MetaStake. Since the historic transition of its blockchain to Proof of Stake (PoS), the staking has become an activity in its own right in the ecosystem Ethereum. Because this passive investment option allows you to reap significant returns. However, the success of versions presented as “liquid” poses certain problems of structural fragility in terms of the effective decentralization of its network. A situation faced by the brand new Validator Staking option of the MetaMask wallet proposes to provide a concrete and simplified solution.
Staking on Ethereum: between passive returns and structural risks
THE cryptocurrency staking has become one of the main activities of lovers of passive digital returns. And suffice to say that in the field, the Ethereum blockchain is a leader.
An activity that still requires hold 32 ETH (not far from $80,000) to own a full validator node. However, shared options exist for the smallest carriers. With at the center of this dynamic, the “liquid” version of the Lido protocol and its stETH tokens reusable in DeFi.
But as always, the fever of crypto yields ends up driving you crazy. This to the point of giving birth to a critical overlay of options, built on top of Liquid Staking. A reality pointed out by the founder of Ethereum, Vitalik Buterin. Because this could pose several major risks in connection with the decentralization of its network.
A context within which the MetaMask wallet presents itself as a gateway that is both secure and simplified. This in order to participate in this Web 3 experience, in the company of “ more than 565,000 validators each staking the 32 standard ETH, i.e. more than 32 billion dollars at current rates.”
A market for full node validators (32 ETH) to which the wallet MetaMask is particularly aimed at. Because the Consensys companyat the origin of its development, has just launched a service called Validator Staking. This while specifying at the same time that she “did not never received severe sanctions in over two years of activity, despite managing over $2 billion in ETH with over 33,000 validators.”
“Introducing Validator Staking on MetaMask Portfolio. With a deposit of 32 ETH, we run your own validator node where you are always in control. No sharing. No hardware. Just rewards. »
A service whose announced performance is currently set at 3.8% per year. But we must not forget to add to this the 10% commission taken by the MetaMask wallet on perceived rewards. Because the announced simplicity always comes at a price in the cryptocurrency sector… as elsewhere.