Market
DeFi in Crisis: Restaking Protocols Are Devouring Liquidity
The DeFi space is expanding, with liquid staking and restaking protocols gaining more and more attention. These developments allow users to stake and reuse assets multiple times, offering the potential for higher yields. However, as these systems become more complex, they also introduce potential systemic vulnerabilities.
Projects like EigenLayer are pushing the limits of yield maximization, but are these returns sustainable? The question remains whether these innovations are setting DeFi up for lasting success or creating the next wave of risks.
The Growing Influence
Restaking protocols, led by platforms like EigenLayer, have become a major force in the decentralized finance (DeFi) sector. Restaking refers to the process where users take assets staked on one protocol, such as Ethereum’s liquid staking tokens (LSTs), and stake them again on another platform to earn additional yields.
This process has unlocked significant earning potential, driving restaking’s rise. In 2024, liquid restaking tokens (LRTs) saw an enormous 4,900% growth in Total Value Locked (TVL), surpassing $15 billion from a mere $280 million in early 2024.
“The push for higher yields is a key to keeping staking attractive, especially as the total amount of ETH staked on the Beacon Chain grows and the average APY (annual percentage yield) declines. This is one of the main reasons DeFi and restaking protocols have been so well-received,” Alon Muroch, CEO and Founder at SSV.Labs, told BeInCrypto in an exclusive interview.
Read more: Ethereum Restaking: What Is it and How Does it Work?
Restaking protocols offer users opportunities to maximize returns on their staked assets without having to sacrifice liquidity. However, as restaking scales, concerns about liquidity and security risks are emerging.
“Each additional layer in restaking increases both risk and reward, making it a choice that users must make based on their risk tolerance. While it introduces more potential points of failure, it also opens up opportunities for significantly greater returns. Ultimately, the user has the freedom to decide the level of exposure they are comfortable with,” Muroch added.
Balancing the Promise and Peril of Restaking
Although the ability to re-use staked assets has been celebrated as an innovation, it simultaneously introduces new layers of exposure. In essence, restaking involves leveraging staked assets across different protocols, which may sound appealing for yield optimization, but it creates systemic vulnerabilities.
Muroch identified several main problems associated with restaking:
- Smart Contract Vulnerabilities. The complexity of restaking mechanisms increases the potential for bugs and exploits in the smart contracts governing these protocols. Users may lose funds if a contract is compromised.
- Complexity and Lack of Understanding. As restaking strategies become more complex, there is a risk that users may not fully understand the risks they are taking on. Some Actively Validated Services (AVSs) have higher risk than others due to more/complex slashing criteria for different AVSs.
- Slashing Risks. If a validator is found guilty of malicious behavior, a portion of their restaked ETH can be slashed. This risk is compounded because node operators are subject to slashing conditions for both the Ethereum base layer and any additional AVSs.
Moreover, the financial architecture behind restaking has left DeFi exposed to potential liquidity drains. For example, EigenLayer’s current restaking system allows users to restake liquid staking tokens (LSTs) multiple times, amplifying liquidity challenges. These risks were evident in the Ankr exploit, where a hacker minted 6 quadrillion fake aBNBc tokens, crashing the price of liquid staking derivatives across various protocols.
The unclear regulatory frameworks add to the complexity of restaking. Muroch cautions that regulators will likely take a cautious approach to restaking, seeing it as distinct from traditional staking because of its added layers of risk and complexity. They may impose stricter regulations to protect investors and ensure the stability of the financial ecosystem as these protocols gain traction.
The Threat of Over-Restaking
EigenLayer, one of the biggest restaking protocols, has garnered over $19 billion in TVL by mid-2024. While this impressive expansion demonstrates the market’s appetite for higher yields, it raises questions about the sustainability of these protocols.
The dominance of EigenLayer also poses a unique threat to Ethereum’s overall security. Since these restaking platforms are handling large quantities of staked ETH, any major failure could directly impact Ethereum’s security model.
Experts, including Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin, have voiced concerns that if a restaking protocol failed, it could lead to calls for a hard fork of Ethereum to “undo” the damage, an outcome that threatens the network’s decentralized consensus.
