What is cgETH?

Understanding Staking Challenges and the Solution of Liquid Staking

Ethereum’s transition to a Proof-of-Stake (PoS) consensus mechanism has unlocked numerous opportunities for token holders to participate in the validation of transactions and earn rewards. However, traditional staking comes with significant limitations that restrict many users from fully capitalizing on these opportunities. The challenges include:

1. Knowledge Base: Staking on Ethereum requires a deep understanding of PoS principles and blockchain architecture. This complexity significantly reduces the addressable market, as many token holders lack the technical expertise needed to engage with the staking process effectively.

2. Technical Requirements: Running a validator node demands high-performance hardware, constant uptime, and system administration resources. Users must also have experience managing such systems, making staking inaccessible for a vast majority of Ethereum holders.

3. Significant Stake Requirements: To independently run a validator node, a user must stake 335 ETH, a barrier that is prohibitively high for most retail investors. Even joining a staking pool often requires a minimum of 10 ETH, limiting broader participation.

4. Illiquidity: Staking typically locks up assets for extended periods, during which users cannot access their funds. While “staking as a service” providers address some of these issues, the assets remain illiquid throughout the staking period, reducing flexibility and hindering the ability to explore other opportunities in decentralized finance (DeFi).

Liquid Staking as the Solution

Liquid staking protocols like Cygnus’ cgETH address these challenges by offering:

• Accessibility: Users can easily stake smaller amounts of ETH without the need for technical expertise or expensive hardware.

• Liquidity: By issuing liquid staking tokens (cgETH), users retain the ability to trade, transfer, or deploy their staked assets in other DeFi protocols, maintaining full control of their liquidity.

• Enhanced Returns: cgETH holders can participate in blockchain validation rewards while also generating additional returns by leveraging cgETH in DeFi activities such as yield farming and liquidity mining.

The Cygnus platform simplifies staking, allowing Ethereum holders to deposit their ETH and receive cgETH tokens in return. These tokens are stored in the user’s wallet and can be freely used within the DeFi ecosystem, eliminating the traditional tradeoff between staking rewards and liquidity.