{"id":20518,"date":"2025-04-03T21:46:49","date_gmt":"2025-04-03T21:46:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dogewisperer.com\/?p=20518"},"modified":"2025-04-03T21:46:49","modified_gmt":"2025-04-03T21:46:49","slug":"eigenlayer-to-begin-slashing-restakers-in-april","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dogewisperer.com\/?p=20518","title":{"rendered":"EigenLayer to begin ‘slashing’ restakers in April"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"EigenLayer<\/p>\n

EigenLayer plans to start \u201cslashing\u201d restakers on April 17, resulting in the Ethereum restaking protocol\u2019s \u201cfirst feature-complete iteration,\u201d it said in an April 2 announcement.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Implementing slashing will mark EigenLayer\u2019s final step toward establishing the protocol as \u201cinfrastructure for a new generation of verifiable apps and services built on the Verifiable Cloud,\u201d it said in a post<\/a> on the X platform.<\/p>\n

In 2024, EigenLayer started distributing rewards \u2014 including emissions of its native EIGEN token \u2014 to incentivize restakers.\u00a0However, slashing has so far been limited to EigenLayer\u2019s testnets.<\/p>\n

Once slashing is live, node operators and restakers will be able to voluntarily \u201copt-in,\u201d resulting in a gradual transition for users, EigenLayer said<\/a> in a blog post.<\/p>\n

\"EigenLayer
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Slashing starts on EigenLayer\u2019s mainnet soon. Source: <\/em>EigenLayer<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Related: <\/strong><\/em>EigenLayer eyes consumer adoption post EIGEN unlock, founder says<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

Gradual roll-out<\/h3>\n

Launched in 2023, EigenLayer secures third-party protocols \u2014 dubbed actively validated services (AVSs) \u2014 against a pool of \u201crestaked\u201d cryptocurrencies used as collateral.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Restaking involves taking a token that has already been staked \u2014 posted as collateral with a validator in exchange for rewards \u2014 and using it to secure other protocols simultaneously.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Slashing is the primary method for securing proof-of-stake protocols \u2014 including Ethereum as well as \u201crestaking\u201d protocols such as EigenLayer \u2014 and involves penalizing a network\u2019s node operators for poor performance or misbehavior.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf Operators do not meet the conditions set, the AVS may penalize them. But, if the Operator runs the service successfully, AVSs can reward the Operator\u2019s performance and incentivize specific activity,\u201d EigenLayer said in an April 3 blog post.\u00a0<\/p>\n

This \u201callows for a free marketplace where Operators can earn rewards for their work and AVSs can launch verifiable services,\u201d the post said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"EigenLayer
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EigenLayer\u2019s total value locked (TVL) over time. Source: <\/em>DeFILlama<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Growing ecosystem<\/h3>\n

Upward of 30 AVSs are already live on EigenLayer\u2019s mainnet, and dozens more are being developed.<\/p>\n

They include EigenDA \u2014 run by EigenLayer developer Eigen Labs \u2014 and ARPA Network, a protocol specializing in trustless randomization.<\/p>\n

In October, EigenLayer unlocked its native token, EIGEN. It is designed as a more flexible option for securing consensus-based protocols than other proof-of-stake tokens, such as Ether, according<\/a> to EigenLayer.<\/p>\n

EigenLayer is prioritizing onboarding crypto-native apps in segments such as decentralized finance (DeFi) and gaming before expanding beyond Web3, founder Sreeram Kannan told Cointelegraph in October<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re starting with the inside-out approach, focusing on high-throughput consumer apps like DeFi and gaming, but once we grow a little bigger and have critical mass, we\u2019ll go outside and start targeting broader consumer markets,\u201d Kannan said.<\/p>\n

Magazine: <\/strong><\/em>XRP win leaves Ripple a \u2018bad actor\u2019 with no crypto legal precedent set<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n