> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.everstake.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.everstake.com/staking-docs/procotols/ethereum-eth/ethereum-native-eth.md).
# Ethereum Native (ETH)
### What is Ethereum?
> Ethereum is a leading blockchain known for its security, EVM compatibility, and rich smart-contract capabilities. It hosts extensive DeFi, NFT, and DAO ecosystems and infrastructure services, runs on Proof-of-Stake after the Merge, and scales via Layer-2 rollups and protocol upgrades (EIP).
{% columns %}
{% column width="33.33333333333333%" %} Stake Now
{% endcolumn %}
{% column width="66.66666666666667%" %} Learn about Ethereum
{% endcolumn %}
{% endcolumns %}
### How to stake/unstake Ethereum?
{% hint style="info" %}
Validator Name: Everstake
Commission: 10.00%
{% endhint %}
Ethereum Staking Manual
### Step-by-Step Guide to Staking ETH
1. Go to the [Everstake website](https://everstake.one/) and click “**Stake Now**.” Alternatively, navigate to **Products** → **Supported Protocols** → select **ETH** → click “**Stake ETH**” or “**Stake Ethereum**.”
2. You will be redirected to the [Everstake Staking Dashboard](https://stake.everstake.one/dashboard/stake/ethereum/). Click “**Connect Wallet**” to connect your wallet.
3. Choose one of the supported wallets and click “**Connect**.”
4. Enter the amount of **ETH** you wish to stake. Keep in mind that the minimum staking amount is **0.1 ETH**. Carefully read and accept the **Terms & Conditions**, then click “**Stake Now**” to proceed. You can also select “**Stake Max**” to stake your entire balance.
5. **Confirm Transaction**: A wallet (e.g., MetaMask) pop-up will appear in the top-right corner. Review the transaction details and click “**Confirm**” to finalize the staking process.
6. In the Ethereum Dashboard, you can view your staked ETH in “**Staked Balance**.” You can also see ETH that is still in the activation queue (not yet active) under “**Pending Balances**.”
Ethereum Unstaking Manual
### Step-by-Step Guide to Unstaking ETH
1. To withdraw your ETH, scroll down to “**Withdrawals**” → “**Pending Withdrawals**” and click “**Request Withdraw**.”
2. Enter the withdrawal amount, accept Everstake’s **Terms & Conditions**, and click “**Request Withdraw**.”
3. **Confirm Transaction**: A wallet (e.g., MetaMask) pop-up will appear in the top-right corner. Review the transaction details and click “**Confirm**” to submit the withdrawal request.
4. In the dashboard, you will see the requested amount under “**Pending Withdrawals**.” This represents **ETH** that is in the withdrawal process and not yet claimable.
5. After some time, the amount will appear in “**Withdrawals Balances**” — **ETH** that has completed the withdrawal process and is now available to transfer. Click “**Withdraw**.”
6. Enter the withdrawal amount again, accept Everstake’s **Terms & Conditions**, and click “**Claim Now**.”
7. **Confirm Transaction**: A wallet (e.g., MetaMask) pop-up will appear in the top-right corner. Review the transaction details and click “**Confirm**.” The **ETH** will be transferred to your wallet.
