What Is Lighthouse?
Also known as: Lighthouse Client, Lighthouse Consensus Client
In short
Lighthouse is an open-source Ethereum consensus layer client developed in the Rust programming language by Sigma Prime; it runs as a beacon node and validator client on the Proof of Stake network.
After Ethereum moved to Proof of Stake with The Merge in September 2022, running a node requires two pieces of software: an execution client that executes transactions (such as Geth, Nethermind, Erigon or Besu) and a consensus client that manages block proposal, attestation and finalization. Lighthouse is in the second group; it follows the beacon chain and ensures that validators managing staked ETH perform their duties.
Rust's memory safety and performance advantages are defining elements of Lighthouse's design. The client offers features such as validator key management, monitoring tools and fast synchronization, and is among the widely used clients on Ethereum's consensus layer.
In terms of client diversity, this prevalence also carries a risk: if a single client runs on a very large share of the network, a bug in that software could cause the chain to finalize an incorrect block or cause validators to be penalized (slashing). For this reason, it is recommended that validators be spread in a balanced way among clients such as Lighthouse, Prysm, Teku, Nimbus and Lodestar.
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