block.eth1_data is a mechanism used by block proposers vote on a recent Ethereum 1.0 block hash and an associated deposit root found in the Ethereum 1.0 deposit contract. When consensus is formed, state.latest_eth1_data is updated, and validator deposits up to this root can be processed. The deposit root can be calculated by calling the get_deposit_root() function of the deposit contract using the post-state of the block hash.

• Let D be the set of Eth1DataVote objects vote in state.eth1_data_votes where:
  • vote.eth1_data.block_hash is the hash of an eth1.0 block that is (i) part of the canonical chain, (ii) >= ETH1_FOLLOW_DISTANCE blocks behind the head, and (iii) newer than state.latest_eth1_data.block_data.
  • vote.eth1_data.deposit_root is the deposit root of the eth1.0 deposit contract at the block defined by vote.eth1_data.block_hash.
• If D is empty:
  • Let block_hash be the block hash of the ETH1_FOLLOW_DISTANCE'th ancestor of the head of the canonical eth1.0 chain.
  • Let deposit_root be the deposit root of the eth1.0 deposit contract in the post-state of the block referenced by block_hash
• If D is nonempty:
  • Let best_vote be the member of D that has the highest vote.eth1_data.vote_count, breaking ties by favoring block hashes with higher associated block height.
  • Let block_hash = best_vote.eth1_data.block_hash.
  • Let deposit_root = best_vote.eth1_data.deposit_root.
• Set block.eth1_data = Eth1Data(deposit_root=deposit_root, block_hash=block_hash).

Signature

Set block.signature = signed_proposal_data where signed_proposal_data is defined as:

proposal_data = ProposalSignedData(
    slot=slot,
    shard=BEACON_CHAIN_SHARD_NUMBER,
    block_root=hash_tree_root(block),  # where `block.sigature == EMPTY_SIGNATURE
)
proposal_root = hash_tree_root(proposal_data)

signed_proposal_data = bls_sign(
    privkey=validator.privkey,  # privkey store locally, not in state
    message_hash=proposal_root,
    domain=get_domain(
        fork=fork,  # `fork` is the fork object at the slot `block.slot`
        epoch=slot_to_epoch(block.slot),
        domain_type=DOMAIN_PROPOSAL,
    )
)

Block body

Proposer slashings

Up to MAX_PROPOSER_SLASHINGS ProposerSlashing objects can be included in the block. The proposer slashings must satisfy the verification conditions found in proposer slashings processing. The validator receives a small "whistleblower" reward for each proposer slashing found and included.

Attester slashings

Up to MAX_ATTESTER_SLASHINGS AttesterSlashing objects can be included in the block. The attester slashings must satisfy the verification conditions found in Attester slashings processing. The validator receives a small "whistleblower" reward for each attester slashing found and included.

Attestations

Up to MAX_ATTESTATIONS aggregate attestations can be included in the block. The attestations added must satisfy the verification conditions found in attestation processing. To maximize profit, the validator should attempt to create aggregate attestations that include singular attestations from the largest number of validators whose signatures from the same epoch have not previously been added on chain.

Deposits

Up to MAX_DEPOSITS Deposit objects can be included in the block. These deposits are constructed from the Deposit logs from the Eth1.0 deposit contract and must be processed in sequential order. The deposits included in the block must satisfy the verification conditions found in deposits processing.

Exits

Up to MAX_EXITS Exit objects can be included in the block. The exits must satisfy the verification conditions found in exits processing.

Attestations

A validator is expected to create, sign, and broadcast an attestation during each epoch. The slot during which the validator performs this role is any slot at which get_crosslink_committees_at_slot(state, slot) contains a committee that contains validator_index.

A validator should create and broadcast the attestation halfway through the slot during which the validator is assigned -- that is SLOT_DURATION * 0.5 seconds after the start of slot.

Attestation data

First the validator should construct attestation_data, an AttestationData object based upon the state at the assigned slot.

