Ether.fi has mandated that all 12 of its node operators utilize the mump2p networking tool, developed by the startup Optimum. This requirement coincides with the official mainnet launch of the protocol on October 20, 2026, transitioning the software from an optional tool to a mandatory component for the protocol's infrastructure.
Currently, 16 Ethereum node operators have deployed mump2p in production environments. Collectively, these operators manage over 1.4 million staked ETH and approximately 22,000 validator keys. Other notable infrastructure providers, including Blockdaemon and Stakefish, have also adopted the technology.
The mump2p software functions as a sidecar gateway, integrating with existing operator setups without requiring hardware modifications or changes to Ethereum consensus rules. According to Optimum, integration typically requires less than two hours of engineering work.
Optimum, led by MIT professor Muriel Médard, claims that mump2p delivers blocks 2.5 to 3.5 times faster than the standard GossipSub protocol. The company states that the technology improves head-vote accuracy and enhances MEV capture opportunities for validators.
