diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index f621f38a63..3282e4fa0e 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -250,7 +250,7 @@ install-audit:
 	cargo install --force cargo-audit
 
 audit-CI:
-	cargo audit
+	cargo audit --ignore RUSTSEC-2025-0009 --ignore RUSTSEC-2024-0437
 
 # Runs `cargo vendor` to make sure dependencies can be vendored for packaging, reproducibility and archival purpose.
 vendor:
diff --git a/beacon_node/beacon_chain/src/beacon_chain.rs b/beacon_node/beacon_chain/src/beacon_chain.rs
index ad31e085ca..884a5d770f 100644
--- a/beacon_node/beacon_chain/src/beacon_chain.rs
+++ b/beacon_node/beacon_chain/src/beacon_chain.rs
@@ -144,11 +144,6 @@ pub const FORK_CHOICE_DB_KEY: Hash256 = Hash256::ZERO;
 /// Defines how old a block can be before it's no longer a candidate for the early attester cache.
 const EARLY_ATTESTER_CACHE_HISTORIC_SLOTS: u64 = 4;
 
-/// Defines a distance between the head block slot and the current slot.
-///
-/// If the head block is older than this value, don't bother preparing beacon proposers.
-const PREPARE_PROPOSER_HISTORIC_EPOCHS: u64 = 4;
-
 /// If the head is more than `MAX_PER_SLOT_FORK_CHOICE_DISTANCE` slots behind the wall-clock slot, DO NOT
 /// run the per-slot tasks (primarily fork choice).
 ///
@@ -4848,7 +4843,7 @@ impl<T: BeaconChainTypes> BeaconChain<T> {
         let proposer_index = if let Some(proposer) = cached_proposer {
             proposer.index as u64
         } else {
-            if head_epoch + 2 < proposal_epoch {
+            if head_epoch + self.config.sync_tolerance_epochs < proposal_epoch {
                 warn!(
                     self.log,
                     "Skipping proposer preparation";
@@ -6079,19 +6074,18 @@ impl<T: BeaconChainTypes> BeaconChain<T> {
         // Use a blocking task since blocking the core executor on the canonical head read lock can
         // block the core tokio executor.
         let chain = self.clone();
+        let tolerance_slots = self.config.sync_tolerance_epochs * T::EthSpec::slots_per_epoch();
         let maybe_prep_data = self
             .spawn_blocking_handle(
                 move || {
                     let cached_head = chain.canonical_head.cached_head();
 
                     // Don't bother with proposer prep if the head is more than
-                    // `PREPARE_PROPOSER_HISTORIC_EPOCHS` prior to the current slot.
+                    // `sync_tolerance_epochs` prior to the current slot.
                     //
                     // This prevents the routine from running during sync.
                     let head_slot = cached_head.head_slot();
-                    if head_slot + T::EthSpec::slots_per_epoch() * PREPARE_PROPOSER_HISTORIC_EPOCHS
-                        < current_slot
-                    {
+                    if head_slot + tolerance_slots < current_slot {
                         debug!(
                             chain.log,
                             "Head too old for proposer prep";
diff --git a/beacon_node/beacon_chain/src/bellatrix_readiness.rs b/beacon_node/beacon_chain/src/bellatrix_readiness.rs
index 500588953f..412870354b 100644
--- a/beacon_node/beacon_chain/src/bellatrix_readiness.rs
+++ b/beacon_node/beacon_chain/src/bellatrix_readiness.rs
@@ -171,7 +171,7 @@ impl<T: BeaconChainTypes> BeaconChain<T> {
                 return BellatrixReadiness::NotSynced;
             }
             let params = MergeConfig::from_chainspec(&self.spec);
-            let current_difficulty = el.get_current_difficulty().await.ok();
+            let current_difficulty = el.get_current_difficulty().await.ok().flatten();
             BellatrixReadiness::Ready {
                 config: params,
                 current_difficulty,
diff --git a/beacon_node/beacon_chain/src/chain_config.rs b/beacon_node/beacon_chain/src/chain_config.rs
index d3852183b9..b881438c1c 100644
--- a/beacon_node/beacon_chain/src/chain_config.rs
+++ b/beacon_node/beacon_chain/src/chain_config.rs
@@ -16,6 +16,9 @@ pub const DEFAULT_PREPARE_PAYLOAD_LOOKAHEAD_FACTOR: u32 = 3;
 /// Fraction of a slot lookahead for fork choice in the state advance timer (500ms on mainnet).
 pub const FORK_CHOICE_LOOKAHEAD_FACTOR: u32 = 24;
 
