Bitwise has completed the first validator consolidation on Lido Core, becoming a node operator within the new Curated Module v2 (CMv2). This initiative is part of a migration process designed to restructure approximately 8.4 million staked ETH, valued at $16.5 billion at the time of the announcement.
The migration utilizes the EIP-7251 standard, introduced in the Pectra hard fork in May 2025. This update allows for the 0x02 validator type, which supports an effective balance of up to 2,048 ETH, compared to the previous 32 ETH limit. The transition enables balance transfers between validators without requiring full exits.
The CMv2 framework aims to reduce Lido’s total validator count by approximately one-third and decrease attestation messages per epoch by about 29%. These changes are intended to lower the computational load on the Ethereum consensus layer, improve bandwidth usage, and accelerate finality processing.
The new module includes 34 curated operators, all of which are now subject to ETH bonding requirements. Bitwise gained the necessary infrastructure and relationship with the Lido ecosystem following its acquisition of Chorus One earlier in 2026. The Lido DAO approved the migration framework in July 2026.
