How to Restake on EigenLayer Mainnet

The transition of EigenLayer testnet to mainnet marks a significant milestone for Ethereum staking, introducing new opportunities for ETH holders. This guide is designed to navigate you through the process of restaking on EigenLayer Mainnet. To get some practice first, you can refer to our previous blog post on staking with us via EigenLayer’s Holesky testnet here.

Step 0: Connect Your Wallet to Ethereum Mainnet

In the event your wallet is not already connected to Ethereum Mainnet, you’ll want to add the following details to your wallet connection details:

Network name: Ethereum Mainnet 

Network URL: https://ethereum-rpc.publicnode.com

Chain ID: 1 

Currency symbol: ETH 

Block explorer URL: https://etherscan.io 

Step 1: Acquire Liquid Staking Tokens (LSTs)

Prior to participating in EigenLayer staking and delegation, you first need tokens in hand that can be restaked. Ensure your wallet is switched to Mainnet, and not the Holesky or Sepolia Testnets! 

You can hold onto that native beacon ether, or swap it to wrapped ether, or any of the following liquid staking tokens: 

1. Stader Staked Ether (ETHX)
2. Mantle Staked Ether (mETH)
3. Staked Frax Ether (sfrxETH)
4. Liquid Staked Ether (LsETH)
5. Ankr Staked Ether (ankrETH)
6. StakeWise Staked Ether (OSETH)
7. Lido Staked Ether (stETH)
8. Coinbase Staked Ether (cbETH)
9. Rocket Pool Ether (rETH)

More granular instructions for each of the above liquid token protocols can be found in the EigenLayer documentation.

Step 2: Connect Your Wallet to EigenLayer

1. Access the mainnet: Begin by visiting the Eigenlayer mainnet at http://app.eigenlayer.xyz. This platform serves as your gateway to participating in the EigenDA ecosystem, providing a user-friendly interface for managing your staking activities.
2. Connect Wallet: Upon arrival, follow the on-screen instructions to connect your Ethereum wallet to the platform. This step is fundamental, as it links your address to the EigenDA ecosystem.

Step 3: Dashboard Navigation

After successfully connecting your wallet, you'll be greeted by the platform's dashboard. Here, you'll find a comprehensive overview of your staking endeavors, including:

• Your restaked and delegated ETH.
• Restaked points and ratio, offering insights into your staking performance and contributions to the network.

Step 4: Restake Your Tokens

1. Restaking: Click on the “Manage Stake” button corresponding to the tokens you acquired in Step 1: This action will present you with options for restaking your tokens, including liquid restaking tokens and the native restaking of Beacon-Chain-staked ETH held in your wallet.
2. Deposit: Specify the amount of ETH you wish to stake (or unstake), confirm your decision, and proceed to the next step.
3. Transaction Confirmation: Finalize the process by signing the transactions that pop up in your wallet. Successful completion will reflect your tokens in the dashboard under the Restaked section, marking your active participation in the network!

Step 5: Delegate Your Tokens

Delegating your tokens is a pivotal step towards optimizing your staking rewards:

1. Navigate to the “AVS” page on the dashboard to explore your delegation options.
2. Select Validation Cloud, or search for 0x81a28c9f24fa19f3292178464427bd71c0dad411. Choose Validation Cloud as your delegation partner to leverage our expertise and robust infrastructure for securing the network. 
3. Manage and Delegate: Initiate the delegation process by clicking on Manage, followed by Delegate. Approve the transaction in your wallet to complete the delegation.

Final Steps: Managing Profits and Airdrop Eligibility

With your tokens successfully delegated, the dashboard becomes your central hub for managing and viewing your staking profits. This proactive engagement not only secures your ETH assets but also potentially increases your eligibility for upcoming airdrops, offering additional rewards for your participation.

Notes:

• Ensure all steps are followed carefully to avoid errors during the staking and delegation process.
• The platform may update procedures; always refer to the latest guidance provided by EigenDA for accurate information.

Why Delegate to Validation Cloud on EigenLayer

Validation Cloud has consistently been a highly performant operator on the EigenDA Goerli and Holesky testnets, with over 99.99% uptime and swift response times. As one of the first 30 operators invited to join the EigenDA testnet, our active participation from Day 1 has now spanned nearly 6 months, showcasing our dedication to supporting the ecosystem.

Since 2018, Validation Cloud has been at the forefront of Proof-of-Stake. We were one of the first oracles on Chainlink and one of the first validators on Polygon. Now, we're leading validators on Aptos and dYdX and supporting emerging powerhouses like Aleo, Berachain, ZetaChain, and Saga.

About Validation Cloud

Validation Cloud is a Web3 data streaming and infrastructure company that connects organizations into Web3 through a fast, scalable, and intelligent platform. Headquartered in Zug, Switzerland, Validation Cloud offers highly performant and customizable products in staking, node, and data-as-a-service. Learn more at validationcloud.io| LinkedIn | X