diff --git a/beacon_node/eth2_libp2p/src/config.rs b/beacon_node/eth2_libp2p/src/config.rs
index 6c482cbdb..b2ee8558c 100644
--- a/beacon_node/eth2_libp2p/src/config.rs
+++ b/beacon_node/eth2_libp2p/src/config.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 use crate::types::GossipKind;
-use crate::Enr;
+use crate::{Enr, PeerIdSerialized};
 use discv5::{Discv5Config, Discv5ConfigBuilder};
 use libp2p::gossipsub::{
     GossipsubConfig, GossipsubConfigBuilder, GossipsubMessage, MessageId, ValidationMode,
@@ -58,6 +58,9 @@ pub struct Config {
     /// List of libp2p nodes to initially connect to.
     pub libp2p_nodes: Vec<Multiaddr>,
 
+    /// List of trusted libp2p nodes which are not scored.
+    pub trusted_peers: Vec<PeerIdSerialized>,
+
     /// Client version
     pub client_version: String,
 
@@ -139,6 +142,7 @@ impl Default for Config {
             boot_nodes_enr: vec![],
             boot_nodes_multiaddr: vec![],
             libp2p_nodes: vec![],
+            trusted_peers: vec![],
             client_version: lighthouse_version::version_with_platform(),
             disable_discovery: false,
             topics,
diff --git a/beacon_node/eth2_libp2p/src/lib.rs b/beacon_node/eth2_libp2p/src/lib.rs
index 6fdbb3d31..655e69d65 100644
--- a/beacon_node/eth2_libp2p/src/lib.rs
+++ b/beacon_node/eth2_libp2p/src/lib.rs
@@ -14,6 +14,50 @@ pub mod rpc;
 mod service;
 pub mod types;
 
+use serde::{de, Deserialize, Deserializer, Serialize, Serializer};
+use std::str::FromStr;
+
+/// Wrapper over a libp2p `PeerId` which implements `Serialize` and `Deserialize`
+#[derive(Clone, Debug)]
+pub struct PeerIdSerialized(libp2p::PeerId);
+
+impl From<PeerIdSerialized> for PeerId {
+    fn from(peer_id: PeerIdSerialized) -> Self {
+        peer_id.0
+    }
+}
+
+impl FromStr for PeerIdSerialized {
+    type Err = String;
+
+    fn from_str(s: &str) -> Result<Self, Self::Err> {
+        Ok(Self(
+            PeerId::from_str(s).map_err(|e| format!("Invalid peer id: {}", e))?,
+        ))
+    }
+}
+
+impl Serialize for PeerIdSerialized {
+    fn serialize<S>(&self, serializer: S) -> Result<S::Ok, S::Error>
+    where
+        S: Serializer,
+    {
+        serializer.serialize_str(&self.0.to_string())
+    }
+}
+
+impl<'de> Deserialize<'de> for PeerIdSerialized {
+    fn deserialize<D>(deserializer: D) -> Result<Self, D::Error>
+    where
+        D: Deserializer<'de>,
+    {
+        let s: String = Deserialize::deserialize(deserializer)?;
+        Ok(Self(PeerId::from_str(&s).map_err(|e| {
+            de::Error::custom(format!("Failed to deserialise peer id: {:?}", e))
+        })?))
+    }
+}
+
 pub use crate::types::{error, Enr, GossipTopic, NetworkGlobals, PubsubMessage, SubnetDiscovery};
 pub use behaviour::{BehaviourEvent, PeerRequestId, Request, Response};
 pub use config::Config as NetworkConfig;
diff --git a/beacon_node/eth2_libp2p/src/peer_manager/mod.rs b/beacon_node/eth2_libp2p/src/peer_manager/mod.rs
index 211db2263..963df7868 100644
--- a/beacon_node/eth2_libp2p/src/peer_manager/mod.rs
+++ b/beacon_node/eth2_libp2p/src/peer_manager/mod.rs
@@ -133,9 +133,9 @@ impl<TSpec: EthSpec> PeerManager<TSpec> {
     pub fn goodbye_peer(&mut self, peer_id: &PeerId, reason: GoodbyeReason) {
         // get the peer info
         if let Some(info) = self.network_globals.peers.write().peer_info_mut(peer_id) {
-            debug!(self.log, "Sending goodbye to peer"; "peer_id" => peer_id.to_string(), "reason" => reason.to_string(), "score" => info.score.to_string());
+            debug!(self.log, "Sending goodbye to peer"; "peer_id" => peer_id.to_string(), "reason" => reason.to_string(), "score" => info.score().to_string());
             // Goodbye's are fatal
-            info.score.apply_peer_action(PeerAction::Fatal);
+            info.apply_peer_action_to_score(PeerAction::Fatal);
             if info.connection_status.is_connected_or_dialing() {
                 self.events
                     .push(PeerManagerEvent::DisconnectPeer(peer_id.clone(), reason));
@@ -155,12 +155,12 @@ impl<TSpec: EthSpec> PeerManager<TSpec> {
         let mut unban_peer = None;
 
