EthStaker Deposit CLI is a free, open source command-line tool for creating the validator keys needed to stake ETH on the Ethereum network. It is aimed at people who plan to run their own validator and want to produce keystores and deposit data without relying on a web service that handles their secrets.
The tool writes keystores in the EIP-2335 format using BLS12-381 keys, and produces a depositdata.json file that can be uploaded to the Ethereum Staking Launchpad or the deposit interface on the Gnosis Beacon Chain. It can also create a signed exit message from an existing keystore, which can be broadcast later if you decide to stop validating.
What Validator Keys Do in Ethereum Staking
Ethereum moved to proof-of-stake, and validators secure the network by proposing and attesting to blocks. To become a validator, you lock 32 ETH into the deposit contract. Your validator is identified by a BLS12-381 public key, and the matching private key is what signs your duties on the network.
The private key is the valuable part. Whoever holds it can sign on your behalf, so the keystore file and its password need to be protected as carefully as a wallet seed. EthStaker Deposit CLI exists to generate these keys in a controlled way, rather than asking you to trust an unknown online generator.
Who Should Use This Tool
The program is most relevant to people who intend to run a home or dedicated validator node and want a transparent, scriptable way to create keys. Solo stakers, small operators preparing a batch of validators, and developers testing staking setups are typical users.
If you only want to delegate ETH to a staking service or a liquid staking protocol, you will not need to generate keys yourself. In that case the tool is not relevant, because the provider handles validator operations.
Mnemonic Phrases and Why Backups Matter
Key generation produces a mnemonic phrase, a sequence of words that can recreate your validator keys. Anyone with this phrase can rebuild your keys, so it must be written down on paper and stored offline. Storing it in a text file on a cloud drive or sending it through a chat app is a common and serious mistake.
Keep three things separate: the mnemonic, the keystore files, and the password. Losing any one of them can make a validator impossible to recover, while exposing them together gives an attacker full control.
How Staking Deposits Are Verified
After you upload depositdata.json to a deposit site, the deposit is submitted to the Ethereum deposit contract. The beacon chain then processes it, and the validator activates after a queue period. The waiting time depends on how many validators are entering or leaving the network at the same time, so activation is not instant.
Before you send any ETH, double-check that the deposit site and the network match what you intend. Mistakes at this stage are hard to reverse.
Key features
EIP-2335 keystore generation
Deposit data file
Signed voluntary exit
Offline operation
Open source codebase
Supported coins
The documentation references Ethereum (ETH) only. The tool is built for validators on the Ethereum proof-of-stake network and for the Gnosis Beacon Chain deposit flow.
How to install EthStaker Deposit CLI on Windows
- 1
Download from the official source
Get the software from the official GitHub repository at github.com/ethstaker/ethstaker-deposit-cli, using the Releases page for the current version, v1.3.1. Avoid mirror sites and third-party download portals, which may bundle modified files.
- 2
Verify the file
Compare the SHA-256 checksum of the downloaded archive with the value published on the release page. If a signature is provided, verify it as well. A mismatch means the file should not be used.
- 3
Set up a Python environment
The tool is written in Python. Install a recent Python 3 release from python.org, then create a virtual environment so the dependencies stay isolated from other software on the machine.
- 4
Install the dependencies
Inside the virtual environment, install the project requirements as described in the repository README. Build and install steps can differ between releases, so follow the instructions attached to v1.3.1 rather than older guides.
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Run the tool on an offline machine
For key generation, use a computer disconnected from the internet. Confirm the installation works, then proceed to generation. Only reconnect after your keys and backups are secured.
How to use EthStaker Deposit CLI
Generating keys is a deliberate, multi-step process. Work slowly and keep your backups secure at every stage.
- Prepare an offline computer and confirm the tool runs without a network connection.
- Launch the key generation command and choose the number of validators you want to create.
- Select the network you are staking on, such as Ethereum mainnet or the Gnosis Beacon Chain, so the deposit data matches the correct chain.
- Enter a strong password when prompted. This password encrypts the keystores, so record it in a secure place separate from the keystore files.
