diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 43b53e0b8..771efb147 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -368,6 +368,7 @@ It has following flags:
 --min-native float        Minimum amount of chain native coins (xDAI) nodes should have.
 --min-swarm float         Minimum amount of swarm tokens (xBZZ) nodes should have.
 --namespace string        Kubernetes namespace. Overrides cluster name if set.
+--label-selector string   Kubernetes label selector for filtering resources within the specified namespace. An empty string disables filtering, allowing all resources to be selected.
 --timeout duration        Timeout. (default 5m0s)
 --wallet-key string       Hex-encoded private key for the Bee node wallet. Required.
 ```
@@ -385,13 +386,14 @@ Command **node-operator** uses <https://github.com/ethersphere/node-funder> tool
 It has following flags:
 
 ```console
---geth-url string     Endpoint to chain node. Required.
---help                help for node-operator
---min-native float    Minimum amount of chain native coins (xDAI) nodes should have.
---min-swarm float     Minimum amount of swarm tokens (xBZZ) nodes should have.
---namespace string    Kubernetes namespace to scan for scheduled pods.
---timeout duration    Timeout. Default is infinite.
---wallet-key string   Hex-encoded private key for the Bee node wallet. Required.
+--geth-url string         Endpoint to chain node. Required.
+--help                    help for node-operator
+--min-native float        Minimum amount of chain native coins (xDAI) nodes should have.
+--min-swarm float         Minimum amount of swarm tokens (xBZZ) nodes should have.
+--namespace string        Kubernetes namespace to scan for scheduled pods.
+--label-selector string   Kubernetes label selector for filtering resources within the specified namespace. An empty string disables filtering, allowing all resources to be selected.
+--timeout duration        Timeout. Default is infinite.
+--wallet-key string       Hex-encoded private key for the Bee node wallet. Required.
 ```
 
 example:
@@ -408,7 +410,7 @@ example:
 
 ```console
 --config string                 config file (default is $HOME/.beekeeper.yaml)
---config-dir string             config directory (default is $HOME/.beekeeper/) (default "C:\\Users\\ljubi\\.beekeeper")
+--config-dir string             config directory (default is $HOME/.beekeeper/)
 --config-git-branch string      Git branch (default "main")
 --config-git-password string    Git password or personal access tokens (needed for private repos)
 --config-git-repo string        Git repository with configurations (uses config directory when Git repo is not specified) (default "")
diff --git a/cmd/beekeeper/cmd/node_funder.go b/cmd/beekeeper/cmd/node_funder.go
index ebdf83ab6..0d3345d4c 100644
--- a/cmd/beekeeper/cmd/node_funder.go
+++ b/cmd/beekeeper/cmd/node_funder.go
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import (
 	"context"
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
+	"strings"
 	"time"
 
 	"github.com/ethersphere/beekeeper/pkg/config"
@@ -13,6 +14,8 @@ import (
 	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
 )
 
+const nodeFunderLabelSelector string = "beekeeper.ethswarm.org/node-funder=true"
+
 func (c *command) initNodeFunderCmd() (err error) {
 	const (
 		optionNameAddresses         = "addresses"
@@ -23,6 +26,7 @@ func (c *command) initNodeFunderCmd() (err error) {
 		optionNameMinNative         = "min-native"
 		optionNameMinSwarm          = "min-swarm"
 		optionNameTimeout           = "timeout"
+		optionNameLabelSelector     = "label-selector"
 	)
 
 	cmd := &cobra.Command{
@@ -81,7 +85,8 @@ func (c *command) initNodeFunderCmd() (err error) {
 			var nodeLister funder.NodeLister
 			// if addresses are provided, use them, not k8s client to list nodes
 			if cfg.Namespace != "" {
-				nodeLister = newNodeLister(c.k8sClient, c.log)
+				label := c.globalConfig.GetString(optionNameLabelSelector)
+				nodeLister = newNodeLister(c.k8sClient, label, c.log)
 			}
 
 			return funder.Fund(ctx, funder.Config{
@@ -105,6 +110,7 @@ func (c *command) initNodeFunderCmd() (err error) {
 	cmd.Flags().String(optionNameWalletKey, "", "Hex-encoded private key for the Bee node wallet. Required.")
 	cmd.Flags().Float64(optionNameMinNative, 0, "Minimum amount of chain native coins (xDAI) nodes should have.")
 	cmd.Flags().Float64(optionNameMinSwarm, 0, "Minimum amount of swarm tokens (xBZZ) nodes should have.")
+	cmd.Flags().String(optionNameLabelSelector, nodeFunderLabelSelector, "Kubernetes label selector for filtering resources within the specified namespace. An empty string disables filtering, allowing all resources to be selected.")
 	cmd.Flags().Duration(optionNameTimeout, 5*time.Minute, "Timeout.")
 