         if let Some(info) = self.network_globals.peers.write().peer_info_mut(peer_id) {
-            let previous_state = info.score.state();
-            info.score.apply_peer_action(action);
-            if previous_state != info.score.state() {
-                match info.score.state() {
+            let previous_state = info.score_state();
+            info.apply_peer_action_to_score(action);
+            if previous_state != info.score_state() {
+                match info.score_state() {
                     ScoreState::Banned => {
-                        debug!(self.log, "Peer has been banned"; "peer_id" => peer_id.to_string(), "score" => info.score.to_string());
+                        debug!(self.log, "Peer has been banned"; "peer_id" => peer_id.to_string(), "score" => info.score().to_string());
                         ban_peer = Some(peer_id.clone());
                         if info.connection_status.is_connected_or_dialing() {
                             self.events.push(PeerManagerEvent::DisconnectPeer(
@@ -170,7 +170,7 @@ impl<TSpec: EthSpec> PeerManager<TSpec> {
                         }
                     }
                     ScoreState::Disconnected => {
-                        debug!(self.log, "Peer transitioned to disconnect state"; "peer_id" => peer_id.to_string(), "score" => info.score.to_string(), "past_state" => previous_state.to_string());
+                        debug!(self.log, "Peer transitioned to disconnect state"; "peer_id" => peer_id.to_string(), "score" => info.score().to_string(), "past_state" => previous_state.to_string());
                         // disconnect the peer if it's currently connected or dialing
                         unban_peer = Some(peer_id.clone());
                         if info.connection_status.is_connected_or_dialing() {
@@ -182,13 +182,13 @@ impl<TSpec: EthSpec> PeerManager<TSpec> {
                         // TODO: Update the peer manager to inform that the peer is disconnecting.
                     }
                     ScoreState::Healthy => {
-                        debug!(self.log, "Peer transitioned to healthy state"; "peer_id" => peer_id.to_string(), "score" => info.score.to_string(), "past_state" => previous_state.to_string());
+                        debug!(self.log, "Peer transitioned to healthy state"; "peer_id" => peer_id.to_string(), "score" => info.score().to_string(), "past_state" => previous_state.to_string());
                         // unban the peer if it was previously banned.
                         unban_peer = Some(peer_id.clone());
                     }
                 }
             } else {
-                debug!(self.log, "Peer score adjusted"; "peer_id" => peer_id.to_string(), "score" => info.score.to_string());
+                debug!(self.log, "Peer score adjusted"; "peer_id" => peer_id.to_string(), "score" => info.score().to_string());
             }
         }
 
@@ -689,9 +689,9 @@ impl<TSpec: EthSpec> PeerManager<TSpec> {
         let mut to_unban_peers = Vec::new();
 
         for (peer_id, info) in pdb.peers_mut() {
-            let previous_state = info.score.state();
+            let previous_state = info.score_state();
             // Update scores
-            info.score.update();
+            info.score_update();
 
             /* TODO: Implement logic about connection lifetimes
             match info.connection_status {
@@ -746,10 +746,10 @@ impl<TSpec: EthSpec> PeerManager<TSpec> {
             */
 