### Where can I stake Ethereum?
You can choose a crypto wallet convenient for you and use the guide at the link or write to Everstake support and get more detailed information
| Wallet Type | Wallet Name |
| ------------ | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Web** | [Everstake website](https://stake.everstake.one/dashboard/stake/ethereum), |
| **Mobile** | [Zengo](https://everstake.one/blog/how-to-stake-eth-via-zengo-wallet), [OneKey](https://everstake.one/blog/how-to-stake-eth-via-onekey-wallet), [Coin Wallet](https://everstake.one/blog/how-to-stake-ethereum-via-coin-wallet-stepbystep-guide), [COCA Wallet](https://everstake.one/blog/complete-guide-to-staking-eth-using-coca-wallet), [Coin98](https://everstake.one/blog/how-to-stake-eth-with-everstake-via-coin98), [ImToken](https://everstake.one/blog/how-to-stake-eth-with-imtoken-wallet-a-step-by-step-guide), [Exodus](https://everstake.one/blog/how-to-stake-ethereum-eth-with-exodus-mobile-wallet-a-step-by-step-guide) |
| **Hardware** | [Trezor](https://everstake.one/blog/how-to-stake-eth-via-trezor-suite) |
### Staking Details
| Term | Description |
| ---------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Epoch duration** | 32 slots × 12s per slot = \~**6.4 minutes** (one epoch). |
| **Everstake fee** | 10% |
| **Auto-compounding** | **Yes**, new type of validators (compouding validators) have auto-compounding feature. Everstake's 0.1+ ETH solution also has auto-compouding - the rewards generated through staking are added to the main stake automatically. |
| **Fee to activate the wallet** | \~ 0.0002 ETH |
| **First reward info** | Rewards start once a validator is **active**; you begin earning from the first epoch in which your validator is included. |
| **Min amount to stake** | **32 ETH** for running validator. Smaller amounts are possible via pooled / liquid staking providers – such as Everstake through 0.1+ ETH solution. |
| **Unstaking (withdrawals) period** | Since Shapella/Shanghai, withdrawals are enabled, but **full exits** are processed via the exit queue and churn limits — can be from hours up to days or longer depending on queue size. |
| **Stake activation time** | Activation is subject to the **validator** **queue** and the network churn limit; time can range from hours (low demand) to days/weeks (high demand). |
| **Validator set** | Permissionless |
| **Slashing** |
Slashing on Ethereum happens for serious misbehavior (double-signing etc.) After Pectra, the base slashing penalty is much smaller: \~0.008 ETH for a 32 ETH validator, scaling up to 0.5 ETH for the new 2048 ETH max effective balance.
|
| **Rewards on Ethereum** |
Consensus-layer (CL) rewards are paid each slot/epoch and are generally steady and predictable. Execution-layer rewards(EL) – users’ priority fees + MEV is unpredictable: it can be low most of the time but occasionally spike when MEV opportunities appear.
|
| **Max amount ot stake** | **Up to 2048 ETH** after the Pectra update for the new type of validators – compounding validators. |
| **Entry / exit queue limits** | Churn: 256 ETH/epoch. As a result 57600 ETH per day. |
| **Penalties** | Extra “correlation penalties” apply if many validators are slashed together, and slashed validators are forcibly exited with penalties continuing during the \~36-day removal period. |
### Why Everstake?
* Everstake is the №1 staking infrastructure platform, trusted by over 1.6M users and institutional clients worldwide. Committed to the highest standards of compliance with certifications such as SOC 2 Type II, CCPA/CRPA, ISO 27001, and GDPR, we deliver secure and reliable staking solutions across 130+ supported chains with a reliability rate of 99.98%
* Our skilled team manages reliable infrastructure, prioritizing the safety of your funds. Delegating through Everstake offers opportunities to boost your yields while ensuring peace of mind about your token's security.
### Everstake Participation
> Everstake is a leading staking service platform that empowers cryptocurrency owners to benefit from their crypto by contributing to the security and blockchain network operations.
>
> Our expansive list of supported blockchain networks, including Ethereum, makes Everstake a universal [staking platform](https://everstake.one/staking) where you can manage and stake a wide array of cryptocurrencies in one place.
>
> We take pride in our robust infrastructure, high-end security systems, and a team of experienced blockchain engineers and developers dedicated to ensuring the smooth operation of our staking platform.
>
> Everstake also boasts a user-friendly interface and an easy-to-use staking mechanism that helps both seasoned and novice crypto enthusiasts make the most out of their assets.
>
> Additionally, our platform offers comprehensive educational resources and market insights, which allow you to stay updated with the latest crypto trends and make informed staking decisions.