 	c.root.AddCommand(cmd)
@@ -114,12 +120,14 @@ func (c *command) initNodeFunderCmd() (err error) {
 
 type nodeLister struct {
 	k8sClient *k8s.Client
+	label     string
 	log       logging.Logger
 }
 
-func newNodeLister(k8sClient *k8s.Client, l logging.Logger) *nodeLister {
+func newNodeLister(k8sClient *k8s.Client, label string, l logging.Logger) *nodeLister {
 	return &nodeLister{
 		k8sClient: k8sClient,
+		label:     label,
 		log:       l,
 	}
 }
@@ -133,12 +141,12 @@ func (nf *nodeLister) List(ctx context.Context, namespace string) (nodes []funde
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("namespace not provided")
 	}
 
-	ingressHosts, err := nf.k8sClient.Ingress.ListAPINodesHosts(ctx, namespace)
+	ingressHosts, err := nf.k8sClient.Ingress.GetIngressHosts(ctx, namespace, nf.label)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("list ingress api nodes hosts: %s", err.Error())
 	}
 
-	ingressRouteHosts, err := nf.k8sClient.IngressRoute.ListAPINodesHosts(ctx, namespace)
+	ingressRouteHosts, err := nf.k8sClient.IngressRoute.GetIngressHosts(ctx, namespace, nf.label)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("list ingress route api nodes hosts: %s", err.Error())
 	}
@@ -147,7 +155,7 @@ func (nf *nodeLister) List(ctx context.Context, namespace string) (nodes []funde
 
 	for _, node := range ingressHosts {
 		nodes = append(nodes, funder.NodeInfo{
-			Name:    node.Name,
+			Name:    strings.TrimSuffix(node.Name, "-api"),
 			Address: fmt.Sprintf("http://%s", node.Host),
 		})
 	}
diff --git a/cmd/beekeeper/cmd/operator.go b/cmd/beekeeper/cmd/operator.go
index 48759f6ee..b6ddf40af 100644
--- a/cmd/beekeeper/cmd/operator.go
+++ b/cmd/beekeeper/cmd/operator.go
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ func (c *command) initOperatorCmd() (err error) {
 		optionNameMinNative         = "min-native"
 		optionNameMinSwarm          = "min-swarm"
 		optionNameTimeout           = "timeout"
+		optionNameLabelSelector     = "label-selector"
 	)
 
 	cmd := &cobra.Command{
@@ -26,7 +27,11 @@ func (c *command) initOperatorCmd() (err error) {
 		Long:  `Node operator scans for scheduled pods and funds them using node-funder. beekeeper node-operator`,
 		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) (err error) {
 			cfg := config.NodeFunder{}
-			namespace := c.globalConfig.GetString(optionNameNamespace)
+
+			var namespace string
+			if namespace = c.globalConfig.GetString(optionNameNamespace); namespace == "" {
+				return errors.New("namespace not provided")
+			}
 
 			// chain node endpoint check
 			if cfg.ChainNodeEndpoint = c.globalConfig.GetString(optionNameChainNodeEndpoint); cfg.ChainNodeEndpoint == "" {
@@ -62,6 +67,7 @@ func (c *command) initOperatorCmd() (err error) {
 				ChainNodeEndpoint: cfg.ChainNodeEndpoint,
 				MinAmounts:        cfg.MinAmounts,
 				K8sClient:         c.k8sClient,
+				LabelSelector:     c.globalConfig.GetString(optionNameLabelSelector),
 			}).Run(ctxNew)
 		},
 		PreRunE: c.preRunE,
@@ -72,6 +78,7 @@ func (c *command) initOperatorCmd() (err error) {
 	cmd.Flags().String(optionNameWalletKey, "", "Hex-encoded private key for the Bee node wallet. Required.")
 	cmd.Flags().Float64(optionNameMinNative, 0, "Minimum amount of chain native coins (xDAI) nodes should have.")
 	cmd.Flags().Float64(optionNameMinSwarm, 0, "Minimum amount of swarm tokens (xBZZ) nodes should have.")
+	cmd.Flags().String(optionNameLabelSelector, nodeFunderLabelSelector, "Kubernetes label selector for filtering resources within the specified namespace. An empty string disables filtering, allowing all resources to be selected.")
 	cmd.Flags().Duration(optionNameTimeout, 0*time.Minute, "Timeout. Default is infinite.")
 