Read more: How to Participate in an EigenLayer Airdrop: A Step-by-Step Guide
Muroch, however, downplayed the severity of the situation, describing it as “theoretically bad, but practically quite unlikely.”
“If a significant amount of Ether is locked in EigenLayer and a large operator suffers a major slashing event, it could lead to a cascade of slashing damage. In a worst-case scenario, this could compromise the extended security of the Ethereum network. However, it would take the slashed operator not fixing the problem for a long period of time for Ethereum’s security to be threatened,” he explained.
He also highlighted an important upside, noting that restaking raises the cost of corruption for potential attackers. This shift strengthens security by focusing not just on individual protocols but on the total sum of all staked assets.
Hidden Dangers of Yield Optimization
The pursuit of higher yields has led stakers to adopt increasingly complex strategies, which carries both financial and technical risks. Financially, restaking protocols encourage users to stake their assets across multiple platforms, tying up more capital in interconnected systems. This raises systemic financial risks, as vulnerabilities in one protocol could trigger broader consequences across the ecosystem.
Muroch cautions that restaking is still a relatively new concept, making it difficult to predict its long-term effects. The potential for unforeseen issues, especially in volatile markets, adds uncertainty to the future of these strategies.
“Staking rewards have only recently been introduced, meaning it will take some time to fully understand their long-term effects. As always, there are ‘unknown unknowns’ that could arise. In the future, if the value of restaked assets were to drop sharply, the heavy reliance on rehypothecation and complex financial derivatives could trigger a liquidity crisis,” he said.
This would likely cause users to liquidate their positions en masse, worsening market volatility. In such a case, confidence in the underlying protocols might erode further, potentially causing widespread destabilization in the DeFi space.
“At this point it’s really speculative. Looking back to the past in DeFi, trying to milk yields as hard as possible tends to end badly,” Muroch warned.
Ultimately, the success of restaking protocols hinges on their ability to balance maximizing yields with managing the inherent financial and technical risks they introduce. As these systems mature, the sector is beginning to diversify. New competitors are launching their own restaking solutions, which could help decentralize risk currently concentrated in platforms like EigenLayer.
This shift may reduce the systemic vulnerabilities tied to one dominant protocol, leading to a more stable and resilient DeFi ecosystem over time.
“As excitement wanes, the sustainability of these protocols will be tested, and their true value will need to be assessed in a more stable market environment. This transition could reveal whether the innovations are robust or merely speculative trends,” Muroch concluded.
Disclaimer
Following the Trust Project guidelines, this feature article presents opinions and perspectives from industry experts or individuals. BeInCrypto is dedicated to transparent reporting, but the views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of BeInCrypto or its staff. Readers should verify information independently and consult with a professional before making decisions based on this content. Please note that our Terms and Conditions, Privacy Policy, and Disclaimers have been updated.
Market
Bitwise Files for Dogecoin ETF Amid Growing Meme Coin Interest
Bitwise, the crypto asset management firm, has submitted an application for a Dogecoin ETF through a Delaware trust.
This step is limited to registering the trust and still requires a formal filing with the SEC for approval.
Meme Coin ETFs Are Gaining Attention
A surge in ETF filings has emerged since Gary Gensler stepped down as SEC Chair last Friday. Among these filings, meme coin ETFs are capturing significant interest.
Rex Shares recently submitted applications for ETFs involving TRUMP, BONK, and DOGE, alongside Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs.
Earlier today, BONK saw a price surge driven by increased investor interest following Rex Shares’ ETF filing. The rising demand for BONK signals the possibility of sustained price momentum. Dogecoin could witness similar price action if its ETF application gains approval.
Back in September 2024, Bitwise’s Matt Hougan expressed optimism about ETF opportunities for Solana and meme coins.
Growing Institutional Interest in Meme Coins
Interest in meme coins has grown significantly in recent days. The launch of the TRUMP meme coin by the US President has played a major role in this trend.