+/// Default sync tolerance epochs.
+pub const DEFAULT_SYNC_TOLERANCE_EPOCHS: u64 = 2;
+
 #[derive(Debug, PartialEq, Eq, Clone, Deserialize, Serialize)]
 pub struct ChainConfig {
     /// Maximum number of slots to skip when importing an attestation.
@@ -94,6 +97,9 @@ pub struct ChainConfig {
     /// The delay in milliseconds applied by the node between sending each blob or data column batch.
     /// This doesn't apply if the node is the block proposer.
     pub blob_publication_batch_interval: Duration,
+    /// The max distance between the head block and the current slot at which Lighthouse will
+    /// consider itself synced and still serve validator-related requests.
+    pub sync_tolerance_epochs: u64,
     /// Artificial delay for block publishing. For PeerDAS testing only.
     pub block_publishing_delay: Option<Duration>,
     /// Artificial delay for data column publishing. For PeerDAS testing only.
@@ -133,6 +139,7 @@ impl Default for ChainConfig {
             enable_sampling: false,
             blob_publication_batches: 4,
             blob_publication_batch_interval: Duration::from_millis(300),
+            sync_tolerance_epochs: DEFAULT_SYNC_TOLERANCE_EPOCHS,
             block_publishing_delay: None,
             data_column_publishing_delay: None,
         }
diff --git a/beacon_node/execution_layer/src/engine_api.rs b/beacon_node/execution_layer/src/engine_api.rs
index b9d878b1f8..aed6cdba67 100644
--- a/beacon_node/execution_layer/src/engine_api.rs
+++ b/beacon_node/execution_layer/src/engine_api.rs
@@ -142,11 +142,18 @@ pub struct ExecutionBlock {
     pub block_number: u64,
 
     pub parent_hash: ExecutionBlockHash,
-    pub total_difficulty: Uint256,
+    pub total_difficulty: Option<Uint256>,
     #[serde(with = "serde_utils::u64_hex_be")]
     pub timestamp: u64,
 }
 
+impl ExecutionBlock {
+    pub fn terminal_total_difficulty_reached(&self, terminal_total_difficulty: Uint256) -> bool {
+        self.total_difficulty
+            .is_none_or(|td| td >= terminal_total_difficulty)
+    }
+}
+
 #[superstruct(
     variants(V1, V2, V3),
     variant_attributes(derive(Clone, Debug, Eq, Hash, PartialEq),),
diff --git a/beacon_node/execution_layer/src/lib.rs b/beacon_node/execution_layer/src/lib.rs
index 4fd7188c20..cde6cc6f48 100644
--- a/beacon_node/execution_layer/src/lib.rs
+++ b/beacon_node/execution_layer/src/lib.rs
@@ -621,7 +621,7 @@ impl<E: EthSpec> ExecutionLayer<E> {
     }
 
     /// Get the current difficulty of the PoW chain.
-    pub async fn get_current_difficulty(&self) -> Result<Uint256, ApiError> {
+    pub async fn get_current_difficulty(&self) -> Result<Option<Uint256>, ApiError> {
         let block = self
             .engine()
             .api
@@ -1680,7 +1680,8 @@ impl<E: EthSpec> ExecutionLayer<E> {
         self.execution_blocks().await.put(block.block_hash, block);
 