             // handle score transitions
-            if previous_state != info.score.state() {
-                match info.score.state() {
+            if previous_state != info.score_state() {
+                match info.score_state() {
                     ScoreState::Banned => {
-                        debug!(self.log, "Peer has been banned"; "peer_id" => peer_id.to_string(), "score" => info.score.to_string());
+                        debug!(self.log, "Peer has been banned"; "peer_id" => peer_id.to_string(), "score" => info.score().to_string());
                         to_ban_peers.push(peer_id.clone());
                         if info.connection_status.is_connected_or_dialing() {
                             self.events.push(PeerManagerEvent::DisconnectPeer(
@@ -759,7 +759,7 @@ impl<TSpec: EthSpec> PeerManager<TSpec> {
                         }
                     }
                     ScoreState::Disconnected => {
-                        debug!(self.log, "Peer transitioned to disconnect state"; "peer_id" => peer_id.to_string(), "score" => info.score.to_string(), "past_state" => previous_state.to_string());
+                        debug!(self.log, "Peer transitioned to disconnect state"; "peer_id" => peer_id.to_string(), "score" => info.score().to_string(), "past_state" => previous_state.to_string());
                         // disconnect the peer if it's currently connected or dialing
                         to_unban_peers.push(peer_id.clone());
                         if info.connection_status.is_connected_or_dialing() {
@@ -771,7 +771,7 @@ impl<TSpec: EthSpec> PeerManager<TSpec> {
                         // TODO: Update peer manager to report that it's disconnecting.
                     }
                     ScoreState::Healthy => {
-                        debug!(self.log, "Peer transitioned to healthy state"; "peer_id" => peer_id.to_string(), "score" => info.score.to_string(), "past_state" => previous_state.to_string());
+                        debug!(self.log, "Peer transitioned to healthy state"; "peer_id" => peer_id.to_string(), "score" => info.score().to_string(), "past_state" => previous_state.to_string());
                         // unban the peer if it was previously banned.
                         to_unban_peers.push(peer_id.clone());
                     }
@@ -821,7 +821,7 @@ impl<TSpec: EthSpec> PeerManager<TSpec> {
                 .take(connected_peer_count - self.target_peers)
                 //we only need to disconnect peers with healthy scores, since the others got already
                 //disconnected in update_peer_scores
-                .filter(|(_, info)| info.score.state() == ScoreState::Healthy)
+                .filter(|(_, info)| info.score_state() == ScoreState::Healthy)
             {
                 self.events.push(PeerManagerEvent::DisconnectPeer(
                     (*peer_id).clone(),
diff --git a/beacon_node/eth2_libp2p/src/peer_manager/peer_info.rs b/beacon_node/eth2_libp2p/src/peer_manager/peer_info.rs
index 2448ee424..2933cb731 100644
--- a/beacon_node/eth2_libp2p/src/peer_manager/peer_info.rs
+++ b/beacon_node/eth2_libp2p/src/peer_manager/peer_info.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 use super::client::Client;
-use super::score::Score;
+use super::score::{PeerAction, Score, ScoreState};
 use super::PeerSyncStatus;
 use crate::rpc::MetaData;
 use crate::Multiaddr;
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ pub struct PeerInfo<T: EthSpec> {
     /// The connection status of the peer
     _status: PeerStatus,
     /// The peers reputation
-    pub score: Score,
+    score: Score,
     /// Client managing this peer
     pub client: Client,
     /// Connection status of this peer
@@ -36,6 +36,8 @@ pub struct PeerInfo<T: EthSpec> {
     /// necessary.
     #[serde(skip)]
     pub min_ttl: Option<Instant>,
+    /// Is the peer a trusted peer.
+    pub is_trusted: bool,
 }
 
 impl<TSpec: EthSpec> Default for PeerInfo<TSpec> {
@@ -49,11 +51,21 @@ impl<TSpec: EthSpec> Default for PeerInfo<TSpec> {
             sync_status: PeerSyncStatus::Unknown,
             meta_data: None,
             min_ttl: None,
+            is_trusted: false,
         }
     }
 }
 
