EigenLayer’s EigenDA to support layer-2 native token restaking

Users will be able to earn restaking yield from layer-2 tokens on EigenDA.

EigenDA, EigenLayer’s data availability protocol, now supports native token restaking for layer-2 scaling networks, in addition to Ether (ETH) and EigenLayer’s native EIGEN token, according to an Aug. 26 post by EigenDA on the X platform. 

“Teams can now restake their ERC-20 token to secure a custom quorum for their rollup, unlocking stronger security for rollup users and token yield for token holders,” according to the post. 

EigenDA is a “data availability layer” operating on EigenLayer’s ETH restaking platform designed to reduce the costs of storing and accessing onchain data for Ethereum’s layer-2 scaling solutions. Its mission is to make “reliable, scalable, and secure data availability (‘DA’) abundant,” according to a blog post.

The cost of securely storing and accessing transaction data has been a serious bottleneck for layer-2 scaling chains. Ethereum’s Dencun upgrade in March sought to address this issue with temporary offchain data stores called “blobs.” Other protocols, such as Celestia, offer competing solutions. 

Related: EigenLayer’s EigenDA touts 10x cut in data prices

Restaking involves taking a token that has already been staked — posted as collateral with a validator in exchange for rewards — and using it to secure other protocols simultaneously. EigenLayer currently commands almost $12.75 billion in total value locked (TVL), according to DefiLlama.

EigenDA was the first “actively validated service” (AVS) launched on EigenLayer and also the largest. It is secured by some 3.6 million restaked ETH and 71.5 million EIGEN contributed by more than 128,000 stakers, according to EigenLayer’s website.

Native token restaking on EigenDA lets a layer-2 create custom consensus mechanisms — or “quorums” — for securely storing and accessing data. It also expands the array of tokens that earn yield from restaking. 

“As custom ERC20 token quorums are added to EigenDA, you will soon be able to opt in to support staking other tokens in the same way you staked ETH and EIGEN tokens,” according to the post.  

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