Market
EigenLayer Airdrop Scandal Causes $351 Million TVL Plunge
Eigen Layer, a leading restaking protocol on Ethereum (ETH), saw at least $351 million worth of capital ooze out in the last 24 hours.
The drop follows shocking revelations about the protocol’s airdrop policy, with EigenLayer coming to its own defense.
EigenLayer Airdrop Policy Controversy
Users on X (formerly Twitter) were abuzz on Thursday following reports that Eigen Labs extorts millions of dollars in airdrop tokens from projects looking to launch protocols on their platform, EigenLayer.
Renzo, AltLayer, and ether.fi are reportedly among the projects affected by an arrangement where portions of their new tokens are set aside as a “thank you” for Eigen Labs and Eigen Foundation employees. Allegedly, in exchange for smooth operations on the restaking protocol, Eigen Labs provides employee wallet addresses whenever a project announces an airdrop, requesting reward tokens.
These tokens are supposedly intended to secure successful exchange listings, with estimated “bribes” totaling nearly $5 million. Each employee is said to receive an average of $80,000 as part of this arrangement.
Read more: What Is Liquid Staking in Crypto?
Some say Eigen Labs’ actions are warranted, as they align the interests of both parties, but call for more transparency.
“Curve functions essentially on bribes. If you want to go down that semantic path. But IMO bribery is essentially implicit corruption. A payment to neglect codified duties. Protocols exchanging tokens or issuing them to actors to align their fates are different,” one user said.
However, others challenge the perspective, calling out project leaders for unethical fraud and greed.
“This is why crypto market participants are more interested in memecoins now more than ever over “utility” tokens. The unethical fraud conducted by, and greed in the leadership of some of these companies is undeniable,” another user stated.
As BeInCrypto reported, Ethereum Foundation’s Justin Drake came in as EigenLayer advisor in May amidst another bribe controversy. This inspired a new policy, including the “prohibition on team members accepting airdrop tokens or selling airdrop tokens” to “ensure trust, transparency, and avoid conflicts of interest.”
The Team Defends Extortion Claims
In its defense, EigenLayer published a blog denying “knowledge or evidence of any employee at Eigen Labs pressuring any team to unduly benefit the Eigen Labs corporate entity or its employees.” The protocol also articulated having mitigated any incentive misalignment for Eigen Labs employees in May. The protocol’s position is that Eigen Labs employees have not received airdrops since the May changes.
“We realized that airdrops to employees may create misaligned incentives and updated our internal policies in May so that if projects wanted to airdrop to Eigen Labs in the future, it could only go to the company,” EigenLayer explained.
Despite the explanation, the EigenLayer restaking protocol still suffered a loss of $351 million in total value locked (TVL). Data from DefiLlama shows a sharp decline from $12.653 billion to $12.302 billion between Thursday and Friday.
Read more: Ethereum Restaking: What Is It And How Does It Work?
A drop in TVL typically indicates users are withdrawing funds from the platform, which can lead to reduced liquidity, popularity, and usability — key factors for a project’s success. A higher TVL reflects more capital locked in DeFi protocols, offering participants greater benefits and returns. Conversely, a lower TVL signals limited funds and reduced yields.
Despite this decline, EigenLayer remains dominant in Ethereum restaking. In Q2 2024, restaking on EigenLayer surged by 36%, with 4.3 million ETH restaked. Liquid Restaking Protocols (LRTs) accounted for most of this, holding 2.28 million ETH.
The appeal of restaking isn’t limited to Ethereum. As BeInCrypto previously reported, Jito, a liquid staking protocol on Solana, also introduced its own restaking services.
Disclaimer
In adherence to the Trust Project guidelines, BeInCrypto is committed to unbiased, transparent reporting. This news article aims to provide accurate, timely information. However, readers are advised to verify facts independently and consult with a professional before making any decisions based on this content. Please note that our Terms and Conditions, Privacy Policy, and Disclaimers have been updated.
Market
Rallies 10% and Targets More Upside
Ethereum price started a fresh increase above the $3,220 zone. ETH is rising and aiming for more gains above the $3,350 resistance.
- Ethereum started a fresh increase above the $3,220 and $3,300 levels.
- The price is trading above $3,250 and the 100-hourly Simple Moving Average.
- There is a short-term contracting triangle forming with resistance at $3,360 on the hourly chart of ETH/USD (data feed via Kraken).
- The pair could gain bullish momentum if it clears the $3,385 resistance zone.
Ethereum Price Regains Traction
Ethereum price remained supported above $3,000 and started a fresh increase like Bitcoin. ETH gained pace for a move above the $3,150 and $3,220 resistance levels.
The bulls pumped the price above the $3,300 level. It gained over 10% and traded as high as $3,387. It is now consolidating gains above the 23.6% Fib retracement level of the recent move from the $3,036 swing low to the $3,387 high.
Ethereum price is now trading above $3,220 and the 100-hourly Simple Moving Average. On the upside, the price seems to be facing hurdles near the $3,350 level. There is also a short-term contracting triangle forming with resistance at $3,360 on the hourly chart of ETH/USD.
The first major resistance is near the $3,385 level. The main resistance is now forming near $3,420. A clear move above the $3,420 resistance might send the price toward the $3,550 resistance. An upside break above the $3,550 resistance might call for more gains in the coming sessions. In the stated case, Ether could rise toward the $3,650 resistance zone or even $3,880.
Another Decline In ETH?
If Ethereum fails to clear the $3,350 resistance, it could start another decline. Initial support on the downside is near the $3,300 level. The first major support sits near the $3,250 zone.