         loop {
-            let block_reached_ttd = block.total_difficulty >= spec.terminal_total_difficulty;
+            let block_reached_ttd =
+                block.terminal_total_difficulty_reached(spec.terminal_total_difficulty);
             if block_reached_ttd {
                 if block.parent_hash == ExecutionBlockHash::zero() {
                     return Ok(Some(block));
@@ -1689,7 +1690,8 @@ impl<E: EthSpec> ExecutionLayer<E> {
                     .get_pow_block(engine, block.parent_hash)
                     .await?
                     .ok_or(ApiError::ExecutionBlockNotFound(block.parent_hash))?;
-                let parent_reached_ttd = parent.total_difficulty >= spec.terminal_total_difficulty;
+                let parent_reached_ttd =
+                    parent.terminal_total_difficulty_reached(spec.terminal_total_difficulty);
 
                 if block_reached_ttd && !parent_reached_ttd {
                     return Ok(Some(block));
@@ -1765,9 +1767,11 @@ impl<E: EthSpec> ExecutionLayer<E> {
         parent: ExecutionBlock,
         spec: &ChainSpec,
     ) -> bool {
-        let is_total_difficulty_reached = block.total_difficulty >= spec.terminal_total_difficulty;
-        let is_parent_total_difficulty_valid =
-            parent.total_difficulty < spec.terminal_total_difficulty;
+        let is_total_difficulty_reached =
+            block.terminal_total_difficulty_reached(spec.terminal_total_difficulty);
+        let is_parent_total_difficulty_valid = parent
+            .total_difficulty
+            .is_some_and(|td| td < spec.terminal_total_difficulty);
         is_total_difficulty_reached && is_parent_total_difficulty_valid
     }
 
diff --git a/beacon_node/execution_layer/src/test_utils/execution_block_generator.rs b/beacon_node/execution_layer/src/test_utils/execution_block_generator.rs
index 5a5c9e1fa9..81fb9bd7b8 100644
--- a/beacon_node/execution_layer/src/test_utils/execution_block_generator.rs
+++ b/beacon_node/execution_layer/src/test_utils/execution_block_generator.rs
@@ -84,14 +84,14 @@ impl<E: EthSpec> Block<E> {
                 block_hash: block.block_hash,
                 block_number: block.block_number,
                 parent_hash: block.parent_hash,
-                total_difficulty: block.total_difficulty,
+                total_difficulty: Some(block.total_difficulty),
                 timestamp: block.timestamp,
             },
             Block::PoS(payload) => ExecutionBlock {
                 block_hash: payload.block_hash(),
                 block_number: payload.block_number(),
                 parent_hash: payload.parent_hash(),
-                total_difficulty,
+                total_difficulty: Some(total_difficulty),
                 timestamp: payload.timestamp(),
             },
         }
diff --git a/beacon_node/http_api/src/lib.rs b/beacon_node/http_api/src/lib.rs
index 01dd6bea5f..967766c547 100644
--- a/beacon_node/http_api/src/lib.rs
+++ b/beacon_node/http_api/src/lib.rs
@@ -107,13 +107,6 @@ use warp_utils::{query::multi_key_query, reject::convert_rejection, uor::Unifyin
 
 const API_PREFIX: &str = "eth";
 
-/// If the node is within this many epochs from the head, we declare it to be synced regardless of
-/// the network sync state.
-///
-/// This helps prevent attacks where nodes can convince us that we're syncing some non-existent
-/// finalized head.
-const DEFAULT_SYNC_TOLERANCE_EPOCHS: u64 = 8;
-
 /// A custom type which allows for both unsecured and TLS-enabled HTTP servers.
 type HttpServer = (SocketAddr, Pin<Box<dyn Future<Output = ()> + Send>>);
 
@@ -461,10 +454,8 @@ pub fn serve<T: BeaconChainTypes>(
                                     )
                                 })?;
 
-                            let sync_tolerance_epochs = config
-                                .sync_tolerance_epochs
-                                .unwrap_or(DEFAULT_SYNC_TOLERANCE_EPOCHS);
-                            let tolerance = sync_tolerance_epochs * T::EthSpec::slots_per_epoch();
+                            let tolerance =
+                                chain.config.sync_tolerance_epochs * T::EthSpec::slots_per_epoch();
 
