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View Chartether.fi is a leading decentralized liquid restaking protocol built on Ethereum, and its native token, ETHFI, is central to governing and incentivizing its ecosystem.
ether.fi is a decentralized, non-custodial liquid restaking protocol on Ethereum, allowing users to earn rewards while maintaining control of their assets.
The ETHFI token is the governance and utility token of the ether.fi ecosystem, used for voting, fee discounts, and accessing exclusive features.
It operates on Ethereum's Proof-of-Stake consensus and utilizes EigenLayer for restaking, enabling users to contribute to the security of other networks.
The protocol offers unique features like eETH, a liquid restaking token, and a Delegated Staking Module for institutional participation.
Users can trade ETHFI on major exchanges like BTCC via spot or perpetual contract markets.
ether.fi is a decentralized protocol that pioneered the concept of non-custodial liquid restaking on Ethereum, allowing users to earn multiple layers of staking rewards while retaining ownership of their keys.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Name (Ticker) | ether.fi (ETHFI) |
| Alternative Names | - |
| Consensus Mechanism | Ethereum Proof-of-Stake (via EigenLayer restaking) |
| Smart Contracts | Yes (EVM-Compatible). Primary contract: 0xFe0c... |
| Category | Liquid Restaking, DeFi, Governance |
| Hash Algorithm | Keccak-256 |
| Block Reward | N/A (Protocol rewards from Ethereum staking and EigenLayer points) |
| Max Supply | 1,000,000,000 ETHFI |
| TPS | Dependent on the underlying Ethereum network |
| Scaling Solution | Built on Ethereum L1; utilizes EigenLayer for cryptoeconomic security |
| Blockchain | Ethereum |
The ether.fi protocol was developed by a team led by founder and CEO Mike Silagadze. Silagadze is a seasoned entrepreneur in the tech and crypto space, previously founding and leading Top Hat, a major edtech company. The project is backed by prominent venture capital firms in the cryptocurrency sector, including North Island Ventures, Chapter One, and Node Capital. The development and future direction of the protocol are managed by a decentralized autonomous organization (DAO), where ETHFI token holders govern key decisions.
ether.fi functions as a middleware layer on top of Ethereum's consensus. It leverages EigenLayer's restaking primitive to enable a novel, non-custodial staking model. Here's the core workflow:
Non-Custodial Staking: Users deposit ETH to run an Ethereum validator. Unlike traditional staking pools, users retain control of their validator withdrawal and signing keys, which are encrypted and managed by the protocol.
Liquid Restaking Token (eETH): Upon depositing, users receive eETH, a liquid token representing their restaked position. eETH accumulates rewards from both Ethereum staking and EigenLayer's restaking services.
EigenLayer Integration: The protocol restakes user-deposited ETH via EigenLayer. This allows the pooled stake to secure other applications (known as Actively Validated Services or AVSs) on the network, generating additional rewards.
Node Services and Delegation: ether.fi operates its own node operator network. Users can also delegate to professional node operators through its Delegated Staking Module, catering to institutional players.
ether.fi stands out in the crowded liquid staking and restaking field due to several key innovations:
Non-Custodial Model: Its flagship feature is allowing users to remain in control of their validator keys. This significantly reduces custodial risk compared to other liquid staking providers.
First-Mover in Liquid Restaking: It was the first protocol to introduce a liquid restaking token (eETH), providing liquidity and composability for restaked assets within the broader DeFi ecosystem.
Dual-Layered Rewards: eETH holders earn rewards from two sources: standard Ethereum staking yields and additional rewards from securing other protocols via EigenLayer.
Institutional Gateway: The Delegated Staking Module offers a compliant pathway for institutions and large stakeholders to participate in restaking, broadening the protocol's user base and total value locked (TVL).
The ETHFI token is the economic and governance engine of the ether.fi ecosystem, with several primary utilities:
Governance: ETHFI holders can propose and vote on key protocol decisions, such as parameter adjustments, treasury management, and integration of new features or AVSs.
Fee Discounts: Using ETHFI to pay for protocol fees (like unstaking) can provide users with discounted rates.
Access and Incentives: The token is used to incentivize liquidity provision and participation in various ecosystem initiatives. Holding ETHFI may also grant access to exclusive features or higher reward tiers.