 impl<T: EthSpec> PeerInfo<T> {
+    /// Return a PeerInfo struct for a trusted peer.
+    pub fn trusted_peer_info() -> Self {
+        PeerInfo {
+            score: Score::max_score(),
+            is_trusted: true,
+            ..Default::default()
+        }
+    }
+
     /// Returns if the peer is subscribed to a given `SubnetId`
     pub fn on_subnet(&self, subnet_id: SubnetId) -> bool {
         if let Some(meta_data) = &self.meta_data {
@@ -69,6 +81,38 @@ impl<T: EthSpec> PeerInfo<T> {
     pub fn has_future_duty(&self) -> bool {
         self.min_ttl.map_or(false, |i| i >= Instant::now())
     }
+
+    /// Returns score of the peer.
+    pub fn score(&self) -> Score {
+        self.score
+    }
+
+    /// Returns the state of the peer based on the score.
+    pub(crate) fn score_state(&self) -> ScoreState {
+        self.score.state()
+    }
+
+    /// Applies decay rates to a non-trusted peer's score.
+    pub fn score_update(&mut self) {
+        if !self.is_trusted {
+            self.score.update()
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Apply peer action to a non-trusted peer's score.
+    pub fn apply_peer_action_to_score(&mut self, peer_action: PeerAction) {
+        if !self.is_trusted {
+            self.score.apply_peer_action(peer_action)
+        }
+    }
+
+    #[cfg(test)]
+    /// Add an f64 to a non-trusted peer's score abiding by the limits.
+    pub fn add_to_score(&mut self, score: f64) {
+        if !self.is_trusted {
+            self.score.add(score)
+        }
+    }
 }
 
 #[derive(Clone, Debug, Serialize)]
diff --git a/beacon_node/eth2_libp2p/src/peer_manager/peerdb.rs b/beacon_node/eth2_libp2p/src/peer_manager/peerdb.rs
index fc28cc55f..425cf4a37 100644
--- a/beacon_node/eth2_libp2p/src/peer_manager/peerdb.rs
+++ b/beacon_node/eth2_libp2p/src/peer_manager/peerdb.rs
@@ -86,12 +86,17 @@ impl BannedPeersCount {
 }
 
 impl<TSpec: EthSpec> PeerDB<TSpec> {
-    pub fn new(log: &slog::Logger) -> Self {
+    pub fn new(trusted_peers: Vec<PeerId>, log: &slog::Logger) -> Self {
+        // Initialize the peers hashmap with trusted peers
+        let peers = trusted_peers
+            .into_iter()
+            .map(|peer_id| (peer_id, PeerInfo::trusted_peer_info()))
+            .collect();
         Self {
             log: log.clone(),
             disconnected_peers: 0,
             banned_peers_count: BannedPeersCount::new(),
-            peers: HashMap::new(),
+            peers,
         }
     }
 
@@ -101,7 +106,7 @@ impl<TSpec: EthSpec> PeerDB<TSpec> {
     pub fn score(&self, peer_id: &PeerId) -> Score {
         self.peers
             .get(peer_id)
-            .map_or(Score::default(), |info| info.score)
+            .map_or(Score::default(), |info| info.score())
     }
 
     /// Returns an iterator over all peers in the db.
@@ -159,7 +164,7 @@ impl<TSpec: EthSpec> PeerDB<TSpec> {
     /// Returns true if the Peer is banned.
     pub fn is_banned(&self, peer_id: &PeerId) -> bool {
         if let Some(peer) = self.peers.get(peer_id) {
-            match peer.score.state() {
+            match peer.score().state() {
                 ScoreState::Banned => true,
                 _ => self.ip_is_banned(peer),
             }
@@ -181,7 +186,7 @@ impl<TSpec: EthSpec> PeerDB<TSpec> {
     /// Returns true if the Peer is either banned or in the disconnected state.
     pub fn is_banned_or_disconnected(&self, peer_id: &PeerId) -> bool {
         if let Some(peer) = self.peers.get(peer_id) {
-            match peer.score.state() {
+            match peer.score().state() {
                 ScoreState::Banned | ScoreState::Disconnected => true,
                 _ => self.ip_is_banned(peer),
             }
@@ -264,7 +269,7 @@ impl<TSpec: EthSpec> PeerDB<TSpec> {
             .collect::<Vec<_>>();
 
         connected.shuffle(&mut rand::thread_rng());
-        connected.sort_by_key(|(_, info)| info.score);
+        connected.sort_by_key(|(_, info)| info.score());
         connected
     }
 
@@ -279,7 +284,7 @@ impl<TSpec: EthSpec> PeerDB<TSpec> {
             .iter()
             .filter(|(_, info)| is_status(&info.connection_status))
             .collect::<Vec<_>>();
-        by_status.sort_by_key(|(_, info)| info.score);
+        by_status.sort_by_key(|(_, info)| info.score());
         by_status.into_iter().rev().collect()
     }
 
