How to stake on EigenLayer? (Restaking basics)

What Is EigenLayer and Restaking?

1. EigenLayer is a protocol built on Ethereum that enables trustless reuse of ETH staking security for additional applications beyond consensus.

2. Restaking refers to the process where users reassign their already-staked ETH—via Lido, Coinbase, or other liquid staking tokens—to secure new protocols like data availability layers or decentralized sequencers.

3. Unlike traditional staking, restaking does not require unlocking ETH; it leverages existing validator commitments through smart contract attestations.

4. EigenLayer introduces Actively Validated Services (AVS), which are modular, permissionless services that rely on restaked ETH for economic security.

5. The protocol enforces slashing conditions: if a node misbehaves while validating an AVS, its restaked ETH may be slashed—not just the original stake but also the associated rewards and bonded tokens.

Prerequisites for Restaking

1. Users must hold liquid staking tokens such as stETH, rETH, or cbETH, representing ETH staked via trusted providers.

2. A non-custodial Ethereum wallet like MetaMask is required, with sufficient ETH to cover gas fees on mainnet.

3. The wallet must be connected to the EigenLayer dApp interface at app.eigenlayer.xyz and switched to the Ethereum mainnet network.

4. Users need to approve token transfers for their chosen LST to the EigenLayer staking contract—a one-time transaction per token type.

5. No minimum amount is enforced by EigenLayer itself, though individual AVS may impose thresholds for participation or reward eligibility.

Step-by-Step Restaking Process

1. Navigate to the EigenLayer dashboard and click “Restake” after connecting your wallet.

2. Select the LST you wish to restake—options include stETH, rETH, cbETH, and soon others like Binance’s bETH.

3. Enter the amount of LST to restake, ensuring enough ETH remains in the wallet for future gas payments.

4. Confirm the approval transaction in your wallet, then proceed to the restake transaction once approval is complete.

5. After confirmation, the restaked balance appears under “My Restaked Assets”, and the user becomes eligible to opt into AVS modules.

Choosing and Opting Into AVS

1. The EigenLayer interface displays a list of live AVS, each with distinct risk profiles, reward structures, and slashing parameters.

2. Users can review documentation, audit reports, and operator lists before selecting an AVS—no automatic enrollment occurs.

3. Opt-in requires signing a message authorizing the EigenLayer contract to delegate validation duties to the chosen AVS.

4. Some AVS require manual node operation; others support passive delegation to professional operators listed on the EigenPod registry.

5. Once opted in, users begin accruing AVS-specific rewards, often denominated in native tokens or fee revenue shares.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I unstake my restaked ETH immediately?Restaked assets remain locked until manually withdrawn through the EigenLayer withdrawal flow, which includes a cooldown period aligned with Ethereum's unbonding timeline.

Q: Does restaking increase my exposure to slashing?Yes. Restaking extends slashing risk beyond Ethereum consensus to every AVS you opt into—each with independent fault detection and penalty mechanisms.

Q: Are rewards from AVS automatically compounded?Rewards are distributed to the user’s wallet address and are not auto-compounded unless explicitly configured via third-party yield strategies outside EigenLayer.

Q: What happens if an AVS I’m opted into gets deprecated?The protocol disables further rewards and removes delegation rights, but your restaked principal remains intact and available for reallocation.