The Vibe: A restaking protocol on Ethereum that lets you reuse staked ETH to secure extra networks and earn more rewards.
The Details: EigenLayer introduces restaking, where you take already staked ETH (or liquid staking tokens like stETH, or the EIGEN token) and commit it to secure additional “Actively Validated Services” (AVSs) like oracles, data layers, bridges, or AI infrastructure. This extends Ethereum’s security to other apps without needing new stakes for each one. Built on Ethereum’s Proof-of-Stake, it creates a shared “marketplace for trust” with pooled security. As of 2026, it’s expanded into EigenCloud, offering verifiable AI inference (EigenAI), compute execution (EigenCompute), and high-throughput data availability (EigenDA) for rollups and agents. TVL has surged past $50B, with billions in rewards paid. You stake via the app, delegate to operators, and earn from multiple sources—but risks like slashing apply if rules are broken.
Pro Tip: Start small on audited platforms like the official EigenLayer app; choose reliable operators to minimize slashing. Watch TVL and AVS health on dashboards—restaking boosts yields (often 5-15% extra APR) but adds complexity; DYOR on each AVS. For AI/devs, EigenCloud integrates verifiable tools for building agents or apps.