Introduction to Restaking, AVS and initial supported AVSs by Imperator

AVS

An Actively Validated Service (AVS) is an entity that relies on cryptographic security mechanisms rather than traditional centralized models to establish trust and deliver utility. Similar to Cosmos opt in security, EigenLayer allows Ethereum node operators to opt in to validate the new software modules, and these “chains” are called Actively Validated Services.

While many services adhere to the default security model of prominent networks like Ethereum, some opt to develop their own security protocols for various reasons, such as customizing rules, governance autonomy, innovation, or specific security needs. However, creating a decentralized network with native cryptoeconomic security can be costly and complex.

The challenges include coordinating distributed validators and managing the volatility of token prices, which can impact the stability and cost-effectiveness of such networks. There is an article exploring the different approaches which outlines infrastructure costs in this hackernoon article.

Restaking

Restaking, in essence, involves utilizing ETH stakes for new AVSs with updated slashing conditions on the capital. Rather than initiating a fresh cryptoeconomic security system with native tokens, AVSs can leverage Ethereum restakers to ‘lease’ security. This approach enhances capital efficiency for ETH restakers while providing potentially more robust security for AVSs, decoupling them from the volatility of their native token’s price. Ethereum’s robust economic activity has elevated ETH to a premier collateral asset, akin to ‘hard currency’.

AVSs benefit from renting security in ‘hard currency’ rather than establishing a new security system from scratch, optimizing cost-effectiveness and scalability. We at Imperator wrote a comprehensive article on Eigenlayer which is available here.

List of AVS supported by Imperator

Now that we have refreshed our knowledge on what AVS are and what restaking means, we can proceed to the list of AVS supported by Imperator at launch.

Each of them has been carefully decided by the team because they all tackle different topics, from Oracles to Gaming, data availability and L2 liquidity fragmentation.

EigenDA

EigenDA is set to revolutionize Ethereum scalability by introducing a pioneering data availability layer, being the first AVS on EigenLayer. This advancement could transform transaction and data management on Ethereum, particularly for rollups.

EigenDA’s decentralized solution complements Ethereum’s infrastructure, offering increased scalability, efficiency, and potentially privacy for transactions. By minimizing data storage on Ethereum through batching and compression, rollups utilizing EigenDA inherit Ethereum’s security while enabling cheaper transactions, representing a significant leap forward in Ethereum’s evolution and rollup based roadmap.

Website: https://eigenlayer.xyz Twitter: https://twitter.com/eigen_da

Brevis

Brevis coChain introduces a novel “propose-challenge” ZK Coprocessor model, revolutionizing dApp development with lower costs, reduced latency, and enhanced user experience. Featuring Proof-of-Stake blockchain with on-Ethereum staking, it optimistically generates coprocessing results, subject to Zero-Knowledge (ZK) proof challenges, allowing direct slashing of validators’ stakes on Ethereum upon successful challenges. Integration with EigenLayer enables dynamic adjustment of crypto-economic security levels.

With seamless SDK integration, developers can effortlessly deploy applications in either the “pure-ZK” or coChain model, unlocking unparalleled versatility in designing data-driven dApps.

Website: https://brevis.network/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/brevis_zk

Altlayer

AltLayer provides a set of services tailored for rollups, including Restaked Rollups that enhance security through restaking. This suite has three integrated layers: VITAL ensures decentralized verification of rollup states, MACH accelerates finality via restaked security, and SQUAD offers decentralized transaction sequencing for censorship resistance.

AltLayer’s Rollup-as-a-Service (RaaS) facilitates rapid and customized rollup deployment, while Restaked Rollups, backed by EigenLayer’s shared security, boosts decentralization within the Ethereum ecosystem.

Website: https://altlayer.io/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/alt_layer

Eoracle

Eoracle is tackling the “oracle problem” in the crypto industry by developing an Ethereum-native solution. Using Ethereum’s decentralization, transparency, and security, Eoracle aims to reliably bring real-world data onto blockchain networks. This new design extends Ethereum’s core principles, facilitating permissionless participation, decentralized ownership, and crypto-economic security.

Backed by restaked ETH and Ethereum’s decentralized validator network, Eoracle is an AVS Oracle built on EigenLayer and secured by Ethereum.

Website: https://www.eoracle.io/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/eoracle_network

Omni

Omni’s vision is a single unified DeFi experience across all L2’s, while still being secured by Ethereum via Eigenlayer. Omni is not only an L1, it can also read rollup state and come to consensus around that state in its own consensus process which is secured through restaking. This means it also allows rollups to communicate with Ethereum grade security.

Website: https://omni.network/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/OmniFDN

Lagrange

Lagrange is the first ZK AVS on EigenLayer mainnet. “Lagrange State Committees” are ZK light clients comprising a decentralized network of unaffiliated nodes, powered by Lagrange’s ZK Coprocessor. Lagrange State Committees are Eigenlayer AVSs which attest to block finality for optimistic rollups once they are finalized on a DA layer. These attestations generate state proofs, which applications can trust as the source of truth for integrated optimistic rollups.

Website: https://www.lagrange.dev/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/lagrangedev

Witness

WitnessChain’s DePIN Coordination Layer (DCL) is the first physical state consensus protocol that unifies a siloed DePIN economy. It is revolutionizing the DePIN ecosystem by introducing the first-ever physical state consensus protocol, and aims to unify fragmented DePIN economies, enabling a shared marketplace for physical assets like computing power, energy, and storage.

Powered by EigenLayer’s decentralized operator network, WitnessChain emerges as the premier DePIN AVS, reinforcing its dedication to advancing blockchain reliability through decentralized innovation.

Website: https://www.witnesschain.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/witnesschain

Automata

Automata extends machine trust to Ethereum with TEE Coprocessors. Its Multi-Prover AVS enable rollup systems to bootstrap decentralized TEE Committees and harden security.

Website: https://www.ata.network/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/AutomataNetwork

Xterio

Xterio is a Web3 game developer and publisher founded by veterans of the game industry. Its mission is to create deep and rich gaming experiences driven by player ownership. They aim at creating rich worlds, stories, and characters to bring users an amazing experience.

Website: https://xter.io/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/XterioGames