Introduction
This guide is designed for Ethereum validators preparing to test and enable withdrawals ahead of the Shanghai/Capella upgrade. Key testnets like Goerli and Sepolia will activate these features before mainnet.
👉 Explore Ethereum staking tools
FAQ Section
Q: What is the Shanghai/Capella upgrade?
A: Shanghai and Capella are codenames for Ethereum's upcoming hard forks. The upgrade introduces EIPs enabling validator withdrawals from the Beacon Chain. Shanghai refers to execution-layer changes, while Capella focuses on consensus-layer updates.
Q: What are withdrawals?
A: Withdrawals allow validators to exit the network and unlock their staked ETH (32 ETH principal plus earned rewards). There are two types:
- Partial withdrawals: Excess balance above 32 ETH is automatically sent to a designated address.
- Full withdrawals: The validator exits entirely, and the entire balance is unlocked.
Q: What are 0x00 and 0x01 withdrawal credentials?
A: These prefixes denote withdrawal credential formats:
- 0x00: Requires migration to 0x01 for withdrawals.
- 0x01: Already configured with an Ethereum execution-layer address.
Q: How do I check my credential type?
A: Use tools like ethdo:
ethdo validator info --validator=<index> --verboseOr check block explorers (e.g., beaconcha.in).
Q: Are partial withdrawals automatic?
A: Yes, if credentials are set to 0x01. Excess ETH is sent to your execution-layer address without gas fees.
Q: How do I initiate a full withdrawal?
A: Manually trigger an exit via your validator client (e.g., Prysm).
Q: What’s the daily withdrawal limit?
A: The network processes 16 partial withdrawals per slot (12 sec). Full withdrawals enter an exit queue based on validator count.
Advanced Topics
Q: Can I change my withdrawal address after migration?
A: No. Migrating to 0x01 is irreversible—ensure your address is secure.
Q: What if I lose my withdrawal address keys?
A: Funds are unrecoverable. Always back up keys.
Q: How long do withdrawals take?
A: Partial withdrawals occur weekly via automated scans. Full withdrawals depend on queue length (e.g., ~4.34 days for 327,680 validators).
Testing & Resources
Q: How can I test withdrawals risk-free?
A: Use testnets like Zhejiang. Join via this guide.
Resources:
For further questions, visit:
- Discord: discord.io/ethstaker
- Subreddit: reddit.com/r/ethstaker