Eigen Labs has announced a significant update to its EigenLayer protocol, termed the EigenPod upgrade. This upgrade aims to streamline native ETH restaking on the platform, making it both easier and more rewarding, according to the EigenLayer Blog.

Key Features of the EigenPod Upgrade

The EigenPod upgrade introduces a novel balance checkpointing system. This system is designed to manage Ethereum validator and EigenPod balances more efficiently.

Automatic Mainnet Upgrade

As of 9:00 AM PST on September 4, 2024, all EigenPods on the mainnet have been automatically upgraded to the new checkpointing system. While no action is required from current EigenPod owners, they are encouraged to complete their first checkpoint to take full advantage of the new features.

Benefits of the Upgrade

The streamlined checkpointing process offers several benefits to EigenPod users:

• Claim Rewards in Bulk: Users can now checkpoint each validator’s current state with a single proof, allowing them to claim all accumulated yield to date. This reduces gas costs significantly and enables bulk reward claims.
• Earn More Rewards: Beacon chain ETH rewards are automatically restaked into EigenLayer. This feature allows users to earn additional rewards by restaking their beacon chain earnings on top of their existing EigenPod balance.
• Improved UX and Tooling: The upgrade also comes with a simplified user interface on the UI console, a fully integrated and self-service CLI, and cleaner dependencies for generating proofs for integrated applications.

Future Prospects

The EigenPod upgrade is expected to significantly enhance user experience and reward potential for EigenLayer users. By reducing gas costs and enabling bulk reward claims, the upgrade positions EigenLayer as a more efficient and rewarding platform for ETH restaking.

For more details, visit the EigenLayer Blog.

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