> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.ava.do/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.ava.do/more-staking-opportunities/gnosis-staking/gip-153-gnosis-validators-are-retiring.md).

# GIP-153: Gnosis Validators Are Retiring

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**AVADO no longer offers Gnosis staking for new setups.**

If you already stake GNO on your AVADO, nothing changes today. Keep your AVADO switched on and up to date. AVADO keeps your Gnosis apps safe and updated until Gnosis makes the switch.
{% endhint %}

## What happened

In August 2026 the Gnosis community voted for [**GIP-153**](https://forum.gnosis.io/t/gip-153-should-gnosis-chain-transition-into-the-ethereum-economic-zone/12397). Gnosis Chain will become part of Ethereum's "Economic Zone": Ethereum's own validators will secure it. When that happens, the Gnosis validators, including the ones on your AVADO, are retired.

Gnosis is aiming for **December 2026 or January 2027**. The plan and the date are not final yet, and the date can still move. AVADO will tell you as soon as Gnosis announces it.

## What it means for you

* **Your validators keep working and earning until the switch.** Nothing stops before then.
* **Your staked GNO is not lost.** GIP-153 says the staked GNO is unlocked when the validators are retired. Gnosis has not yet published the exact steps. GNO from a validator can only ever be paid out to that validator's **withdrawal address**.
* **Staking rewards stop at the switch.** After that, there are no more Gnosis staking rewards.
* **Your wallet stays the same.** GNO and xDAI in your wallet on Gnosis Chain are not affected. In the words of GIP-153: "Users and dapps keep their addresses, balances, and contract state".

## What to do now

Nothing here is urgent, except one case: a validator whose withdrawal address says **todo** (step 2).

1. **Keep your AVADO switched on**, and keep automatic updates on.
2. **Check your withdrawal address once.** Open **Gnosis Teku** from **My DApps** (there it is called "Gnosis Validator + Beacon Chain (Teku)"). On the **Main** page, the **Withdrawals** column should say **enabled** (or **enabled+compounding**) for every validator. If one says **todo**, this must be fixed before the switch: without a withdrawal address your GNO cannot be paid out, and after the switch it may no longer be possible to set one. [Set your withdrawal address](/more-staking-opportunities/gnosis-staking/set-withdrawal-address.md) now, or contact AVADO support now and we will help you.
3. **Claim your rewards from time to time, if you like.** On Gnosis, rewards wait until you claim them. See [Claiming the GNO rewards](/more-staking-opportunities/gnosis-staking/rewards-and-penalties.md#claiming-the-gno-rewards).
4. **Don't move your keys to another machine without removing them first.** If you ever move your validators, first remove them from Gnosis Teku (the trash icon) or remove the Gnosis Teku app. Stopping (pausing) the app is not enough: an update or a restart of your AVADO can start it again, and keys that run in two places get slashed.

{% hint style="danger" %}
**Watch out for scams.** AVADO and Gnosis will never ask for your 24 words or your keystore files. There is nothing to migrate, and nothing to sign or claim through a link in a message. Claim GNO only at [validators.gnosischain.com](https://validators.gnosischain.com/).
{% endhint %}

## Do I have to exit my validators?

No. You can simply wait for the switch.

If you prefer to stop earlier, you can exit your validators and withdraw your GNO at any time. See [Exit and Withdraw Your GNO](/more-staking-opportunities/gnosis-staking/exit-from-a-gnosis-validator.md). An exit cannot be undone.

## What AVADO does

* We keep the **Gnosis Teku** and **Gnosis Nethermind** apps safe and updated until the switch. In **My DApps** they are called "Gnosis Validator + Beacon Chain (Teku)" and "Gnosis Execution Client (Nethermind)".
* We tell you by email, on Discord and through Priority Care when Gnosis announces the date and the steps.
* After the switch, we tell you when it is safe to remove the Gnosis apps and free up disk space.
* We no longer sell or promote Gnosis staking for new setups. Apps you already installed keep running and keep receiving updates.

## Check your validator online

Use the Gnosis beacon chain explorer: [**beaconchain.gnosischain.com**](https://beaconchain.gnosischain.com/). Search for your validator's index number or public key. Both are shown on the **Main** page of Gnosis Teku.

{% hint style="info" %}
The old explorers **gnosischa.in** and **gnosis.beaconcha.in** no longer work. In Gnosis Teku (version 0.0.27 and older), the satellite-dish icons and the green dashboard link still open gnosischa.in. Until the next Gnosis Teku update, search for your validator on [beaconchain.gnosischain.com](https://beaconchain.gnosischain.com/) instead.
{% endhint %}