@@ -291,7 +296,7 @@ impl<TSpec: EthSpec> PeerDB<TSpec> {
         self.peers
             .iter()
             .filter(|(_, info)| is_status(&info.connection_status))
-            .max_by_key(|(_, info)| info.score)
+            .max_by_key(|(_, info)| info.score())
             .map(|(id, _)| id)
     }
 
@@ -455,8 +460,8 @@ impl<TSpec: EthSpec> PeerDB<TSpec> {
                 .filter(|(_, info)| info.connection_status.is_banned())
                 .min_by(|(_, info_a), (_, info_b)| {
                     info_a
-                        .score
-                        .partial_cmp(&info_b.score)
+                        .score()
+                        .partial_cmp(&info_b.score())
                         .unwrap_or(std::cmp::Ordering::Equal)
                 }) {
                 self.banned_peers_count
@@ -485,8 +490,8 @@ impl<TSpec: EthSpec> PeerDB<TSpec> {
                 .filter(|(_, info)| info.connection_status.is_disconnected())
                 .min_by(|(_, info_a), (_, info_b)| {
                     info_a
-                        .score
-                        .partial_cmp(&info_b.score)
+                        .score()
+                        .partial_cmp(&info_b.score())
                         .unwrap_or(std::cmp::Ordering::Equal)
                 })
                 .map(|(id, _)| id.clone())
@@ -543,13 +548,13 @@ mod tests {
 
     fn add_score<TSpec: EthSpec>(db: &mut PeerDB<TSpec>, peer_id: &PeerId, score: f64) {
         if let Some(info) = db.peer_info_mut(peer_id) {
-            info.score.add(score);
+            info.add_to_score(score);
         }
     }
 
     fn get_db() -> PeerDB<M> {
         let log = build_log(slog::Level::Debug, false);
-        PeerDB::new(&log)
+        PeerDB::new(vec![], &log)
     }
 
     #[test]
@@ -938,4 +943,28 @@ mod tests {
         assert!(pdb.is_banned(&p1));
         assert!(!pdb.is_banned(&p2));
     }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_trusted_peers_score() {
+        let trusted_peer = PeerId::random();
+        let log = build_log(slog::Level::Debug, false);
+        let mut pdb: PeerDB<M> = PeerDB::new(vec![trusted_peer.clone()], &log);
+
+        pdb.connect_ingoing(&trusted_peer);
+
+        // Check trusted status and score
+        assert!(pdb.peer_info(&trusted_peer).unwrap().is_trusted);
+        assert_eq!(
+            pdb.peer_info(&trusted_peer).unwrap().score().score(),
+            Score::max_score().score()
+        );
+
+        // Adding/Subtracting score should have no effect on a trusted peer
+        add_score(&mut pdb, &trusted_peer, -50.0);
+
+        assert_eq!(
+            pdb.peer_info(&trusted_peer).unwrap().score().score(),
+            Score::max_score().score()
+        );
+    }
 }
diff --git a/beacon_node/eth2_libp2p/src/peer_manager/score.rs b/beacon_node/eth2_libp2p/src/peer_manager/score.rs
index de106d886..d2d584b52 100644
--- a/beacon_node/eth2_libp2p/src/peer_manager/score.rs
+++ b/beacon_node/eth2_libp2p/src/peer_manager/score.rs
@@ -145,6 +145,13 @@ impl std::fmt::Display for ScoreState {
 }
 
 impl Score {
+    /// Return max possible score.
+    pub fn max_score() -> Self {
+        Score {
+            score: MAX_SCORE,
+            last_updated: Instant::now(),
+        }
+    }
     /// Access to the underlying score.
     pub fn score(&self) -> f64 {
         self.score
diff --git a/beacon_node/eth2_libp2p/src/service.rs b/beacon_node/eth2_libp2p/src/service.rs
index 50952eff4..1d594918d 100644
--- a/beacon_node/eth2_libp2p/src/service.rs
+++ b/beacon_node/eth2_libp2p/src/service.rs
@@ -84,6 +84,11 @@ impl<TSpec: EthSpec> Service<TSpec> {
             config.libp2p_port,
             config.discovery_port,
             meta_data,
+            config
+                .trusted_peers
+                .iter()
+                .map(|x| PeerId::from(x.clone()))
+                .collect(),
             &log,
         ));
 
