Best Restaking Platforms of 2026
Last updated: March 2026
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Restaking is one of the most significant innovations in the staking ecosystem, allowing stakers to earn additional yield by extending Ethereum's security to new protocols and services. Pioneered by EigenLayer, restaking has grown into a multi-billion dollar sector that creates new revenue streams for ETH stakers.
EigenLayer is the dominant restaking protocol, supporting both native ETH restaking and liquid staking token restaking. The ecosystem around it includes Liquid Restaking Tokens (LRTs) from protocols like EtherFi and Renzo, which provide liquidity for restaked positions.
Our Rankings
Lido is the largest liquid staking protocol, allowing users to stake ETH and receive stETH tokens that remain liquid and usable across DeFi. With over $14 billion in TVL, Lido dominates the Ethereum staking landscape and has expanded to support multiple chains.
Pros
- +Largest and most battle-tested liquid staking protocol
- +stETH is widely integrated across DeFi for composability
- +No minimum staking requirement (any amount of ETH)
Cons
- -10% fee on staking rewards (split between node operators and treasury)
- -Centralization concerns due to large market share
- -stETH can trade at a slight discount to ETH during volatility
EigenLayer is a restaking protocol built on Ethereum that allows stakers to opt-in to securing additional services (Actively Validated Services) beyond the Ethereum base layer. By restaking ETH or liquid staking tokens, users can earn additional rewards while extending Ethereum's security to new protocols.
Pros
- +Pioneering restaking technology for additional yield on staked ETH
- +Extends Ethereum security to new protocols and services
- +Supports native ETH and multiple liquid staking tokens
Cons
- -Additional slashing risks from Actively Validated Services
- -Complex system that may be difficult for beginners to understand
- -Protocol is still maturing with evolving reward structures
How Restaking Works
Restaking works by allowing staked ETH (either natively staked or through liquid staking tokens) to be used as security for additional services beyond the Ethereum base layer. These services, called Actively Validated Services (AVS), include oracle networks, data availability layers, cross-chain bridges, and other infrastructure that benefits from economic security.
When you restake, you opt-in to specific AVS that your operator supports. Each AVS has its own slashing conditions, meaning your restaked ETH could be partially slashed if the operator or AVS experiences issues. In return, each AVS pays rewards to restakers and operators, creating additional yield on top of base staking returns.
The restaking ecosystem is still young and evolving rapidly. New AVS launch regularly, and the reward structures are being refined. For risk-aware stakers, restaking represents an opportunity to meaningfully increase yields while contributing to the broader Ethereum security model.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is restaking?
Restaking is the process of taking already-staked assets (like stETH or natively staked ETH) and opting them into additional security services called Actively Validated Services (AVS). This extends Ethereum's security model to new protocols while earning stakers additional rewards on top of their base staking yield.
What are the risks of restaking?
Restaking introduces additional slashing conditions from each AVS you opt into. If an AVS operator misbehaves or the AVS has a bug, your restaked funds could be slashed. There is also increased smart contract risk from the additional protocol layer and the complexity of managing multiple service agreements.
How much extra yield does restaking provide?
Restaking yields vary significantly depending on the AVS and current demand. Currently, restaking can add an additional 1-5% APY on top of base Ethereum staking yields. As more AVS launch and competition increases, yields may stabilize. The total yield depends on how many and which AVS you opt into.
Can I restake liquid staking tokens?
Yes, EigenLayer supports restaking of liquid staking tokens including stETH, rETH, cbETH, and others. This means you can earn base staking rewards from your liquid staking protocol plus additional rewards from the AVS you opt into through EigenLayer.