 	c.root.AddCommand(cmd)
diff --git a/config/config.yaml b/config/config.yaml
index 88d5f6622..b73637a5a 100644
--- a/config/config.yaml
+++ b/config/config.yaml
@@ -105,6 +105,7 @@ node-groups:
       app.kubernetes.io/name: "bee"
       app.kubernetes.io/part-of: "bee"
       app.kubernetes.io/version: "latest"
+      beekeeper.ethswarm.org/node-funder: "true"
     node-selector:
       node-group: "private"
     persistence-enabled: false
diff --git a/config/local.yaml b/config/local.yaml
index d2a1d924e..57e9fbbc0 100644
--- a/config/local.yaml
+++ b/config/local.yaml
@@ -117,6 +117,7 @@ node-groups:
       app.kubernetes.io/name: "bee"
       app.kubernetes.io/part-of: "bee"
       app.kubernetes.io/version: "latest"
+      beekeeper.ethswarm.org/node-funder: "true"
     node-selector:
       node-group: "local"
     persistence-enabled: false
diff --git a/config/testnet-giant.yaml b/config/testnet-giant.yaml
index 8f21f8c43..ca8f21261 100644
--- a/config/testnet-giant.yaml
+++ b/config/testnet-giant.yaml
@@ -53,6 +53,7 @@ node-groups:
       app.kubernetes.io/name: "bee"
       app.kubernetes.io/part-of: "bee"
       app.kubernetes.io/version: "latest"
+      beekeeper.ethswarm.org/node-funder: "true"
     node-selector:
       node-group: "testnet-giant"
     persistence-enabled: false
diff --git a/config/testnet.yaml b/config/testnet.yaml
index b76bef31f..d7f7a2f93 100644
--- a/config/testnet.yaml
+++ b/config/testnet.yaml
@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@ node-groups:
       app.kubernetes.io/name: "bee"
       app.kubernetes.io/part-of: "bee"
       app.kubernetes.io/version: "latest"
+      beekeeper.ethswarm.org/node-funder: "true"
     node-selector:
       node-group: "private"
     persistence-enabled: true
diff --git a/pkg/k8s/customresource/ingressroute/client.go b/pkg/k8s/customresource/ingressroute/client.go
index d18fec747..87e22d513 100644
--- a/pkg/k8s/customresource/ingressroute/client.go
+++ b/pkg/k8s/customresource/ingressroute/client.go
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@ package ingressroute
 import (
 	"context"
 	"fmt"
-	"strings"
 
 	"github.com/ethersphere/beekeeper/pkg/k8s/ingress"
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/api/errors"
@@ -82,10 +81,10 @@ func (c *Client) Delete(ctx context.Context, name, namespace string) (err error)
 	return
 }
 
-// ListAPINodesHosts list Ingresses that are nodes
-func (c *Client) ListAPINodesHosts(ctx context.Context, namespace string) (nodes []ingress.NodeInfo, err error) {
+// GetIngressHosts list Ingress Routes hosts using label as selector, for the given namespace. If label is empty, all Ingresses are listed.
+func (c *Client) GetIngressHosts(ctx context.Context, namespace, label string) (nodes []ingress.NodeInfo, err error) {
 	ingressRoutes, err := c.clientset.IngressRoutes(namespace).List(ctx, metav1.ListOptions{
-		LabelSelector: "app.kubernetes.io/name=bee",
+		LabelSelector: label,
 	})
 	if err != nil {
 		if errors.IsNotFound(err) {
@@ -96,15 +95,13 @@ func (c *Client) ListAPINodesHosts(ctx context.Context, namespace string) (nodes
 