Reports show that 40% of TRUMP coin buyers were first-time crypto investors, highlighting the appeal of meme coins beyond the crypto sector. This could explain why firms like Bitwise are moving quickly to develop an ETF for Dogecoin, a leading meme coin.
Meme coins are also entering institutional markets outside the US. Floki also plans to launch an exchange-traded product (ETP) in Europe by early 2025.
Meanwhile, analysts believe Litecoin could become the first altcoin after Ethereum to secure ETF approval. Nasdaq has already filed Form 19b-4 to list Canary Capital’s proposed Litecoin ETF. This filing aligns with Canary’s recent S-1 amendment and feedback from the SEC.
Overall, with Bitwise’s latest filing, it’s evident that asset managers are looking to bring meme coins to the retail investment markets soon.
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
Bitcoin and XRP Prices Steady as iDEGEN fires on all cylinders
This week has been interesting for crypto enthusiasts with Trump’s presidency being at the center of the developments. The hype surrounding the US first family’s PolitiFi tokens and the subsequent surge in the bullish market sentiment bolstered Bitcoin price to a fresh all-time high on Monday.
However, BTC/USD and other cryptos have since pulled back as interest in the PolitiFi tokens fades and market volatility eases. Even so, iDEGEN remains steady. Notably, the project’s resilience is founded on its appeal beyond its virality. It bears immense potential to revolutionize the AI meme coin space and broader crypto market.
Bitcoin price pulls back as interest in PolitiFi tokens fades
On Friday last week, the US president launched his meme coin, $Trump. In less than 24 hours, feverish buying among meme coin enthusiasts had the crypto’s market cap surpass $5 billion.
Two days later, the US first lady, Melania Trump launched $Melania. As the hype surrounding this meme coin eases, its value has dropped from $2.21 billion on Monday to a market cap of $756.59 million. Besides, over the past 24 hours, its price has dropped by 8.84% with its trading volume falling by 72.71% during this timeframe.
Similarly, as at the time of writing, $Trump was at a market cap of $8.32 billion with its trading volume down by 40% over the past 24 hours. Indeed, this is a significant drop from the $14.30 billion market cap recorded at the start of the week.
Evidently, the Trump wind that propelled Bitcoin to a fresh all-time high of $109,026.02 isn’t strong enough to sustain it there. At the time of this publication, the crypto major was at $104,969.82 as the bulls strive to break the resistance at around $106,500.
In the short term, BTC/USD will likely continue to find support at $102,090 as a crypto-friendly US administration strengthens the bullish sentiment. With more buyers riding the wave, the bulls may gather enough momentum to break the resistance at $106,500 to the next target at $108,080. On the flip side, a corrective pullback past the current trading range may have it finding support at $99,700.
Storm sweeping across new meme coins leaves iDEGEN untouched
The highly volatile $Trump and $Melania coins remain subject to the all-so-common pump and dump wave in the absence of a fresh catalyst. Indeed, the tokens are in consolidation as meme coin enthusiasts look past the recent swearing in ceremony.
As the dust settles, crypto majors and meme coins alike are recording corrective pullbacks. For instance, Solana, which largely benefitted from the launch of $Trump, is down from the new all-time high it hit on Sunday at $295.83 to $262.53 at the time of this press release. Similarly, DOGE/USD was down from the 6-week high it reached on Saturday at $0.4350 to $0.3627.
Amid this storm, iDEGEN has continued to thrive. With slightly over a month left before its listing, the project has raised over $17.65 million in its unique presale auction. Besides, about two months since its launch, its toke price has increased from $0.0001 to $0.0133.
Notably, its pricing model is one of the aspects that continue to fuel its appeal among everyday investors and monied individuals alike. In most cases, the creators come up with random figures that do not necessarily match the project’s value or demand
In comparison, $IDGN’s token price moves on the principle of transparency. In the initial phase of its auction, the dynamic pricing model ensured that the token’s price moved in tandem with its demand.
The project has since shifted to a stage-based model ahead of its listing on 27th February. The team justified this move on X stating,
“While the dynamic auction has been well received, we’ve heard your feedback, and know some of you are concerned about price manipulation and bad actors pushing prices up with small SOL buys. It’s believed that the price manipulation was aimed at driving the listing price as high as possible. To fix this, we’re making things simpler so its easier for everyone to track the presale and make better decisions”.
