Taking stock of restaking protocols beyond EigenLayer.

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Restaking protocols are not exclusive to Eigenlayer or the Ethereum ecosystem, as noted by crypto researcher Ignas. He points out that ecosystems like Polygon, Solana, Cosmos, and others have seen rapid development in restaking projects.

Introduction to the Restaking Concept (Restake)
The concept of restaking originated from the EigenLayer protocol, which allows users to stake ETH or stETH (restake) to support their nodes in safeguarding the security of external networks. This integrates the security of Ethereum seamlessly into decentralized infrastructure by using economically incentivized staking behavior.

EigenLayer seamlessly transfers Ethereum's security to decentralized infrastructure
There are numerous examples of decentralized networks that require security from external sources, including Celestia for data availability layers (DA), ChainLink for oracle networks, and various sidechains. EigenLayer connects the security of Ethereum to these networks, reducing the difficulty of establishing network security from scratch and addressing cold-start challenges.

Restaking Concept Extends Across Multiple Ecosystems
In fact, the restaking concept is not unique to EigenLayer; many ecosystems already have similar projects. Other ecosystems exploring this concept include Polygon's future updates, Cosmos's multi-chain ecosystem, Solana's Picasso project, and Near's Octopus Network.

Polygon 2.0
As part of the Polygon 2.0 plan, users will be able to stake the new token POL. POL token holders can stake their tokens to earn mainnet rewards (POL issuance) and support various nodes, running external decentralized networks. This forms a multi-chain ecosystem based on Polygon's mainnet security.

Cosmos
The Cosmos ecosystem already allows users to stake ATOM tokens to protect networks within the ecosystem. Ignas points out that Neutron is the first network that accepts ATOM staking for security.

Solana
Within the Cosmos ecosystem, the Picasso project introduces the restaking concept to the Solana network. Users can stake SOL, mSOL, jitoSOL, and other LP tokens to support Solana's cross-chain IBC validators, extending security to other networks or facilities in the future.

Near
Within the Near ecosystem, the Octopus Network supports application chains and has been a pioneer in the restaking space. Users and project teams can stake NEAR tokens to extend security to application chains on the Octopus Network. The first supported external network on Octopus Network is Ottochain, with more decentralized networks expected to be supported in the future.

Restaking is Not a New Concept
The concept of restaking is similar to early application chains, but due to the asset attributes of staking, it may offer multiple benefits. For example, staking stETH can earn both Ethereum consensus rewards and potential token rewards from restaking projects. The concept is not new, but EigenLayer has indeed popularized it, aligning with the explosive growth in the field of liquidity staking derivatives (LSD) in recent years, further promoting the narrative of restaking.

This demonstrates that the crypto industry is narrative-driven, often leading participants to be dazzled. From an innovation perspective, it may not be entirely healthy, but from a market perspective, the industry does receive more attention and development. As participants, considering these concepts from a higher-level perspective can help identify true innovations and better discern the rationality of market fluctuations, contributing to more accurate judgments.

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It's also worth exploring and taking a closer look at.