Slot

Set attestation_data.slot = slot where slot is the current slot of which the validator is a member of a committee.

Shard

Set attestation_data.shard = shard where shard is the shard associated with the validator's committee defined by get_crosslink_committees_at_slot.

Beacon block root

Set attestation_data.beacon_block_root = hash_tree_root(head) where head is the validator's view of the head block of the beacon chain during slot.

Epoch boundary root

Set attestation_data.epoch_boundary_root = hash_tree_root(epoch_boundary) where epoch_boundary is the block at the most recent epoch boundary in the chain defined by head -- i.e. the BeaconBlock where block.slot == get_epoch_start_slot(head.slot).

Note: This can be looked up in the state using get_block_root(state, get_epoch_start_slot(head.slot)).

Shard block root

Set attestation_data.shard_block_root = ZERO_HASH.

Note: This is a stub for phase 0.

Latest crosslink

Set attestation_data.latest_crosslink = state.latest_crosslinks[shard] where state is the beacon state at head and shard is the validator's assigned shard.

Justified epoch

Set attestation_data.justified_epoch = state.justified_epoch where state is the beacon state at head.

Justified block root

Set attestation_data.justified_block_root = hash_tree_root(justified_block) where justified_block is the block at state.justified_epoch in the chain defined by head.

Note: This can be looked up in the state using get_block_root(state, justified_epoch).

Construct attestation

Next the validator creates attestation, an Attestation object.

Data

Set attestation.data = attestation_data where attestation_data is the AttestationData object defined in the previous section, attestation data.

Aggregation bitfield

• Let aggregation_bitfield be a byte array filled with zeros of length (len(committee) + 7) // 8.
• Let index_into_committee be the index into the validator's committee at which validator_index is located.
• Set aggregation_bitfield[index_into_committee // 8] |= 2 ** (index_into_committee % 8).
• Set attestation.aggregation_bitfield = aggregation_bitfield.

Note: Calling get_attestation_participants(state, attestation.data, attestation.aggregation_bitfield) should return a list of length equal to 1, containing validator_index.

Custody bitfield

• Let custody_bitfield be a byte array filled with zeros of length (len(committee) + 7) // 8.
• Set attestation.custody_bitfield = custody_bitfield.

Note: This is a stub for phase 0.

Aggregate signature

Set attestation.aggregate_signature = signed_attestation_data where signed_attestation_data is defined as:

attestation_data_and_custody_bit = AttestationDataAndCustodyBit(
    data=attestation.data,
    custody_bit=0b0,
)
attestation_message_to_sign = hash_tree_root(attestation_data_and_custody_bit)

signed_attestation_data = bls_sign(
    privkey=validator.privkey,  # privkey store locally, not in state
    message_hash=attestation_message_to_sign,
    domain=get_domain(
        fork=fork,  # `fork` is the fork object at the slot, `attestation_data.slot`
        epoch=slot_to_epoch(attestation_data.slot),
        domain_type=DOMAIN_ATTESTATION,
    )
)

Responsibility lookahead

The beacon chain shufflings are designed to provide a minimum of 1 epoch lookahead on the validator's upcoming responsibilities of proposing and attesting dictated by the shuffling and slot.

There are three possibilities for the shuffling at the next epoch:

1. The shuffling changes due to a "validator registry change".
2. The shuffling changes due to epochs_since_last_registry_update being an exact power of 2 greater than 1.
3. The shuffling remains the same (i.e. the validator is in the same shard committee).

