Connect a validator

What you need#

Use a PulseChain-compatible consensus client and Vouch’s PulseChain build of mev-boost. You keep your validator keys and fee recipient. There is no separate BlockFerret enrollment step.

The relay selects the highest eligible bid among connected builders. Using Vouch does not promise that BlockFerret wins every slot.

Vouch relay URL#

https://0xa6b974cbc17ce9c37b5f9796e167455d22882f2ca662c19379b0b9c476b1fbe745c19006444b653f9fb8409ffda9a450@boost-relay.vouch.run

Install the PulseChain build#

Follow the official Vouch setup guide for the current Docker or source instructions. The project uses the pulse branch and publishes ghcr.io/vouchrun/mev-boost:pulse.

Use the PulseChain-compatible build and its documented network and relay settings. The source build’s relay configuration has this shape:

./mev-boost -pulsechain -relay-check \
  -relay https://0xa6b974cbc17ce9c37b5f9796e167455d22882f2ca662c19379b0b9c476b1fbe745c19006444b653f9fb8409ffda9a450@boost-relay.vouch.run

Connect your clients#

Point the beacon node at your mev-boost sidecar and enable builder proposals in the validator client. The following examples assume the sidecar is listening locally on port 18550; use the address and port from your own installation.

# Prysm beacon node
--http-mev-relay=http://127.0.0.1:18550

# Prysm validator client
--enable-builder
--suggested-gas-limit=45000000
--suggested-fee-recipient=0xYourFeeRecipient

# Lighthouse beacon node
--builder http://127.0.0.1:18550

# Lighthouse validator client
--builder-proposals
--gas-limit 45000000
--suggested-fee-recipient 0xYourFeeRecipient

These are flags to add to your existing client configuration, not complete launch commands. Check the official setup guide and your client version. Coordinate restarts around your validator duties.

Verify your setup#

1. Confirm the sidecar is healthy and can contact the configured relay.
2. Check that the validator registers its intended fee recipient and gas limit.
3. Check builder-proposal logs around a proposer duty.
4. Compare the delivered block and payout with the relay’s public delivery record.

Rewards#

For BlockFerret’s own MEV blocks, your reward includes the ordinary baseline plus your share of net added MEV. Eligible Vouch fee-depositor duties also receive the automatic rebate described in Rewards and the MEV split.