Ethereum faces a rare large-scale slashing: 39 validators were penalized due to operational errors.

According to data from the blockchain explorer Beaconcha.in, Ethereum experienced a rare large-scale slashing event on September 10, with as many as 39 validators being slashed due to operational errors related to SSV Network. This incident was not caused by malicious attacks or protocol errors, but rather due to improper maintenance of the infrastructure by the operators, highlighting that even with advanced technology support, human error remains a significant vulnerability in staking.

Event Review and Cause Analysis

This large-scale slashing event is related to third-party staking providers using Distributed Validator Technology (DVT).

Main reason: One of the clusters (related to Ankr) triggered a double signing during routine maintenance, resulting in penalties. Another cluster migrated from Allnodes was also penalized due to duplicate validator settings.

Economic loss: Each penalized validator loses approximately 0.3 ETH, which amounts to about 1,300 USD based on the current Ethereum price (around 4,200 USD). In addition, losses may be exacerbated further due to the "inactive leakage" penalty.

Although the scale of this punishment is striking, Alon Muroch, the founder of SSV Network, confirmed that the protocol itself has not been compromised, which again demonstrates the robustness of the Ethereum consensus layer protocol.

Background of the Event and Its Impact on the Ethereum Ecosystem

The timing of this event coincides with the Ethereum staking ecosystem facing multiple challenges:

Exit queue surge: According to the latest data, Ethereum's exit queue has exceeded 2.5 million ETH, with a withdrawal waiting time of up to 45 days, reaching a new high in 18 months. This corresponds with the recent drop in ETH prices.

Institutional interest remains strong: Despite the continuous increase in the exit queue, Ethereum has still added over 50,000 validators since the clarification of U.S. regulations in May 2025, demonstrating strong institutional interest and confidence in the long-term value of the network.

Conclusion

This penalization incident serves as a warning on the growth path of the Ethereum staking ecosystem. It strongly proves that, despite advanced technologies like DVT enhancing decentralization and resilience, human operational errors remain an undeniable vulnerability. This incident reminds all staking service providers of the need to strengthen operational discipline and infrastructure maintenance. As the Ethereum ecosystem continues to mature and attract more institutional participation, such incidents will become crucial learning experiences, prompting the community to collaboratively build a safer and more robust staking environment.