Here is how to restake on EigenLayer in short: hold ETH in a supported form (a liquid staking token such as stETH, or a running validator), connect a self-custody wallet to the official EigenLayer app, deposit into the matching strategy, then delegate to an operator whose slashing commitments you accept. Rewards are claimed manually. Exiting means queuing a withdrawal and waiting through a 14-day escrow. If you would rather skip the operator choice, a liquid restaking protocol does it for you, adding another layer of contract risk.
Key takeaways
- There are three routes: native restaking through an EigenPod, LST restaking in the EigenLayer app, and liquid restaking tokens (LRTs).
- Depositing alone earns nothing extra; rewards depend on delegating to an operator that serves paying services (AVSs).
- Slashing has been live on mainnet since April 2025, and it is opt-in per operator and per service.
- Withdrawals sit in escrow for 14 days on mainnet; native restakers also wait for the beacon chain exit and sweep.
- Budget ETH for gas: depositing, delegating, claiming and withdrawing are separate Ethereum transactions.
Before you start: a pre-flight checklist
EigenLayer sits on top of Ethereum staking, so you need staked ETH before you can restake it. If you only hold plain ETH, the usual first step is minting an LST; our Ethereum staking guide compares the ways to do that. Then check:
- Wallet: A browser or hardware wallet that can sign Ethereum mainnet transactions. Hardware signing is worth it for amounts you care about.
- Gas: Several separate mainnet transactions. Keep spare ETH outside the position.
- Official URL: EigenLayer now operates under the EigenCloud brand. Reach the app from the project’s official site or docs, never from a search ad or a DM. Fake restaking portals that drain approvals are common.
- Strategy availability: The set of accepted LSTs has changed over time and deposit caps were lifted in 2024. Confirm in the app which strategies are currently open before buying a token specifically to deposit it.
If the concept of restaking itself is unfamiliar, start with what restaking is, then return here for the mechanics.
Three ways to restake ETH
| Route | What you deposit | Who picks the operator | Liquidity | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Native restaking | A 32-ETH validator whose withdrawal credentials point to an EigenPod | You | Locked; exits involve the beacon chain plus EigenLayer escrow | Solo stakers and node runners |
| LST restaking | A supported LST, such as stETH | You | Locked in EigenLayer until the 14-day escrow ends | LST holders who want direct control |
| Liquid restaking | ETH or an LST, deposited with an LRT protocol | The LRT protocol | Tradeable LRT (e.g. eETH, ezETH, rsETH) | Holders who want a token they can move or use as collateral |
How to restake on EigenLayer with stETH: the app walkthrough
This is the most common direct path, and it works similarly for other supported LSTs.
- Connect. Open the EigenLayer app, choose Connect Wallet and approve the connection on Ethereum mainnet.
- Pick the strategy. In the restaking section, select the token you hold (for example stETH). The app shows your balance and the strategy’s current total.
- Approve the token. The first deposit needs a token approval transaction. Approve only the amount you plan to restake rather than an unlimited allowance if your wallet lets you edit it.
- Deposit. Enter the amount and confirm. Your position now shows as restaked, but it is not yet delegated.
- Delegate. Open the operator list, review candidates (next section) and delegate. On EigenLayer you delegate your whole restaked balance to one operator at a time.
- Verify. Your dashboard should show the deposit, the operator and an accrual view for rewards.
Delegate to an operator on EigenLayer: what to check
Choosing an operator is the decision that actually determines your rewards and your slashing exposure. Since the April 2025 slashing upgrade, operators join “operator sets” for specific AVSs (actively validated services) and allocate a portion of their delegated stake to each one. That allocated portion is what each service can slash.
- Which AVSs: The operator page lists the services it has registered for. More services can mean more reward streams and more ways to be slashed.
- Allocations: Look at how much of the delegated stake is allocated to slashable sets. A higher share allocated means more of your deposit is at risk if that service slashes.
- Track record: An operator run by an established staking company or a team with a public history is easier to evaluate than an anonymous newcomer.
- Fee split: Operators take a share of AVS rewards. Compare what is shown in the app.
Redelegating is not a one-click switch: moving to a new operator means undelegating (which queues a withdrawal) and redepositing, so choose carefully the first time.
Native restaking with an EigenPod
If you run your own validator, you can restake without an LST:
- Create an EigenPod from the app. This deploys a contract tied to your address.
- Set (or, for an existing validator, change) the validator’s withdrawal credentials to point to the EigenPod address. New validators set this at deposit time.