Staking (Future): Future developments may include staking ETHFI directly to secure the protocol or earn a share of its revenue.
The ether.fi ecosystem is rapidly expanding beyond its core restaking product, focusing on integration and utility for its eETH token.
DeFi Integrations: eETH is widely integrated across major DeFi protocols as a collateral asset and liquidity source, including on lending platforms, decentralized exchanges (DEXs), and yield aggregators.
Partnerships with AVSs: The protocol is actively forming partnerships with new Actively Validated Services on EigenLayer, which will provide more earning opportunities for eETH holders.
Loyalty Program: ether.fi has introduced a points-based loyalty program ("ether.fi loyalty points") to reward long-term stakers, with potential future airdrops or benefits linked to ETHFI.
Cross-Chain Expansion: There are ongoing developments to bring eETH to other blockchain ecosystems, increasing its accessibility and utility across the multi-chain landscape.
ETHFI is not a mineable cryptocurrency in the traditional Proof-of-Work sense. The token was initially distributed through an airdrop to early users of the ether.fi protocol and is now primarily obtainable through the following methods:
Trading: Purchasing ETHFI on supported cryptocurrency exchanges like BTCC.
Protocol Participation: While not "mining," users can earn ETHFI rewards and potential future airdrops by actively using the ether.fi protocol—such as by staking ETH to mint eETH, providing liquidity with eETH, or participating in its loyalty program.
Governance Rewards: In the future, the DAO may allocate tokens as rewards for participating in governance activities.
Securing your ETHFI tokens is crucial, given their value and governance power.
Hardware Wallets: For long-term storage, transfer your ETHFI to a reputable hardware wallet (cold wallet) like Ledger or Trezor. This keeps your private keys completely offline.
Secure Software Wallets: Use established, non-custodial software wallets (hot wallets) such as MetaMask or Trust Wallet. Always ensure you are downloading the official application and never share your seed phrase.
Exchange Custody: While convenient for active trading, leaving large amounts of ETHFI on an exchange carries custodial risk. Use this method primarily for trading purposes and withdraw to a private wallet for safekeeping.
Vigilance: Be extremely cautious of phishing websites, fake support calls, and unsolicited offers. Always double-check contract addresses and website URLs before connecting your wallet or making transactions.
ETHFI is a popular cryptocurrency listed on many exchanges. However, it is recommended to trade on a major platform like BTCC for higher liquidity and better customer support.
Register a BTCC Account: Sign up using your email or mobile number and complete the KYC verification to unlock more features and benefits of the platform.
Deposit Funds: Deposit fiat currency (via bank transfer, card, or third-party payment) or transfer USDT from an external wallet into your BTCC account. You can follow this guide.
Start Trading: Go to the trading page and search for the spot trading pair ETHFI/USDT or the perpetual contract ETHFIUSDT.
Place an Order: Enter the amount of ETHFI you wish to purchase and submit the order. For contract trading, you can also choose to go short (sell) and adjust the leverage multiplier according to your strategy and risk tolerance.
Confirm Your Purchase: For spot purchases, check your personal account to see if the coins have arrived. For contract trades, check the trading page to see if your order was filled successfully.
Buy in just 4 steps (Register → Verify → Deposit/Purchase → Receive Coins)
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TradeHere is a comparison of ETHFI, REZ, and LDO across protocol structure, key control, and real-world utility:
| No. | Category | Feature | ether.fi (ETHFI) | Renzo (REZ) | Lido (LDO) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Protocol Type | Positioning | Liquid Restaking (LRT) | Liquid Restaking (LRT) | Traditional Liquid Staking (LST) |
| 2 | Key Custody | Security Model | Non-Custodial (Self-Custody) | Custodial / Multisig | Node Operator Delegated |
| 3 | Yield Source | Rewards | ETH Staking + EigenLayer AVS | ETH Staking + EigenLayer AVS | Native ETH PoS Staking Only |
| 4 | Product Suite | Use Cases | eETH/weETH + Cash Card + Liquid Vaults | ezETH Liquid Token | stETH/wstETH Liquid Token |
Summary: ETHFI combines non-custodial security with a broader DeFi ecosystem, offering greater flexibility and extra utility compared to REZ and traditional LST providers like Lido.
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