Blacklight node operations are upgraded from Nillion L2 to Ethereum L1.
As Dusk moves towards mainnet, Blacklight L2 will become the legacy network and be retired. Blacklight L1 will run directly on Ethereum, with node operators taking on a new role in how Covenants are resolved.
Both independent and managed node participants can begin migrating from September 26, ahead of the Blacklight L1 mainnet launch. The steps are largely the same, with managed participants moving through the managed-nodes app instead of registering a node themselves.
In this post, we’ll cover:
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What Blacklight L1 nodes do
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What’s changing for node operators
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How independent operators migrate
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How managed node operators migrate
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What happens to rewards during migration
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Key dates
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Getting started on Blacklight L1
What Blacklight L1 Nodes Do
Blacklight L1 gives node operators a different role from Blacklight L2.
Blacklight L1 nodes help Covenants stay sealed until the condition attached to them is met.
When a Covenant is created, its payload is split into encrypted shares and distributed across a committee of nodes. Each node holds one share, so no single operator can reconstruct the original payload on its own.
The nodes then watch for the condition tied to that Covenant. Once it is met, they publish their shares onchain. When enough shares are available, the payload can be reconstructed and verified on Ethereum before any downstream action happens.
What’s Changing
The move to L1 changes a few things for Blacklight node operators, while some of the core requirements stay the same.
The minimum required stake for Blacklight L1 operators remains 70,000 NIL.
Rewards on L1 will come from 0.5% annual inflation, alongside trigger fees earned by node operators. Operators will also need ETH to cover gas when running a node on Ethereum.
Mainnet nodes will need to be registered fresh on L1, meaning existing Sepolia testnet registrations will not carry over. The expected setup remains similar to testnet: an always-on machine or VPS, Docker, an archive Ethereum RPC, an owner wallet, and an operator address funded with ETH.
How to Migrate: Independent Node Operators
Independent operators should keep their current L2 node running until they’re ready to migrate. From there, the move happens in a few steps:
1. Claim your L2 rewards
Claim any rewards you’ve earned on Blacklight L2 before you begin unstaking.
2. Unstake from L2
Unstake your NIL from L2 and wait for an hour for the unbonding period to complete.
3. Withdraw your NIL + ETH
After unbonding, withdraw your NIL first and finally your ETH (leave this last as you need it for gas fees on all the previous txs)
4. Bridge your NIL + ETH to Ethereum
Bridge them back to Ethereum using the Nillion Bridge.This is expected to take around nine days and is linked to your wallet so you can reconnect later to check the progress.
5. Register your L1 mainnet node
Once the mainnet is live on October 5th, register a fresh L1 mainnet node on the Blacklight L1 webapp. Sepolia registrations will not carry over to mainnet.
6. Stake 70,000 NIL on L1
The minimum required stake remains 70,000 NIL on Blacklight L1.
7. Fund your operator address with ETH
Your operator address will need ETH to cover gas on Ethereum. We recommend funding it with around 0.01 ETH.
How to Migrate: Managed Node Operators
If you currently participate in Blacklight through a Managed Blacklight Node, you can move on the same timetable as independent operators, starting today, September 26.
The flow is simpler: Head over to the L2 managed-nodes app and connect your wallet. Then unstake, withdraw your NIL, and finally head over to the Nillion Bridge and bridge it to Ethereum (bridging from the L2 -> L1 takes around 9 days).
On October 5th, stake on L1 through the Blacklight L1 managed nodes webapp instead of registering a node yourself.
Rewards During Migration
While your NIL is moving from L2 to L1, it won’t be earning rewards.
The move takes around nine days, most of it spent bridging to Ethereum. Plan to start with enough lead time for your NIL to reach L1 before mainnet goes live and L1 rewards begin.
Any rewards you’ve already earned on L2 will still be there after L2 rewards stop. They’ll remain claimable until Blacklight L2 halts later this year.
We’ll share separate guidance for any funds remaining on L2 ahead of the network halt.
Key Dates
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Node operator migration begins: 26th Sep
This is when node operators should begin the L2 to L1 migration process. You can migrate anytime between 26th September till 5th October. -
Blacklight L1 mainnet: Oct 5
L1 node operations and L1 rewards begin around the mainnet launch. -
Blacklight L2 halt: later this year
Rewards already earned on L2 will remain claimable until the network is halted.
Getting Started on Blacklight L1
If you’re not already running a Blacklight node, you can start testing Blacklight L1 on Sepolia now.
The current setup requires an always-on machine, Docker, an archive Sepolia RPC, testnet NIL, and Sepolia ETH for gas.
Mainnet nodes will require a fresh registration and a 70,000 NIL stake, with ETH needed to cover gas. Operators will earn through 0.5% annual inflation and trigger fees.
Run a testnet node now and check out the full guide to walk through setup step by step.
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