- Prove the validator’s withdrawal credentials to EigenLayer through the app, which credits restaked shares.
- Delegate to an operator, or to yourself if you register as one.
Native restaking requires running node software and following the docs closely; mistakes with withdrawal credentials cannot be undone.
EigenLayer rewards: how to claim
AVS rewards and EIGEN incentive programs accrue to operators and their delegators, then become claimable after periodic on-chain reward submissions. They are not auto-compounded into your position. To collect them, open the rewards section of the app, review the claimable tokens (which may include EIGEN and tokens from individual AVSs) and submit a claim transaction. Because each claim costs gas, small balances are usually claimed in batches.
Reward levels vary widely by operator and by the services it has opted into, and many are paid in volatile tokens. Treat any advertised rate as a snapshot and check the app’s current figures.
EigenLayer withdrawal: undelegate, wait, complete
Exiting is a two-transaction process with a mandatory wait in the middle. The escrow was 7 days before slashing and increased to 14 days with the slashing upgrade, so services have time to slash pending withdrawals for faults that happened while the stake was active.
| Step | What happens | Typical timing |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Queue withdrawal (or undelegate) | Your shares leave the active pool and enter escrow; they stop earning AVS rewards | One transaction |
| 2. Escrow | Funds remain slashable for faults committed before you queued | 14 days on mainnet |
| 3. Complete withdrawal | You submit a final transaction and the LST returns to your wallet | One transaction, any time after escrow |
| Native only: beacon chain exit | Validator exits and its ETH is swept to the EigenPod before withdrawal | Depends on Ethereum’s exit queue; EigenLayer’s docs estimated 8 to 17 days in total under the older 7-day escrow |
Undelegating from an operator automatically queues a withdrawal of everything delegated, so it is the same wait. If you used a liquid restaking token, you can usually skip the escrow by selling the LRT on a DEX, at whatever price the market offers.
Liquid restaking: the hands-off alternative
Liquid restaking protocols such as ether.fi (eETH and weETH), Renzo (ezETH) and Kelp (rsETH) accept deposits, run or select operators and issue a token you can move. Some have diversified into other restaking networks or yield strategies, so read what a given LRT actually does with deposits today. Our ether.fi guide covers one of the largest. Exiting through the protocol inherits EigenLayer’s escrow, plus any queue the LRT adds, which is why LRT prices can drift below their backing during heavy selling.
Restaking risk checklist
- Stacked contracts: Ethereum staking, the LST contract, EigenLayer, and possibly an LRT. A failure at any layer can affect you.
- Slashing: Operators can now be slashed by each service they serve; delegators share the loss on allocated stake.
- Liquidity: 14 days of escrow plus potential LST or LRT discounts if you need to leave quickly.
- Reward token risk: Rewards paid in small-cap AVS tokens can lose value before you claim and sell.
- Phishing: Approvals signed on fake restaking sites are one of the main ways restakers lose funds.
For history, tokenomics and the EigenCloud pivot, read our EigenLayer explainer; for how restaking compares with other yield sources, browse the crypto staking hub.
FAQ
Can I restake ETH directly without an LST?
Only through native restaking, which requires running a 32-ETH validator with withdrawal credentials pointed at an EigenPod. If you hold plain ETH and do not run a validator, either mint a supported LST first and restake it in the EigenLayer app, or deposit ETH with a liquid restaking protocol that handles staking and restaking for you.
How long does an EigenLayer withdrawal take?
Queued withdrawals wait in a 14-day escrow on mainnet, then you submit a second transaction to complete them. Native restakers also wait for the validator’s exit from the beacon chain and the sweep of its ETH, which depends on Ethereum’s exit queue. Selling a liquid restaking token on a DEX is faster but subject to market pricing.
Do I have to delegate to an operator to restake stETH?
You can deposit without delegating, but undelegated stake does not secure any service and does not earn AVS rewards. Delegation is what connects your deposit to operators and the services that pay them. It is also what exposes you to slashing, so review the operator’s registered services and allocations before choosing.
Is liquid restaking better than restaking in the EigenLayer app?
Neither is strictly better. Liquid restaking gives you a tradeable token and hands operator selection to a protocol, but adds another set of contracts, fees and depeg risk. Restaking directly keeps you in control of operator choice and removes one layer, at the cost of locked funds and a 14-day exit.
Crypto is volatile and risky; this is education, not financial advice. Do your own research.