 	if ingressRoutes != nil {
 		for _, ingressRoute := range ingressRoutes.Items {
-			if strings.HasSuffix(ingressRoute.Name, "-api") {
-				for _, route := range ingressRoute.Spec.Routes {
-					host := route.GetHost()
-					if host != "" {
-						nodes = append(nodes, ingress.NodeInfo{
-							Name: strings.TrimSuffix(ingressRoute.Name, "-api"),
-							Host: host,
-						})
-					}
+			for _, route := range ingressRoute.Spec.Routes {
+				host := route.GetHost()
+				if host != "" {
+					nodes = append(nodes, ingress.NodeInfo{
+						Name: ingressRoute.Name,
+						Host: host,
+					})
 				}
 			}
 		}
diff --git a/pkg/k8s/ingress/client.go b/pkg/k8s/ingress/client.go
index 57a0d7f54..34836c67f 100644
--- a/pkg/k8s/ingress/client.go
+++ b/pkg/k8s/ingress/client.go
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@ package ingress
 import (
 	"context"
 	"fmt"
-	"strings"
 
 	v1 "k8s.io/api/networking/v1"
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/api/errors"
@@ -76,10 +75,10 @@ func (c *Client) Delete(ctx context.Context, name, namespace string) (err error)
 	return
 }
 
-// ListAPINodesHosts list Ingresses that are nodes
-func (c *Client) ListAPINodesHosts(ctx context.Context, namespace string) (nodes []NodeInfo, err error) {
+// GetIngressHosts list Ingresses hosts using label as selector, for the given namespace. If label is empty, all Ingresses are listed.
+func (c *Client) GetIngressHosts(ctx context.Context, namespace, label string) (nodes []NodeInfo, err error) {
 	ingreses, err := c.clientset.NetworkingV1().Ingresses(namespace).List(ctx, metav1.ListOptions{
-		LabelSelector: "app.kubernetes.io/name=bee",
+		LabelSelector: label,
 	})
 	if err != nil {
 		if errors.IsNotFound(err) {
@@ -89,14 +88,12 @@ func (c *Client) ListAPINodesHosts(ctx context.Context, namespace string) (nodes
 	}
 
 	for _, ingress := range ingreses.Items {
-		if strings.HasSuffix(ingress.Name, "-api") {
-			for _, rule := range ingress.Spec.Rules {
-				if rule.Host != "" {
-					nodes = append(nodes, NodeInfo{
-						Name: strings.TrimSuffix(ingress.Name, "-api"),
-						Host: rule.Host,
-					})
-				}
+		for _, rule := range ingress.Spec.Rules {
+			if rule.Host != "" {
+				nodes = append(nodes, NodeInfo{
+					Name: ingress.Name,
+					Host: rule.Host,
+				})
 			}
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/pkg/k8s/pod/client.go b/pkg/k8s/pod/client.go
index 9a08e0586..f8a5b28ef 100644
--- a/pkg/k8s/pod/client.go
+++ b/pkg/k8s/pod/client.go
@@ -73,22 +73,20 @@ func (c *Client) Delete(ctx context.Context, name, namespace string) (err error)
 	return
 }
 
-// EventsWatch watches for events.
-func (c *Client) EventsWatch(ctx context.Context, namespace string, operatorChan chan string) (err error) {
-	c.log.Infof("starting events watch")
+// WatchNewRunning detects new running Pods in the namespace and sends their IPs to the channel.
+func (c *Client) WatchNewRunning(ctx context.Context, namespace, labelSelector string, newPodIps chan string) (err error) {
+	c.log.Infof("starting events watch in namespace %s, label selector %s", namespace, labelSelector)
 	defer c.log.Infof("events watch done")
-	defer close(operatorChan)
+	defer close(newPodIps)
 
 	watcher, err := c.clientset.CoreV1().Pods(namespace).Watch(ctx, metav1.ListOptions{
-		// TODO: add this label to beekeeper and filter on it => app.kubernetes.io/name=bee
-		LabelSelector: "app.kubernetes.io/name=bee",
+		LabelSelector: labelSelector,
 	})
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("getting pod events in namespace %s: %w", namespace, err)
 	}
 	defer watcher.Stop()
 
