The Role of Operators, Slashing, and Liquid Restaking with EigenExplorer

Welcome to the 1st episode of EigenLayer Unlocked. This episode is meant to be a primer into how restaking fundamentally works, the key players in the restaking system, and why EigenLayer is leading this category today.

At its core, restaking allows users to earn additional rewards by taking on slashing risks, offering a way to maximize risk-adjusted returns. EigenExplorer introduces a novel concept through operator quorums (now referred to as operator sets), which bring more granularity and customization to how services, operators, and stakers interact.

These operator sets create tiers of services, allowing for more tailored, efficient staking choices that can yield vastly different outcomes depending on the strategy employed.

One of the standout points in today’s discussion is the direct liquid restaking system EigenExplorer is building, designed to simplify decision-making for stakers by enabling them to delegate assets to specific services. This streamlines the process, making it easier for stakers to manage risk and rewards without diving into complex configurations.

Additionally, strategy managers play a crucial role in helping stakers navigate this space, acting as market makers who optimize yield and manage risks across different services. As the market matures, data transparency and better tools for managing operator quorums will be key to improving market efficiency and ensuring everyone benefits from these innovations.

As the first episode in the series, we wanted to prioritize an understanding of restaking and its core parts. Throughout the next several weeks, we will dive into the deep technical weeds of AVSs and rollups using EigenDA.

Onwards and upwards.

The Rollup