The shift further proves that iDEGEN is keen on transforming the AI meme coin space without dismissing its community in the process. It is this reliability that has attracted the over 20,000 holders to the project. With close to 12,000% in returns, these early adopters are already sitting on hefty profits.
Read more on how to buy iDEGEN token.
Ripple price holds steady above $3 on investor confidence
Ripple price chart by TradingView
Ripple price has been trading above the crucial level fo $3 since the beginning of the week. The rallying has been fueled by the swearing in of a pro-crypto US president and the subsequent surge in investor confidence.
President Trump, who has evolved into a supporter and investor of crypto is expected to create and sustain an environment upon which the digital assets will thrive. Indeed, two days after returning to the Oval Office, he is already lowering the regulatory barriers.
Acting SEC Cair, Mark Uyeda has launched a crypto task force meant to develop a clear and detailed regulatory framework for cryptocurrencies. This approach is different from Biden’s administration which included an “anti-crypto” SEC Chair, Gary Gensler.
Seeing that Ripple price was largely burdened by regulatory struggles during the past government, it is set to continue on its uptrend on the back of heightened investor confidence. In the short term, the range between $2.82 and $3.40 will be worth watching.
Market
XRP Price Holds Firm as Whales Accumulate Big
XRP price has surged 17% in the last seven days and over 3% in the past 24 hours, reflecting strong recent performance. As the third-largest cryptocurrency behind Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH), XRP boasts a market capitalization nearing $185 billion.
Despite this growth, its trading volume has dropped 55% in the last 24 hours, now at $7.55 billion. This mixed activity highlights the importance of examining key indicators like RSI, whale movements, and EMA trends to assess the next potential price direction for XRP.
XRP RSI Has Been Neutral for 5 Days
XRP Relative Strength Index is currently at 52.3, holding a neutral stance since January 17, five days ago. For the past two days, the RSI has remained close to the 50 level, suggesting a balanced market with no strong buying or selling pressure.
This neutral reading implies XRP price is in a consolidation phase, where the price is neither trending upward nor downward significantly, awaiting potential catalysts to define its next move.
The RSI is a widely used momentum indicator that evaluates the strength and speed of price changes on a scale from 0 to 100. An RSI below 30 signals oversold conditions, potentially indicating a price rebound, while an RSI above 70 suggests overbought levels and possible downward corrections.
With XRP’s RSI sitting at 52.3, the sentiment is neutral, showing no signs of excessive bullish or bearish activity. If the RSI begins to rise above 60 or drop below 40, it could indicate that momentum is shifting, potentially signaling the start of a new trend for XRP.
XRP Whales Are Reaching Its Highest Levels Ever
The number of XRP whales, defined as addresses holding between 1 million and 10 million XRP, has reached an all-time high of 2,083. This represents an important milestone in accumulation, as the count has been steadily rising since late December.
On December 21, there were 1,958 such addresses, highlighting a notable growth trend over the past month.
Tracking whale activity is crucial because these addresses often have the ability to influence market trends. Large accumulations by whales can indicate bullish sentiment, as their buying activity may reduce available supply and support price increases.
With the current whale count at its highest level ever, it suggests heightened interest and potential positioning ahead of a major market movement. If this trend continues, it could point to increasing demand and long-term confidence in XRP price.
XRP Price Prediction: Will It Correct by 26.8%?
XRP EMA lines remain bullish, with short-term lines positioned above long-term ones, signaling an overall upward trend. However, the lack of upward movement in recent days suggests a period of consolidation in the market.
This pause in momentum reflects a more balanced state, with neither buyers nor sellers currently dominating.
If XRP price can regain its uptrend, it may test the resistance at $3.40, a key level that could indicate renewed strength. Conversely, if the trend reverses, the price may first test the support at $2.82.
A break below this level could lead to further declines, with $2.60 and $2.32 as potential lower targets. Losing the $2.32 support would represent a significant 26.8% decrease.
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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