MetaMask, the popular crypto wallet application, has partnered with Consensys Staking to run Ethereum validator nodes on behalf of users willing to stake at least 32 eth, a current value of about $80,000.

Following its transition from a proof-of-work network to a proof-of-stake network in the September 2022 known as ‘The Merge,’ Ethereum’s network is now secured by such validators. Many staking providers allow users to pool smaller amounts of funds together to hit the 32 eth requirement to run one validator, splitting the rewards. 

MetaMask’s new staking offering, however, promises no pooling and no hardware or software requirements. Rather, the 32 eth stake is used to run a validator node through the Consensys Staking service, which already operates validators totaling about 4% of …