                             if head_slot + tolerance >= current_slot {
                                 Ok(())
diff --git a/beacon_node/src/config.rs b/beacon_node/src/config.rs
index 63a48a847d..330e0867a7 100644
--- a/beacon_node/src/config.rs
+++ b/beacon_node/src/config.rs
@@ -191,6 +191,12 @@ pub fn get_config<E: EthSpec>(
         client_config.chain.enable_light_client_server = false;
     }
 
+    if let Some(sync_tolerance_epochs) =
+        clap_utils::parse_optional(cli_args, "sync-tolerance-epochs")?
+    {
+        client_config.chain.sync_tolerance_epochs = sync_tolerance_epochs;
+    }
+
     if let Some(cache_size) = clap_utils::parse_optional(cli_args, "shuffling-cache-size")? {
         client_config.chain.shuffling_cache_size = cache_size;
     }
diff --git a/book/src/help_vc.md b/book/src/help_vc.md
index 948a09f44d..f3ccdf2ae3 100644
--- a/book/src/help_vc.md
+++ b/book/src/help_vc.md
@@ -175,6 +175,10 @@ Flags:
           If this flag is set, Lighthouse will query the Beacon Node for only
           block headers during proposals and will sign over headers. Useful for
           outsourcing execution payload construction during proposals.
+      --disable-attesting
+          Disable the performance of attestation duties (and sync committee
+          duties). This flag should only be used in emergencies to prioritise
+          block proposal duties.
       --disable-auto-discover
           If present, do not attempt to discover new validators in the
           validators-dir. Validators will need to be manually added to the
@@ -247,6 +251,13 @@ Flags:
           contain sensitive information about your validator and so this flag
           should be used with caution. For Windows users, the log file
           permissions will be inherited from the parent folder.
+      --long-timeouts-multiplier <LONG_TIMEOUTS_MULTIPLIER>
+          If present, the validator client will use a multiplier for the timeout
+          when making requests to the beacon node. This only takes effect when
+          the `--use-long-timeouts` flag is present. The timeouts will be the
+          slot duration multiplied by this value. This flag is generally not
+          recommended, longer timeouts can cause missed duties when fallbacks
+          are used. [default: 1]
       --metrics
           Enable the Prometheus metrics HTTP server. Disabled by default.
       --prefer-builder-proposals
diff --git a/common/eth2_network_config/built_in_network_configs/chiado/config.yaml b/common/eth2_network_config/built_in_network_configs/chiado/config.yaml
index 35ba3af28b..1455ec5f63 100644
--- a/common/eth2_network_config/built_in_network_configs/chiado/config.yaml
+++ b/common/eth2_network_config/built_in_network_configs/chiado/config.yaml
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ DENEB_FORK_VERSION: 0x0400006f
 DENEB_FORK_EPOCH: 516608 # Wed Jan 31 2024 18:15:40 GMT+0000
 # Electra
 ELECTRA_FORK_VERSION: 0x0500006f
-ELECTRA_FORK_EPOCH: 18446744073709551615
+ELECTRA_FORK_EPOCH: 948224 # Thu Mar 6 2025 09:43:40 GMT+0000
 # Fulu
 FULU_FORK_VERSION: 0x0600006f
 FULU_FORK_EPOCH: 18446744073709551615
@@ -138,6 +138,18 @@ BLOB_SIDECAR_SUBNET_COUNT: 6
 # `uint64(6)`
 MAX_BLOBS_PER_BLOCK: 6
 
