diff --git a/cmd/nitro/nitro.go b/cmd/nitro/nitro.go
index 71457a86e2..c0362ba050 100644
--- a/cmd/nitro/nitro.go
+++ b/cmd/nitro/nitro.go
@@ -290,7 +290,7 @@ func mainImpl() int {
 			flag.Usage()
 			log.Crit("validator must have the parent chain reader enabled")
 		}
-		strategy, err := nodeConfig.Node.Staker.ParseStrategy()
+		strategy, err := legacystaker.ParseStrategy(nodeConfig.Node.Staker.Strategy)
 		if err != nil {
 			log.Crit("couldn't parse staker strategy", "err", err)
 		}
diff --git a/validator/server_arb/boldmach/machine.go b/validator/server_arb/boldmach/machine.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..978e5c8a40
--- /dev/null
+++ b/validator/server_arb/boldmach/machine.go
@@ -0,0 +1,145 @@
+package boldmach
+
+import (
+	"context"
+
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common"
+	"github.com/offchainlabs/nitro/validator"
+	"github.com/offchainlabs/nitro/validator/server_arb"
+)
+
+// boldMachine wraps a server_arb.MachineInterface.
+type BoldMachine struct {
+	inner       server_arb.MachineInterface
+	zeroMachine *server_arb.ArbitratorMachine
+	hasStepped  bool
+}
+
+// Ensure boldMachine implements server_arb.MachineInterface.
+var _ server_arb.MachineInterface = (*BoldMachine)(nil)
+
+func newBoldMachine(inner server_arb.MachineInterface) *BoldMachine {
+	z := server_arb.NewFinishedMachine(inner.GetGlobalState())
+	return &BoldMachine{
+		inner:       inner,
+		zeroMachine: z,
+		hasStepped:  false,
+	}
+}
+
+// Wraps a server_arb.MachineInterface and adds one step to the
+// front of the machine's execution.
+//
+// This zeroth step should be at the same global state as the inner arbitrator
+// machine has at step 0, but the machine is in the Finished state rather than
+// the Running state.
+func MachineWrapper(inner server_arb.MachineInterface) server_arb.MachineInterface {
+	return newBoldMachine(inner)
+}
+
+// CloneMachineInterface returns a new boldMachine with the same inner machine.
+func (m *BoldMachine) CloneMachineInterface() server_arb.MachineInterface {
+	bMach := newBoldMachine(m.inner.CloneMachineInterface())
+	bMach.hasStepped = m.hasStepped
+	return bMach
+}
+
+// GetStepCount returns zero if the machine has not stepped, otherwise it
+// returns the inner machine's step count plus one.
+func (m *BoldMachine) GetStepCount() uint64 {
+	if !m.hasStepped {
+		return 0
+	}
+	return m.inner.GetStepCount() + 1
+}
+
+// Hash returns the hash of the inner machine if the machine has not stepped,
+// otherwise it returns the hash of the zeroth step machine.
+func (m *BoldMachine) Hash() common.Hash {
+	if !m.hasStepped {
+		return m.zeroMachine.Hash()
+	}
+	return m.inner.Hash()
+}
+
+// Destroy destroys the inner machine and the zeroth step machine.
+func (m *BoldMachine) Destroy() {
+	m.inner.Destroy()
+	m.zeroMachine.Destroy()
+}
+
+// Freeze freezes the inner machine and the zeroth step machine.
+func (m *BoldMachine) Freeze() {
+	m.inner.Freeze()
+	m.zeroMachine.Freeze()
+}
+
+// Status returns the status of the inner machine if the machine has not
+// stepped, otherwise it returns the status of the zeroth step machine.
+func (m *BoldMachine) Status() uint8 {
+	if !m.hasStepped {
+		return m.zeroMachine.Status()
+	}
+	return m.inner.Status()
+}
+
+// IsRunning returns true if the machine has not stepped, otherwise it
+// returns the running state of the inner machine.
+func (m *BoldMachine) IsRunning() bool {
+	if !m.hasStepped {
+		return true
+	}
+	return m.inner.IsRunning()
+}
+
+// IsErrored returns the errored state of the inner machine, or false if the
+// machine has not stepped.
+func (m *BoldMachine) IsErrored() bool {
+	if !m.hasStepped {
+		return false
+	}
+	return m.inner.IsErrored()
+}
+
+// Step steps the inner machine if the machine has not stepped, otherwise it
+// steps the zeroth step machine.
+func (m *BoldMachine) Step(ctx context.Context, steps uint64) error {
+	if !m.hasStepped {
+		if steps == 0 {
+			// Zero is okay, but doesn't advance the machine.
+			return nil
+		}
+		m.hasStepped = true
+		// Only the first step or set of steps needs to be adjusted.
+		steps = steps - 1
+	}
+	return m.inner.Step(ctx, steps)
+}
+
+// ValidForStep returns true for step 0 if and only if the machine has not stepped yet,
+// and the inner machine's ValidForStep for the step minus one otherwise.
+func (m *BoldMachine) ValidForStep(step uint64) bool {
+	if step == 0 {
+		return !m.hasStepped
+	}
+	return m.inner.ValidForStep(step - 1)
+}
+
+// GetGlobalState returns the global state of the inner machine if the machine
+// has stepped, otherwise it returns the global state of the zeroth step.
+func (m *BoldMachine) GetGlobalState() validator.GoGlobalState {
+	if !m.hasStepped {
+		return m.zeroMachine.GetGlobalState()
+	}
+	return m.inner.GetGlobalState()
+}
+
+// ProveNextStep returns the proof of the next step of the inner machine if the
+// machine has stepped, otherwise it returns the proof that the zeroth step
+// results in the inner machine's initial global state.
+func (m *BoldMachine) ProveNextStep() []byte {
+	if !m.hasStepped {
+		return m.zeroMachine.ProveNextStep()
+	}
+	return m.inner.ProveNextStep()
+}