The restaking sector continues to dominate blockchain innovation, expanding beyond Ethereum to Bitcoin and Solana ecosystems. This guide explores high-value protocols attracting major investments and user participation.
Ethereum's Big Three Restaking Protocols
1. EigenLayer: The Restaking Pioneer
- TVL: $14.9B (peaked at $19B in June)
Key Features:
- Supports native ETH (68%) and liquid staking tokens (LSTs) like stETH (32%)
- 161,000 restakers, with $103B delegated to 1,500 operators
Controversies:
- EIGEN token non-transferability sparked community backlash
- IP restrictions imposed post-airdrop
- Latest Update: Q3 2024 may enable EIGEN transfers (current OTC price: $5.39)
👉 Explore EigenLayer's restaking opportunities
2. Symbiotic: Lido & Paradigm's Challenger
- TVL: $10.9B (70% from wstETH)
- Backers: Paradigm, Cyber Fund (Lido-affiliated)
Advantages Over EigenLayer:
- Supports ERC-20 tokens (e.g., ENA, USDe) beyond ETH/LSTs
- Customizable staking rules for protocols
- Integrated LRTs: Ether.fi, Renzo, Mellow ($4.88B TVL)
3. Karak Network: Multi-Chain Restaking
- TVL: $10B+ (currently deposit-paused)
Unique Offerings:
- Accepts stablecoins (USDT, USDC) and LSTs/LRTs
- Multi-chain support (Arbitrum, BSC, Blast)
- Layer2: K2 network under development
Bitcoin Restaking Protocols
Babylon: BTC Staking Infrastructure
- Funding: $96M total (Paradigm, Polychain)
- Mechanism: Extends Bitcoin’s security to PoS chains via time-locked staking
- Testnet: Live for user trials
👉 Discover Bitcoin restaking with Babylon
Lombard ($16M Funding)
- Product: LBTC liquid restaking tokens
- Backers: Polychain Capital, BabylonChain
- Status: Waitlist open for testers
BounceBit
- TVL: $8B FDV
- Hybrid Model: Combines CeFi/DeFi with BBTC tokens
- Investors: Binance Labs, NGC Ventures
Solana's Emerging Restaking Landscape
6+ teams are building Solana-native solutions:
| Protocol | TVL | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|
| Solayer | $105M | Backed by Solana founders |
| Cambrian | - | $2.5M funding underway |
| Picasso | $375K | Cross-chain expansion from Polkadot |
FAQs
Q: Which protocol offers the highest yields?
A: Symbiotic and Karak Network currently lead with flexible asset support and multi-chain rewards.
Q: Are Bitcoin restaking protocols safe?
A: Babylon uses cryptographic proofs to minimize trust, but smart contract risks remain.
Q: When will Solayer launch its token?
A: Expected Q3 2024 alongside its points program.
Key Takeaways
- Ethereum dominates but faces competition from Symbiotic’s ERC-20 support.
- Bitcoin protocols leverage Babylon’s infrastructure for novel staking models.
- Solana’s low-fee environment fosters rapid LRT adoption.