+# Electra
+# 2**7 * 10**9 (= 128,000,000,000)
+MIN_PER_EPOCH_CHURN_LIMIT_ELECTRA: 128000000000
+# 2**6 * 10**9 (= 64,000,000,000)
+MAX_PER_EPOCH_ACTIVATION_EXIT_CHURN_LIMIT: 64000000000
+# `2`
+BLOB_SIDECAR_SUBNET_COUNT_ELECTRA: 2
+# `uint64(2)`
+MAX_BLOBS_PER_BLOCK_ELECTRA: 2
+# MAX_REQUEST_BLOCKS_DENEB * MAX_BLOBS_PER_BLOCK_ELECTRA
+MAX_REQUEST_BLOB_SIDECARS_ELECTRA: 256
+
 # DAS
 NUMBER_OF_COLUMNS: 128
 NUMBER_OF_CUSTODY_GROUPS: 128
diff --git a/lighthouse/tests/beacon_node.rs b/lighthouse/tests/beacon_node.rs
index 3af350c576..8055c33bc0 100644
--- a/lighthouse/tests/beacon_node.rs
+++ b/lighthouse/tests/beacon_node.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 use crate::exec::{CommandLineTestExec, CompletedTest};
 use beacon_node::beacon_chain::chain_config::{
     DisallowedReOrgOffsets, DEFAULT_RE_ORG_CUTOFF_DENOMINATOR, DEFAULT_RE_ORG_HEAD_THRESHOLD,
-    DEFAULT_RE_ORG_MAX_EPOCHS_SINCE_FINALIZATION,
+    DEFAULT_RE_ORG_MAX_EPOCHS_SINCE_FINALIZATION, DEFAULT_SYNC_TOLERANCE_EPOCHS,
 };
 use beacon_node::{
     beacon_chain::graffiti_calculator::GraffitiOrigin,
@@ -2584,7 +2584,20 @@ fn sync_tolerance_epochs() {
         .flag("sync-tolerance-epochs", Some("0"))
         .run_with_zero_port()
         .with_config(|config| {
-            assert_eq!(config.http_api.sync_tolerance_epochs, Some(0));
+            assert_eq!(config.chain.sync_tolerance_epochs, 0);
+        });
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn sync_tolerance_epochs_default() {
+    CommandLineTest::new()
+        .flag("http", None)
+        .run_with_zero_port()
+        .with_config(|config| {
+            assert_eq!(
+                config.chain.sync_tolerance_epochs,
+                DEFAULT_SYNC_TOLERANCE_EPOCHS
+            );
         });
 }
 
diff --git a/lighthouse/tests/validator_client.rs b/lighthouse/tests/validator_client.rs
index f28e7d9829..eccd97d486 100644
--- a/lighthouse/tests/validator_client.rs
+++ b/lighthouse/tests/validator_client.rs
@@ -129,6 +129,22 @@ fn use_long_timeouts_flag() {
         .with_config(|config| assert!(config.use_long_timeouts));
 }
 
+#[test]
+fn long_timeouts_multiplier_flag_default() {
+    CommandLineTest::new()
+        .run()
+        .with_config(|config| assert_eq!(config.long_timeouts_multiplier, 1));
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn long_timeouts_multiplier_flag() {
+    CommandLineTest::new()
+        .flag("use-long-timeouts", None)
+        .flag("long-timeouts-multiplier", Some("10"))
+        .run()
+        .with_config(|config| assert_eq!(config.long_timeouts_multiplier, 10));
+}
+
 #[test]
 fn beacon_nodes_tls_certs_flag() {
     let dir = TempDir::new().expect("Unable to create temporary directory");
diff --git a/validator_client/src/cli.rs b/validator_client/src/cli.rs
index dfcd2064e5..18bd736957 100644
--- a/validator_client/src/cli.rs
+++ b/validator_client/src/cli.rs
@@ -97,6 +97,15 @@ pub struct ValidatorClient {
     )]
     pub disable_auto_discover: bool,
 
+    #[clap(
+        long,
+        help = "Disable the performance of attestation duties (and sync committee duties). This \
+                flag should only be used in emergencies to prioritise block proposal duties.",
+        display_order = 0,
+        help_heading = FLAG_HEADER
+    )]
+    pub disable_attesting: bool,
+
     #[clap(
         long,
         help = "If present, the validator client will use longer timeouts for requests \
@@ -107,6 +116,20 @@ pub struct ValidatorClient {
     )]
     pub use_long_timeouts: bool,
 
