Restaking networks allow staked assets to secure external services (Actively Validated Services, or AVSes) in exchange for additional yield. On Ethereum, ETH secures the chain through proof of stake; restaking extends that security guarantee to other services beyond the Ethereum chain. These architectures can route a small share of the AVS reward payments to the public-goods infrastructure that facilitates this cryptoeconomic security.
The core players in a restaking network are:
- Restakers (capital providers): supply assets (native ETH, liquid staking tokens, or other supported tokens) to create the pooled security for the network, earning additional yield in exchange for taking on extra slashing risk.
- Actively Validated Services / AVSs (the services): systems such as data-availability layers, oracles, rollups, or bridges that rent the pooled cryptoeconomic security instead of bootstrapping their own validator set.
- Operators (infrastructure providers): run the node software that validates and performs tasks for AVSs, receiving delegated assets from restakers and earning a commission, subject to slashing for misbehavior.
AVS Reward Split
Definition. A micro-percentage of the security fees and reward payments made by AVSes to restakers and operators is redirected at the settlement layer.
Value-stack tap. Infrastructure (AVS payment registry).
Cost-bearer class. Project paid, surplus (extracted from the AVS service payments before staking payout).
Example protocols. EigenLayer, Symbiotic.
Value flow.
By intercepting AVS reward flows, the restaking ecosystem funds the core client engines executing the cryptographic slashing conditions.
AVS Registration Fee
Definition. A fixed configuration fee or a minor percentage of the initial collateral required when a new AVS registers in the core directory to tap into the shared operator set.
Value-stack tap. Infrastructure (AVS payment registry).
Cost-bearer class. Project paid, surplus (extracted from the AVS service payments before staking payout).
Example protocols. EigenLayer, Symbiotic.
Operator Delegation Commission Skim
Definition. Independent node operators charge a commission fee (e.g., 5% to 10%) on the yields generated by the stake delegated to them. A fraction of this specific operational fee is captured during distribution.
Value-stack tap. Infrastructure.
Cost-bearer class. Operator-borne (subsidized from the operator’s personal service revenue margin, leaving the delegator’s raw yield untouched).
Example protocols. EigenLayer Operators, Figment, Luganodes.
Slashing Insurance Premium Skim
Definition. A tiny fee reserve set aside from staking rewards for slashing protection, where a surplus percentage of unutilized premium drips to the commons.
Value-stack tap. Infrastructure (insurance escrow vault).
Cost-bearer class. Project paid, surplus (derived from unutilized risk premium reserves).
Example protocols. Mitosis, ether.fi slashing protection modules.
Liquid Restaking Token (LRT) Fee Split
Definition. Because retail restakers often use convenience wrappers rather than native deposits, LRT protocols charge a total yield management fee. A percentage of this aggregate wrapper fee is redirected to a CaaS rail.
Value-stack tap. Product wrapper (LRT reward allocation contracts).
Cost-bearer class. Project paid, surplus (derived from the LRT protocol’s protocol fee revenue).
Example protocols. Ether.fi, Puffer Finance.