Staking is the process of locking ETH into the Etherium network to keep it running and secure in exchange for rewards. With the Eth network moving to the Proof-of-Stake (PoS) consensus algorithm in September 2022, users can take on validator roles by blocking their cryptocurrencies. Validators then verify and add new blocks to the blockchain and are rewarded with new ETH for doing so. Staking requires 32 ETH to participate, however there are staking pools that allow you to participate in the procedure with smaller amounts.

In December 2023, Buterin already shared proposals for changes to what is happening in the Etherium network. In particular, then he voiced the option of raising the minimum requirement for the amount of ethers to get the role of validator. At that time, Vitalik oriented to a deposit of 4096 ETH, which was supposed to make holders of small amounts of cryptocurrency more actively use pools.

Vitalik Buterin, the creator of Efirium

The developer also considered it possible to split ETH staking into two levels, one of which was to lose the minimum cryptocurrency volume requirement.

Well, and the last proposal was the rotation of validators to distribute the load of the network. We wrote more about Buterin’s point of view in a separate material.

What will happen to Efirium steaking?

There are several types of Efirium steaking, each of which is suitable for different users depending on capital and preferences.

The first type is self-staking, which is also known as solo-staking. In this case, the user self-stacks a node and steaks 32 ETH to get a validator role.

Each subsequent validator will cost another 32 ETH, so 64 ETH in steaking yields two validators – and so on. This method requires technical knowledge, maintaining equipment and a constant internet connection, meaning it’s definitely not suitable for most users of digital assets.

Ether steaking statistics

But with centralised staking, large exchanges and platforms like Binance, Kraken or Coinbase offer their services to block ETH users. Customers can steak cryptocurrency through the platform literally in a couple of clicks. In this case, the exchanges charge a certain commission for their services, while the user only needs to deposit funds.


It is important to understand that the use of exchanges for steaking opportunities involves sending them to the wallet of the trading platform. Accordingly, in this case, the user loses ownership of the digital assets and essentially entrusts them to a centralised company. Of course, large platforms like Binance will not misappropriate other people's coins and will fulfil the conditions. However, this is generally not a good practice, as it can cause problems with the safety of digital assets.


Finally, the third type is liquid staking, which allows users to receive liquid tokens in exchange for staked ETH. For example, when steaking through the Lido pool, the user receives stETH tokens.

The advantage of this type is that users can use the received liquid staking tokens in various decentralised finance applications. At the same time, they retain the right to a reward in ETH from the blocked coins if they then return the received stETH tokens.

Efirium staking platforms

Previously, analysts voiced concerns that pools for liquid staking could lead to serious problems with over-centralisation of the project. In addition, the idea of using pools for liquid-staking in a certain way hinders the original idea of Proof-of-Stake.

This is exactly what user and well-known Efirium community representative Anthony Sassano said on Twitter, in response to whose tweet Buterin shared his opinion on solo-staking.

How much do you need for Efirium steaking?

According to Cointelegraph’s sources, in the tweet, Sassano mentioned his own journey in solo-stacking – he was able to set up the node himself, contribute the required amount and provide the network with additional validators, thus contributing to its security. According to him, “this is the very heart of Etherium”, that is, a principle that needs to be protected with all its might.

Market share of the different steaking platforms

According to Buterin, even a tiny percentage of solo-stakers is able to add an important layer of defence to Etherium and help protect the network from attacks. Here’s his commentary on the matter.

The stronger solo-stacking can be, I think there are many ways in which it will serve as a really important additional layer of defence in terms of security and privacy.

Buterin has put forward ideas for developing a larger community of solo-stakers. His temporary solution is to increase the bandwidth requirement in exchange for lowering the minimum deposit size to 16 or 24 ETH.

Vitalik stated that his temporary solution could make solo-staking accessible and scalable, as more people would be able to join.

Growth of ETH ethers in staking

Buterin also voiced the prospect of lowering the minimum requirement for solo-staking Efirium down to 1 ETH, which would encourage more participation and make the cryptocurrency much more decentralised.

However, these are only long-term plans – the integration of such an idea of Vitalik may well take months or years, if other developers heed his words. Accordingly, there is definitely no talk of quick changes here for now.


Vitalik's proposal is designed to make solo-staking more accessible, which in turn will have a good effect on the decentralisation of the Ethos project. However, innovations in this blockchain are implemented quite slowly. This means that we are talking about the medium term at best.