+    #[clap(
+        long,
+        requires = "use_long_timeouts",
+        default_value_t = 1,
+        help = "If present, the validator client will use a multiplier for the timeout \
+                when making requests to the beacon node. This only takes effect when \
+                the `--use-long-timeouts` flag is present. The timeouts will be the slot \
+                duration multiplied by this value. This flag is generally not recommended, \
+                longer timeouts can cause missed duties when fallbacks are used.",
+        display_order = 0,
+        help_heading = FLAG_HEADER,
+    )]
+    pub long_timeouts_multiplier: u32,
+
     #[clap(
         long,
         value_name = "CERTIFICATE-FILES",
diff --git a/validator_client/src/config.rs b/validator_client/src/config.rs
index 2a848e2022..358bdacf5c 100644
--- a/validator_client/src/config.rs
+++ b/validator_client/src/config.rs
@@ -49,6 +49,8 @@ pub struct Config {
     pub init_slashing_protection: bool,
     /// If true, use longer timeouts for requests made to the beacon node.
     pub use_long_timeouts: bool,
+    /// Multiplier to use for long timeouts.
+    pub long_timeouts_multiplier: u32,
     /// Graffiti to be inserted everytime we create a block.
     pub graffiti: Option<Graffiti>,
     /// Graffiti file to load per validator graffitis.
@@ -85,6 +87,7 @@ pub struct Config {
     /// Configuration for the initialized validators
     #[serde(flatten)]
     pub initialized_validators: InitializedValidatorsConfig,
+    pub disable_attesting: bool,
 }
 
 impl Default for Config {
@@ -111,6 +114,7 @@ impl Default for Config {
             disable_auto_discover: false,
             init_slashing_protection: false,
             use_long_timeouts: false,
+            long_timeouts_multiplier: 1,
             graffiti: None,
             graffiti_file: None,
             http_api: <_>::default(),
@@ -126,6 +130,7 @@ impl Default for Config {
             validator_registration_batch_size: 500,
             distributed: false,
             initialized_validators: <_>::default(),
+            disable_attesting: false,
         }
     }
 }
@@ -194,6 +199,7 @@ impl Config {
         config.disable_auto_discover = validator_client_config.disable_auto_discover;
         config.init_slashing_protection = validator_client_config.init_slashing_protection;
         config.use_long_timeouts = validator_client_config.use_long_timeouts;
+        config.long_timeouts_multiplier = validator_client_config.long_timeouts_multiplier;
 
         if let Some(graffiti_file_path) = validator_client_config.graffiti_file.as_ref() {
             let mut graffiti_file = GraffitiFile::new(graffiti_file_path.into());
@@ -379,6 +385,8 @@ impl Config {
                 true
             };
 
+        config.disable_attesting = validator_client_config.disable_attesting;
+
         Ok(config)
     }
 }
diff --git a/validator_client/src/lib.rs b/validator_client/src/lib.rs
index 70236d6a3c..1b91eb71c2 100644
--- a/validator_client/src/lib.rs
+++ b/validator_client/src/lib.rs
@@ -325,7 +325,7 @@ impl<E: EthSpec> ProductionValidatorClient<E> {
                     get_validator_block: slot_duration / HTTP_GET_VALIDATOR_BLOCK_TIMEOUT_QUOTIENT,
                 }
             } else {
-                Timeouts::set_all(slot_duration)
+                Timeouts::set_all(slot_duration.saturating_mul(config.long_timeouts_multiplier))
             };
 
             Ok(BeaconNodeHttpClient::from_components(
@@ -478,6 +478,7 @@ impl<E: EthSpec> ProductionValidatorClient<E> {
             context: duties_context,
             enable_high_validator_count_metrics: config.enable_high_validator_count_metrics,
             distributed: config.distributed,
+            disable_attesting: config.disable_attesting,
         });
 
         // Update the metrics server.
@@ -507,6 +508,7 @@ impl<E: EthSpec> ProductionValidatorClient<E> {
             .validator_store(validator_store.clone())
             .beacon_nodes(beacon_nodes.clone())
             .runtime_context(context.service_context("attestation".into()))
+            .disable(config.disable_attesting)
             .build()?;
 
         let preparation_service = PreparationServiceBuilder::new()
diff --git a/validator_client/validator_services/src/attestation_service.rs b/validator_client/validator_services/src/attestation_service.rs
index 9a6f94d52b..961741a977 100644
--- a/validator_client/validator_services/src/attestation_service.rs
+++ b/validator_client/validator_services/src/attestation_service.rs
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ pub struct AttestationServiceBuilder<T: SlotClock + 'static, E: EthSpec> {
     slot_clock: Option<T>,
     beacon_nodes: Option<Arc<BeaconNodeFallback<T, E>>>,
     context: Option<RuntimeContext<E>>,
+    disable: bool,
 }
 