- Write down the mnemonic phrase on paper as soon as it is shown, and store it offline.
- Copy the generated keystores and the depositdata.json file to removable storage for later use.
- Upload depositdata.json to the Ethereum Staking Launchpad or the Gnosis deposit interface, following the on-screen instructions.
- If you plan ahead, use the exit command with a keystore to create a signedexittransaction.json file and store it with your backups.
Pros & cons
- Free and open source, with public source code
- Produces standard EIP-2335 keystores compatible with common validator clients
- Generates deposit data for the official deposit interfaces
- Can create signed exit messages for future use
- Has been reviewed in multiple security assessments
- Command-line only, with no graphical interface
- Requires careful handling of mnemonics, keystores and passwords
- Setup involves Python and a terminal, which may be unfamiliar to some users
- Focused on Ethereum, with no support for other networks
Is EthStaker Deposit CLI safe?
Key generation carries real risk, because the output controls validator funds. Download the tool only from the official GitHub repository, and check the SHA-256 checksum or signature before running it. Never enter a seed phrase or mnemonic on any third-party website, and never type one into a chat or email.
Generate keys on a computer that is offline and free of unknown software. Keep the mnemonic on paper in a secure location, and store keystores and passwords separately. Security reviews by Trail of Bits are published on the project's pages, but an audit does not guarantee your own setup is safe. Before you deposit ETH, check the latest version on the official website and review the repository for recent changes.
- Official source only. Download from github.com/ethstaker/ethstaker-deposit-cli. Ignore ads and lookalike domains.
- Check the SHA-256. Compare the installer hash with the value the developer publishes before running it.
- Never share your seed phrase. No developer, support agent or website — including CryptApps — will ever ask for it.
Alternatives
Most similar programs in this catalog are full Ethereum clients, such as Geth, Nethermind, Erigon and Nimbus. Those applications sync the blockchain and run the execution or consensus layer of a node. EthStaker Deposit CLI does something narrower: it creates validator keys and deposit files, and does not run a node or sync the chain.
This means you typically use the deposit CLI first, then run a validator client and a beacon node alongside an execution client. Ethereum Grid is a client manager, which is closer to coordinating a setup than generating keys. For readers who need a full node, the clients above are the relevant choices. For readers preparing validator keys, this tool fills a different and necessary step.
Specifications
- Price
- Free
- Type
- Open source
- License
- —
- Latest version
- v1.3.1
- Last update
- 29 Oct 2026
- Windows support
- Likely (builds for Windows; check releases)
- Source code
- github.com/ethstaker/ethstaker-deposit-cli
Frequently asked questions
Yes. EthStaker Deposit CLI is free and open source. You download it from the official GitHub repository and run it on your own computer, without paying a fee to the project for key generation.
The project builds for Windows, although the support is listed as likely rather than guaranteed. Check the releases page for the version you want to run, and follow the instructions for your platform.
It produces EIP-2335 keystore files, a depositdata.json file for the deposit interfaces, and can generate a signedexittransaction.json file from an existing keystore for a future validator exit.
Generating keys offline is strongly recommended. Use a machine disconnected from the internet, keep the output off cloud storage, and make sure the software you run is the verified official release.
Write it on paper and store it in a secure physical location. Never type it into websites, apps or messages, because anyone who has it can recreate your validator keys.
The documentation references Ethereum only, and the deposit flow is built for the Ethereum and Gnosis Beacon Chain networks. It is not intended for other chains.
Yes, the CLI can create a signed voluntary exit message from your keystore. You can save that file and broadcast it when you decide to leave staking.
Verdict
EthStaker Deposit CLI is a focused, free tool for people who plan to run their own Ethereum validator. It does one job well: creating standard keystores, deposit data and signed exit messages, with an open source codebase that has been reviewed by a security firm. It suits technically comfortable stakers who will generate keys on an offline machine and back them up carefully. If you want a graphical wallet or a managed staking service, look elsewhere, but for a transparent key generator, it is a practical choice.