diff --git a/beacon_node/eth2_libp2p/src/types/globals.rs b/beacon_node/eth2_libp2p/src/types/globals.rs
index bfed2fd9b..e2bf851de 100644
--- a/beacon_node/eth2_libp2p/src/types/globals.rs
+++ b/beacon_node/eth2_libp2p/src/types/globals.rs
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ impl<TSpec: EthSpec> NetworkGlobals<TSpec> {
         tcp_port: u16,
         udp_port: u16,
         local_metadata: MetaData<TSpec>,
+        trusted_peers: Vec<PeerId>,
         log: &slog::Logger,
     ) -> Self {
         NetworkGlobals {
@@ -45,8 +46,8 @@ impl<TSpec: EthSpec> NetworkGlobals<TSpec> {
             listen_multiaddrs: RwLock::new(Vec::new()),
             listen_port_tcp: AtomicU16::new(tcp_port),
             listen_port_udp: AtomicU16::new(udp_port),
-            peers: RwLock::new(PeerDB::new(log)),
             local_metadata: RwLock::new(local_metadata),
+            peers: RwLock::new(PeerDB::new(trusted_peers, log)),
             gossipsub_subscriptions: RwLock::new(HashSet::new()),
             sync_state: RwLock::new(SyncState::Stalled),
         }
diff --git a/beacon_node/network/src/attestation_service/tests/mod.rs b/beacon_node/network/src/attestation_service/tests/mod.rs
index 46c11fd58..16a8f9b0a 100644
--- a/beacon_node/network/src/attestation_service/tests/mod.rs
+++ b/beacon_node/network/src/attestation_service/tests/mod.rs
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ mod tests {
         };
 
         let network_globals: NetworkGlobals<MinimalEthSpec> =
-            NetworkGlobals::new(enr, 0, 0, meta_data, &log);
+            NetworkGlobals::new(enr, 0, 0, meta_data, vec![], &log);
         AttestationService::new(beacon_chain, Arc::new(network_globals), &log)
     }
 
diff --git a/beacon_node/src/cli.rs b/beacon_node/src/cli.rs
index 6caa8acd9..ff64a600c 100644
--- a/beacon_node/src/cli.rs
+++ b/beacon_node/src/cli.rs
@@ -131,7 +131,13 @@ pub fn cli_app<'a, 'b>() -> App<'a, 'b> {
                 .help("Disables the discv5 discovery protocol. The node will not search for new peers or participate in the discovery protocol.")
                 .takes_value(false),
         )
-
+        .arg(
+            Arg::with_name("trusted-peers")
+                .long("trusted-peers")
+                .value_name("TRUSTED_PEERS")
+                .help("One or more comma-delimited trusted peer ids which always have the highest score according to the peer scoring system.")
+                .takes_value(true),
+        )
         /* REST API related arguments */
         .arg(
             Arg::with_name("http")
diff --git a/beacon_node/src/config.rs b/beacon_node/src/config.rs
index f9abfca6a..b33a14001 100644
--- a/beacon_node/src/config.rs
+++ b/beacon_node/src/config.rs
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ use beacon_chain::builder::PUBKEY_CACHE_FILENAME;
 use clap::ArgMatches;
 use clap_utils::BAD_TESTNET_DIR_MESSAGE;
 use client::{config::DEFAULT_DATADIR, ClientConfig, ClientGenesis};
-use eth2_libp2p::{multiaddr::Protocol, Enr, Multiaddr, NetworkConfig};
+use eth2_libp2p::{multiaddr::Protocol, Enr, Multiaddr, NetworkConfig, PeerIdSerialized};
 use eth2_testnet_config::Eth2TestnetConfig;
 use slog::{crit, info, Logger};
 use ssz::Encode;
@@ -343,6 +343,17 @@ pub fn set_network_config(
             .collect::<Result<Vec<Multiaddr>, _>>()?;
     }
 
+    if let Some(trusted_peers_str) = cli_args.value_of("trusted-peers") {
+        config.trusted_peers = trusted_peers_str
+            .split(',')
+            .map(|peer_id| {
+                peer_id
+                    .parse()
+                    .map_err(|_| format!("Invalid trusted peer id: {}", peer_id))
+            })
+            .collect::<Result<Vec<PeerIdSerialized>, _>>()?;
+    }
+
     if let Some(enr_udp_port_str) = cli_args.value_of("enr-udp-port") {
         config.enr_udp_port = Some(
             enr_udp_port_str