The second largest blockchain network, Ethereum experienced a rare slashing event on September 10, which led to 39 validators being penalized. All these validators were connected to SSV Networks, a decentralized platform that makes staking safer by dividing validator keys among different operators.
According to a blockchain explorer, Baeaconchain, the slashing of 39 validators makes this one of the largest correlated slashing events since Ethereum’s transition to proof-of-stake in 2022. Each validator slashed faces an immediate ETH penalty and could face inactivity leaks as well as compounded losses.
While the validators were connected to SSV Network, its Founder Alon Muroch stressed that the protocol itself was not breached. Instead, the penalties occurred because of problems with the operator’s infrastructure that involved third-party staking providers.
One group of slashed validators was linked to Ankr, a company that provides liquid staking service. Muroch says that routine maintenance on Ankr’s systems caused the event. A second slashing involved a validator cluster that had moved from Allnodes two months before. Investigators think that a second validator setup caused the duplicate signing that led to fines. Another validator, backed by a 2,020 ETH stake, lost around 0.3 ETH, or about $1,300 at today’s prices, in the process.
“We looked at logs from both incidents and found NOTHING that indicates double signing or failure on SSV side,” Muroch said.
Validator Slashing on Ethereum
Slashing is built into Ethereum’s design to stop illicit or careless behavior from validators. Though slashing, imposing penalties on validators, occurs rarely. Since the Beacon Chain went live in 2020, only a small number—fewer than 500 validators have been slashed out of more than 1.2 million. Most of the problems, including this one, have been caused by operator mistakes rather than planned attacks.
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