Library · Crypto, word by word · Inside Ethereum
What is a consensus client?
A consensus client is the software in an Ethereum node that runs proof of stake: it follows the Beacon Chain, tracks validators' votes, and tells the execution client which chain of blocks is valid. A full node runs one alongside an execution client.
What it means for you
Staking ETH yourself means running a consensus client with a validator added to it, and that choice carries risk: a critical bug in a client used by two-thirds of validators could finalize an invalid chain, and validators on it could be slashed heavily.
How it works
The consensus client implements Ethereum's proof-of-stake algorithm, reaching agreement on data the execution client has validated. It gossips blocks and attestations with peers and wraps each execution payload in a beacon block. An optional validator component, which requires a 32 ETH deposit, holds signing keys and proposes and attests to blocks for the node. A consensus client alone cannot execute transactions, and an execution client alone cannot tell which blocks the network agreed on, so a node needs both.
Sources: ethereum.org: Nodes and clients, ethereum.org: Proof-of-stake, ethereum.org: Client diversity · checked 4 October 2026
Often confused with
Related words
Educational content, not financial advice. Written by hand and checked against the source named above. Something wrong? Tell us and we reply within two business days.