-	// listen for either events from the watcher or a context cancellation
 	for {
 		select {
 		case <-ctx.Done():
@@ -98,13 +96,12 @@ func (c *Client) EventsWatch(ctx context.Context, namespace string, operatorChan
 				return fmt.Errorf("watch channel closed")
 			}
 			switch event.Type {
-			// case watch.Added: // if we want to do something with already running pods
+			// case watch.Added: // already running pods
 			case watch.Modified:
 				pod, ok := event.Object.(*v1.Pod)
 				if ok {
-					if pod.Status.PodIP != "" && pod.ObjectMeta.DeletionTimestamp == nil {
-						c.log.Tracef("new pod event: {%s}, {%s}, {%s}, {%s}, {%v}", event.Type, pod.Name, pod.Status.Phase, pod.Status.PodIP, pod.ObjectMeta.DeletionTimestamp)
-						operatorChan <- pod.Status.PodIP
+					if pod.Status.PodIP != "" && pod.ObjectMeta.DeletionTimestamp == nil && pod.Status.Phase == v1.PodRunning {
+						newPodIps <- pod.Status.PodIP
 					}
 				}
 			}
diff --git a/pkg/operator/operator.go b/pkg/operator/operator.go
index 50512b552..eb0485a2d 100644
--- a/pkg/operator/operator.go
+++ b/pkg/operator/operator.go
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ type ClientConfig struct {
 	MinAmounts        config.MinAmounts
 	K8sClient         *k8s.Client
 	HTTPClient        *http.Client // injected HTTP client
+	LabelSelector     string
 }
 
 type Client struct {
@@ -55,21 +56,21 @@ func (c *Client) Run(ctx context.Context) error {
 	c.Log.Infof("operator started")
 	defer c.Log.Infof("operator done")
 
-	operatorChan := make(chan string)
+	newPodIps := make(chan string)
 	go func() {
 		for {
 			select {
 			case <-ctx.Done():
 				c.Log.Error("operator context canceled")
 				return
-			case podIp, ok := <-operatorChan:
+			case podIp, ok := <-newPodIps:
 				if !ok {
 					c.Log.Error("operator channel closed")
 					return
 				}
 				c.Log.Debugf("operator received pod ip: %s", podIp)
 
-				addresses, err := c.processPodIP(ctx, podIp)
+				addresses, err := c.getAddresses(ctx, podIp)
 				if err != nil {
 					c.Log.Errorf("process pod ip: %v", err)
 					continue
@@ -88,22 +89,21 @@ func (c *Client) Run(ctx context.Context) error {
 				}, nil, nil, funder.WithLoggerOption(c.Log))
 				if err != nil {
 					c.Log.Errorf("funder: %v", err)
-					continue
 				}
 			}
 		}
 	}()
 
-	err := c.K8sClient.Pods.EventsWatch(ctx, c.Namespace, operatorChan)
-	if err != nil {
+	if err := c.K8sClient.Pods.WatchNewRunning(ctx, c.Namespace, c.LabelSelector, newPodIps); err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("events watch: %v", err)
 	}
+
 	return nil
 }
 
-func (c *Client) processPodIP(ctx context.Context, podIp string) (bee.Addresses, error) {
-	// http://10.3.247.202:1635/addresses
-	// bee.Addresses is struct that represents response with field Ethereum string
+// getAddresses sends a request to the pod IP and retrieves the Addresses struct,
+// which includes overlay, underlay addresses, Ethereum address, and public keys.
+func (c *Client) getAddresses(ctx context.Context, podIp string) (bee.Addresses, error) {
 	url := &url.URL{
 		Scheme: "http",
 		Host:   podIp + ":1633", // it is possible to extract port from service
@@ -121,15 +121,10 @@ func (c *Client) processPodIP(ctx context.Context, podIp string) (bee.Addresses,
 	}
 	defer resp.Body.Close()
 
-	body, err := io.ReadAll(resp.Body)
-	if err != nil {
-		return bee.Addresses{}, fmt.Errorf("read body: %s", err.Error())
-	}
-
 	var addresses bee.Addresses
-	err = json.Unmarshal(body, &addresses)
-	if err != nil {
-		return bee.Addresses{}, fmt.Errorf("unmarshal body: %s", err.Error())
+
+	if err = json.NewDecoder(resp.Body).Decode(&addresses); err != nil {
+		return bee.Addresses{}, fmt.Errorf("decode body: %s", err.Error())
 	}
 
 	return addresses, nil