 impl<T: SlotClock + 'static, E: EthSpec> AttestationServiceBuilder<T, E> {
@@ -31,6 +32,7 @@ impl<T: SlotClock + 'static, E: EthSpec> AttestationServiceBuilder<T, E> {
             slot_clock: None,
             beacon_nodes: None,
             context: None,
+            disable: false,
         }
     }
 
@@ -59,6 +61,11 @@ impl<T: SlotClock + 'static, E: EthSpec> AttestationServiceBuilder<T, E> {
         self
     }
 
+    pub fn disable(mut self, disable: bool) -> Self {
+        self.disable = disable;
+        self
+    }
+
     pub fn build(self) -> Result<AttestationService<T, E>, String> {
         Ok(AttestationService {
             inner: Arc::new(Inner {
@@ -77,6 +84,7 @@ impl<T: SlotClock + 'static, E: EthSpec> AttestationServiceBuilder<T, E> {
                 context: self
                     .context
                     .ok_or("Cannot build AttestationService without runtime_context")?,
+                disable: self.disable,
             }),
         })
     }
@@ -89,6 +97,7 @@ pub struct Inner<T, E: EthSpec> {
     slot_clock: T,
     beacon_nodes: Arc<BeaconNodeFallback<T, E>>,
     context: RuntimeContext<E>,
+    disable: bool,
 }
 
 /// Attempts to produce attestations for all known validators 1/3rd of the way through each slot.
@@ -120,6 +129,10 @@ impl<T: SlotClock + 'static, E: EthSpec> AttestationService<T, E> {
     /// Starts the service which periodically produces attestations.
     pub fn start_update_service(self, spec: &ChainSpec) -> Result<(), String> {
         let log = self.context.log().clone();
+        if self.disable {
+            info!(log, "Attestation service disabled");
+            return Ok(());
+        }
 
         let slot_duration = Duration::from_secs(spec.seconds_per_slot);
         let duration_to_next_slot = self
diff --git a/validator_client/validator_services/src/duties_service.rs b/validator_client/validator_services/src/duties_service.rs
index 1c0fd338d2..7437ff8bcf 100644
--- a/validator_client/validator_services/src/duties_service.rs
+++ b/validator_client/validator_services/src/duties_service.rs
@@ -230,6 +230,7 @@ pub struct DutiesService<T, E: EthSpec> {
     pub enable_high_validator_count_metrics: bool,
     /// If this validator is running in distributed mode.
     pub distributed: bool,
+    pub disable_attesting: bool,
 }
 
 impl<T: SlotClock + 'static, E: EthSpec> DutiesService<T, E> {
@@ -403,6 +404,11 @@ pub fn start_update_service<T: SlotClock + 'static, E: EthSpec>(
         "duties_service_proposers",
     );
 
+    // Skip starting attestation duties or sync committee services.
+    if core_duties_service.disable_attesting {
+        return;
+    }
+
     /*
      * Spawn the task which keeps track of local attestation duties.
      */
diff --git a/validator_client/validator_services/src/sync_committee_service.rs b/validator_client/validator_services/src/sync_committee_service.rs
index 3ab5b33b6c..5f84c517f3 100644
--- a/validator_client/validator_services/src/sync_committee_service.rs
+++ b/validator_client/validator_services/src/sync_committee_service.rs
@@ -87,6 +87,11 @@ impl<T: SlotClock + 'static, E: EthSpec> SyncCommitteeService<T, E> {
 
     pub fn start_update_service(self, spec: &ChainSpec) -> Result<(), String> {
         let log = self.context.log().clone();
+        if self.duties_service.disable_attesting {
+            info!(log, "Sync committee service disabled");
+            return Ok(());
+        }
+
         let slot_duration = Duration::from_secs(spec.seconds_per_slot);
         let duration_to_next_slot = self
             .slot_clock