Install a staking pool

Deploy and activate a staking pool from a remote machine with install.sh.

install.sh deploys and activates one staking pool from guides/apps/staking-pools/install-helpers/. You configure the environment, run the script, and execute the commands it asks you to. The script uses Foundation-delegated funds when a DelegationHandler has been provisioned for your validator. Otherwise it spends 10,000 BERA plus gas from your funding wallet.

What you need before you run install.sh

You need a synced validator, helper tools, and live endpoints:

• A synced Berachain validator
• bash, Foundry (cast), jq, and curl
• Reachable execution-layer JSON-RPC and consensus-layer Node API endpoints. Enable the Node API. The Node API can run on any node; it doesn’t have to be on the validator.

You also need one funding path:

• Self-funded: at least 10,000 BERA plus gas in the funding wallet
• Delegated: a DelegationHandler already formed and funded for your validator, plus gas for activation

The Berachain Foundation forms the DelegationHandler when they issue a delegation. That setup is internal; operators run install.sh once the handler exists.

Clone install-helpers

Clone the guides repo and enter the helper directory:

git clone https://github.com/berachain/guides/
cd guides/apps/staking-pools/install-helpers

Set environment variables

Copy env.sh.template to env.sh in that directory, then edit the copy. install.sh sources env.sh when the file is present.

cp env.sh.template env.sh

Variable	Purpose
EL_RPC_URL	Execution-layer JSON-RPC. Default: Bepolia public RPC. Network is read from eth_chainId.
CL_NODE_API_URL	Beacon Kit Node API base URL. Default: http://127.0.0.1:3500.
PRIVATE_KEY	Signs cast send on this host when set.
VALIDATOR_PUBKEY	Validator pubkey default.
FUNDING_ADDRESS	Funding wallet on the self-funded path. Ignored when PRIVATE_KEY is set.
OPERATOR_ADDRESS	Operator on the self-funded path.
SHARES_RECIPIENT	Shares recipient on the self-funded path.

Run install.sh

Use ./install.sh --help for usage.

cp env.sh.template env.sh   # optional; defaults apply without this
./install.sh

If a DelegationHandler with delegated funds exists for your validator’s pubkey, the script uses the delegated path. Otherwise it uses the self-funded path.

The script will walk you through obtaining the necessary information, verifying the signatures, and activating the validator.

Upon completion, receipts are written to staking-pool-receipts.jsonl.

What’s next

The Operator guide covers day-two work. The example frontend is a sample UI for end users.

Continue with:

• Contract reference
• Operator guide