# What is EigenLayer? Restaking and When to Skip It

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**Publisher:** Decentralized Finance Publication (https://decentralized-finance.io)
**Author:** Kaiser Khan
**Reviewed by:** Kaiser Khan, Editor in Chief
**Category:** Top DeFi Protocols
**Updated:** June 2026
**Trust:** Independent, ad-free editorial research. No display advertisements, no paid protocol coverage, no affiliate-driven rankings.

## Summary

Use EigenLayer only if you already hold ETH or an LST and you understand you are adding extra slashing and operator risk on top of staking. Skip EigenLayer if you wanted simple Lido stETH and nothing else. Restaking is optional. Educational research, not financial advice.

## Should you use EigenLayer?

Only if simple staking is already boring and you can name the extra services you are securing. EigenLayer restakes collateral to AVSs. That can earn extra rewards. It also stacks slashing conditions. Most users should stop at Lido or native staking.

Live TVL sits on DeFiLlama. Our rankings table was stamped 2026-08-27. TVL is assets locked — not a safety score and not a reason to deposit.

## What is restaking and how do AVSs fit?

You opt ETH or an LST into EigenLayer and delegate to an operator that runs AVS software. Rewards and slash risks depend on those services. Liquid restaking tokens (ether.fi and others) wrap this into a token you can take to DeFi — which stacks yet more contracts.

## EigenLayer vs just holding stETH — which should you use?

stETH is enough if you wanted liquid staking. EigenLayer is a second decision. Points, airdrops and restaked TVL are not a safety rating. If you cannot explain the AVS you are securing, you are farming a narrative, not operating a thesis you can defend.

## Which EigenLayer risks actually bite?

Stacked slashing, operator failure, and LRT depegs. A large restaking TVL can unwind together. This page will not list a restaking APY — those change and often include emissions. Extra yield is extra failure modes, not free money on top of Lido.

## Where is the official EigenLayer app?

The app we name is app.eigenlayer.xyz. You should already hold ETH or an LST. ether.fi wraps this into eETH on a different domain. This page is whether restaking is optional extra risk you can name — most users should stop at Lido.

## Frequently Asked Questions

- What is EigenLayer? A restaking protocol: opt staked ETH or LSTs into extra AVS security at app.eigenlayer.xyz. Rewards and slash conditions depend on the services and operator you pick.
- Do I have to restake to use Lido? No. Lido stETH is a complete product. Restaking is optional extra risk and optional extra rewards.
- Are LRTs the same as EigenLayer? They wrap restaking into another token. Extra token, extra contract, extra peg. ether.fi’s eETH is an example, not EigenLayer itself.
- Does this page recommend restaking? No. Educational research only. We do not recommend restaking or buying EIGEN.

## Sources

- [EigenLayer](https://app.eigenlayer.xyz): Official app
- [EigenLayer on DeFiLlama](https://defillama.com/protocol/eigenlayer): Live TVL

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