Updated the list, Next step is a formal proposal. GitHub - GLCNI/ETH-Validators-List: List of Addresses that Deposited the Ethereum Beacon Chain Contract
The list includes, 8666 solo validator owned addresses in its current form (until end of April, I will update for month of May and monthly until the merge) If you are a validator, check for your address, or Rocketpool node account address is included
Almost 9k addresses (likely more in coming months), is a large distribution especially considering quality of recipient, validators will add value to optimism network.
As a genuine L2 (not sidechain) Optimism is an extension of ETH, validators are integral to the network and should have a say in Layer 2. Most likely to run full nodes on L2 and sequencers when available. Reality is most users do not run nodes and have no interest in doing so.
If you aren’t in this list, because you don’t have enough ETH I strongly encourage you to support this, there are solutions around the corner to run ‘shared’ validators with as little as 4 ETH, eg:OBOL network and SSV.
It is essential for the long-term success of Ethereum we do not allow the chain to be captured and monopolised by a few entities, external incentives such as this will have positive effect on decentralisation.
In time the ROI of being a validator could outweigh minting liquid staking derivatives, as other layer 2s/projects will likely include validators in future distributions.