### Ethereum Glossary
| Term | Description |
| --------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Base fee** | Every block has a reserve price known as the 'base fee'. It is the minimum gas fee a user must pay to include a transaction in the next block. |
| **Consensus Client** |
Consensus client Consensus clients (such as Prysm, Teku, Nimbus, Lighthouse, Lodestar) run Ethereum's proof-of-stake consensus algorithm allowing the network to reach agreement about the head of the Beacon Chain. Consensus clients do not participate in validating/broadcasting transactions or executing state transitions. This is done by execution clients. Consensus clients do not attest to, or propose new blocks. This is done by the validator client which is an optional add-on to the consensus client.
|
| **Restaking** | Act of leveraging staked assets to provide security to multiple services simultaneously, increasing capital efficiency but introducing additional risks. |
| **Epoch** | A period of 32 slots, each slot being 12 seconds, totalling 6.4 minutes. Validator committees are shuffled every epoch for security reasons. Each epoch has an opportunity for the chain to be finalized. Each validator is assigned new responsibilities at the start of each epoch. |
| **Ethereum Improvement Proposal (EIP)** | A design document providing information to the Ethereum community, describing a proposed new feature or its processes or environment. |
| **Execution client** | Execution clients (formerly known as "Eth1 clients"), such as Besu, Erigon, Go-Ethereum (Geth), Nethermind, are tasked with processing and broadcasting transactions and managing Ethereum's state. They run the computations for each transaction using the Ethereum Virtual Machine to ensure that the rules of the protocol are followed. |
| **Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM)** | A stack-based virtual machine that executes bytecode. In Ethereum, the execution model specifies how the system state is altered given a series of bytecode instructions and a small tuple of environmental data. |
| **Gas** | Gas is the fee paid for transactions and smart contracts on a blockchain, like Ethereum. |
| **Layer 2** | Layer 2s are another networks built on top of Ethereum main network to make transactions faster and cheaper. |
| **MEV** | The maximum value that can be extracted from block production in excess of the standard block reward and gas fees by including, excluding, and changing the order of transactions in a block. |
| **Reward** | An amount of ether awarded to validators that perform certain functions, including proposing a block or participating in a sync-committee, in each slot. |
| **Staking Pool** | The combined ETH of more than one Ethereum staker, used to reach the 32 ETH required to activate a set of validator keys. A node operator uses these keys to participate in consensus and the block rewards are split amongst contributing stakers. Staking pools or delegating staking are not native to the Ethereum protocol, but many solutions have been built by the community. |
### FAQ
How does Everstake Smart Contract work?
Everstake Smart Contract gathers ETH and assigns funds to the appropriate validator. Once 32 ETH has accumulated, our team will ensure the highest uptime. This includes securing and monitoring the deposited stakes as well as performing necessary updates to the staking software.
Ethereum APR
Ethereum APR is the annualized percentage rate that validators earn from staking, combining steady consensus-layer rewards with variable execution-layer income (tips + MEV).\
It fluctuates based on total ETH staked, network activity, and MEV opportunities, so actual returns can change over time. Currently, the network-average APR (including MEV) is about **2.9–3.2 %**
What is Ethereum’s token model?
Ethereum does not have a fixed supply cap. New ETH is continuously issued to validators as staking rewards, while a portion of transaction fees (the “base fee,” from EIP-1559) is burned. The current issuance is roughly 0.5–0.6% per year, which keeps the network in a net inflationary regime overall, total supply is still growing, even though burning can temporarily outweigh issuance during high activity periods.
What is MEV and how does it affect rewards?
MEV (Maximal Extractable Value) is the extra profit validators can earn by ordering, including, or censoring transactions within blocks. It adds variable income on top of regular consensus rewards, sometimes significantly increasing validator earnings.
How does Ethereum maintain security and decentralization?
Ethereum secures the network through Proof-of-Stake: validators lock up ETH to participate in consensus, and misbehavior is penalized via slashing. The network is decentralized because anyone who meets the requirements can run a validator, and blocks are finalized only when a supermajority of validators agree.
Can anyone become a validator on Ethereum?
Yes, anyone with **32 ETH** and the necessary hardware/software can become a validator. Validators join a permissionless queue, participate in consensus, and start earning rewards once active.
---
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