A clear move below the $3,250 support might push the price toward $3,220 or the 50% Fib retracement level of the recent move from the $3,036 swing low to the $3,387 high. Any more losses might send the price toward the $3,150 support level in the near term. The next key support sits at $3,050.
Technical Indicators
Hourly MACD – The MACD for ETH/USD is gaining momentum in the bullish zone.
Hourly RSI – The RSI for ETH/USD is now above the 50 zone.
Major Support Level – $3,250
Major Resistance Level – $3,385
Market
Rallies 10% and Targets More Upside
Ethereum price started a fresh increase above the $3,220 zone. ETH is rising and aiming for more gains above the $3,350 resistance.
- Ethereum started a fresh increase above the $3,220 and $3,300 levels.
- The price is trading above $3,250 and the 100-hourly Simple Moving Average.
- There is a short-term contracting triangle forming with resistance at $3,360 on the hourly chart of ETH/USD (data feed via Kraken).
- The pair could gain bullish momentum if it clears the $3,385 resistance zone.
Ethereum Price Regains Traction
Ethereum price remained supported above $3,000 and started a fresh increase like Bitcoin. ETH gained pace for a move above the $3,150 and $3,220 resistance levels.
The bulls pumped the price above the $3,300 level. It gained over 10% and traded as high as $3,387. It is now consolidating gains above the 23.6% Fib retracement level of the recent move from the $3,036 swing low to the $3,387 high.
Ethereum price is now trading above $3,220 and the 100-hourly Simple Moving Average. On the upside, the price seems to be facing hurdles near the $3,350 level. There is also a short-term contracting triangle forming with resistance at $3,360 on the hourly chart of ETH/USD.
The first major resistance is near the $3,385 level. The main resistance is now forming near $3,420. A clear move above the $3,420 resistance might send the price toward the $3,550 resistance. An upside break above the $3,550 resistance might call for more gains in the coming sessions. In the stated case, Ether could rise toward the $3,650 resistance zone or even $3,880.
Another Decline In ETH?
If Ethereum fails to clear the $3,350 resistance, it could start another decline. Initial support on the downside is near the $3,300 level. The first major support sits near the $3,250 zone.
A clear move below the $3,250 support might push the price toward $3,220 or the 50% Fib retracement level of the recent move from the $3,036 swing low to the $3,387 high. Any more losses might send the price toward the $3,150 support level in the near term. The next key support sits at $3,050.
Technical Indicators
Hourly MACD – The MACD for ETH/USD is gaining momentum in the bullish zone.
Hourly RSI – The RSI for ETH/USD is now above the 50 zone.
Major Support Level – $3,250
Major Resistance Level – $3,385
Market
GOAT Price Sees Slower Growth After Reaching $1B Market Cap
GOAT price has skyrocketed 214.29% in one month, recently breaking into the $1 billion market cap and securing its place as the 10th largest meme coin. It now stands just ahead of MOG, which closely trails its position in the rankings.
However, recent indicators suggest that GOAT’s uptrend may be weakening, raising questions about whether it can sustain its rally or face a potential correction.
GOAT BBTrend Is Negative For The First Time In 4 Days
GOAT BBTrend has turned negative for the first time since November 17, now sitting at -0.54. This shift suggests that bearish momentum is beginning to take hold, with the asset’s recent upward trajectory starting to weaken potentially.
BBTrend measures the strength and direction of price trends using Bollinger Bands, with positive values indicating an uptrend and negative values signaling a downtrend. A negative BBTrend reflects increased downward pressure, which could indicate the start of a broader market shift.
GOAT has had an impressive November, gaining 61% and reaching a new all-time high on November 17.
However, the current negative BBTrend, if it persists and grows, could signal the potential for further bearish momentum.
GOAT Is In A Neutral Zone
GOAT’s RSI has dropped to 52, down from over 70 a few days ago when it reached its all-time high. This decline indicates that buying momentum has cooled off, and the market has moved out of the overbought zone.
The drop suggests a shift toward a more neutral sentiment as traders consolidate gains and the strong bullish pressure seen earlier subsides.
RSI measures the strength and velocity of price changes, with values above 70 indicating overbought conditions and below 30 signaling oversold levels. At 52, GOAT’s RSI is in a neutral zone, neither signaling strong bullish nor bearish momentum.
This could mean the current uptrend is losing strength, and the price may consolidate or move sideways unless renewed buying pressure reignites upward momentum.
GOAT Price Prediction: A New Surge Until $1.50?
If GOAT current uptrend regains strength, it could retest its all-time high of $1.37, establishing its market cap above $1 billion, a fundamental threshold for being among the biggest meme coins in the market today.
Breaking above this level could pave the way for further gains, potentially reaching the next thresholds at $1.40 or even $1.50, signaling renewed bullish momentum and market confidence.
However, as shown by indicators like RSI and BBTrend, the uptrend may be losing steam. If a downtrend emerges, GOAT price could test its nearest support zones at $0.80 and $0.69.
Should these levels fail to hold, the price could fall further, potentially reaching $0.419, putting its position in the top 10 ranking of biggest meme coins at risk.
Disclaimer
In line with the Trust Project guidelines, this price analysis article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial or investment advice. BeInCrypto is committed to accurate, unbiased reporting, but market conditions are subject to change without notice. Always conduct your own research and consult with a professional before making any financial decisions. Please note that our Terms and Conditions, Privacy Policy, and Disclaimers have been updated.
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