Either (2) or (3) occurs if (1) fails. The choice between (2) and (3) is deterministic based upon epochs_since_last_registry_update.

get_crosslink_committees_at_slot is designed to be able to query slots in the next epoch. When querying slots in the next epoch there are two options -- with and without a registry_change -- which is the optional third parameter of the function. The following helper can be used to get the potential crosslink committee assignments in the next epoch for a given validator_index and registry_change.

def get_next_epoch_committee_assignment(
        state: BeaconState,
        validator_index: ValidatorIndex,
        registry_change: bool) -> Tuple[List[ValidatorIndex], ShardNumber, SlotNumber, bool]:
    """
    Return the committee assignment in the next epoch for ``validator_index`` and ``registry_change``.
    ``assignment`` returned is a tuple of the following form:
        * ``assignment[0]`` is the list of validators in the committee
        * ``assignment[1]`` is the shard to which the committee is assigned
        * ``assignment[2]`` is the slot at which the committee is assigned
        * ``assignment[3]`` is a bool signalling if the validator is expected to propose
            a beacon block at the assigned slot.
    """
    current_epoch = get_current_epoch(state)
    next_epoch = current_epoch + 1
    next_epoch_start_slot = get_epoch_start_slot(next_epoch)
    for slot in range(next_epoch_start_slot, next_epoch_start_slot + EPOCH_LENGTH):
        crosslink_committees = get_crosslink_committees_at_slot(
            state,
            slot,
            registry_change=registry_change,
        )
        selected_committees = [
            committee  # Tuple[List[ValidatorIndex], ShardNumber]
            for committee in crosslink_committees
            if validator_index in committee[0]
        ]
        if len(selected_committees) > 0:
            validators = selected_committees[0][0]
            shard = selected_committees[0][1]
            first_committee_at_slot = crosslink_committees[0][0]  # List[ValidatorIndex]
            is_proposer = first_committee_at_slot[slot % len(first_committee_at_slot)] == validator_index

            assignment = (validators, shard, slot, is_proposer)
            return assignment

get_next_epoch_committee_assignment should be called at the start of each epoch to get the assignment for the next epoch (slots during current_epoch + 1). A validator should always plan for assignments from both values of registry_change unless the validator can concretely eliminate one of the options. Planning for future assignments involves noting at which future slot one might have to attest and propose and also which shard one should begin syncing (in phase 1+).

How to avoid slashing

"Slashing" is the burning of some amount of validator funds and immediate ejection from the active validator set. In Phase 0, there are two ways in which funds can be slashed -- proposer slashing and attester slashing. Although being slashed has serious repercussions, it is simple enough to avoid being slashed all together by remaining consistent with respect to the messages a validator has previously signed.

Note: Signed data must be within a sequential Fork context to conflict. Messages cannot be slashed across diverging forks. If the previous fork version is 1 and the chain splits into fork 2 and 102, messages from 1 can slashable against messages in forks 1, 2, and 102. Messages in 2 cannot be slashable against messages in 102 and vice versa.

Proposer slashing

To avoid "proposer slashings", a validator must not sign two conflicting ProposalSignedData where conflicting is defined as having the same slot and shard but a different block_root. In phase 0, proposals are only made for the beacon chain (shard == BEACON_CHAIN_SHARD_NUMBER).

In phase 0, as long as the validator does not sign two different beacon chain proposals for the same slot, the validator is safe against proposer slashings.

Specifically, when signing an BeaconBlock, a validator should perform the following steps in the following order:

1. Save a record to hard disk that an beacon block has been signed for the slot=slot and shard=BEACON_CHAIN_SHARD_NUMBER.
2. Generate and broadcast the block.

If the software crashes at some point within this routine, then when the validator comes back online the hard disk has the record of the potentially signed/broadcast block and can effectively avoid slashing.

Attester slashing

To avoid "attester slashings", a validator must not sign two conflicting AttestationData objects where conflicting is defined as a set of two attestations that satisfy either is_double_vote or is_surround_vote.

Specifically, when signing an Attestation, a validator should perform the following steps in the following order:

1. Save a record to hard disk that an attestation has been signed for source -- attestation_data.justified_epoch -- and target -- slot_to_epoch(attestation_data.slot).
2. Generate and broadcast attestation.

If the software crashes at some point within this routine, then when the validator comes back online the hard disk has the record of the potentially signed/broadcast attestation and can effectively avoid slashing.