What is Stader? Discover ETHx, the Liquid Staking Alternative for Ethereum

Discover how to stake Ethereum with ETHx through Stader, an audited, decentralized protocol backed by Stakely’s technical expertise.

Liquid staking has become a key component of the Ethereum ecosystem by combining two seemingly incompatible benefits: earning rewards for validating blocks and maintaining liquidity of your funds. Stader, active since 2021 and thoroughly audited, is one of the protocols that successfully solved this duality.

At Stakely, we’re involved from within as an ETHx PowerUp Partner, currently operating 487 active validators as a Permissioned Node Operator for Stader. Below, you’ll find a guide to help you understand how Stader works, what role the ETHx token plays, and why our infrastructure adds an extra layer of trust.

Unlike many recently launched liquid staking projects, Stader has a solid track record across multiple blockchains (BNB Chain, Polygon, Hedera, among others) and boasts a TVL exceeding $500M. Its architecture is non-custodial: deposits are managed through smart contracts that have been audited by firms like Sigma Prime and Halborn. This way, users retain full ownership of their assets without handing control over to a central entity.

When you deposit ETH in Stader, you automatically receive ETHx, an ERC-20 token that represents your stake. The price of ETHx increases relative to ETH because staking rewards are accumulated within the token itself — there’s no need to manually claim them.

Additionally, ETHx can be sold on decentralized exchanges, used as collateral in DeFi platforms, or unstaked directly through the Stader interface. This removes the old 32 ETH barrier and lets you earn yield without giving up liquidity.

Stader safeguards user funds through three key pillars:

1. Battle-tested contracts, audited and protected by a permanent bug bounty program.
2. 24/7 on-chain monitoring, providing real-time alerts in case of any anomalies.
3. A hybrid node operator model. The protocol combines permissioned nodes — including Stakely — with permissionless nodes that anyone can launch by depositing 4 ETH as collateral, distributing validation power and minimizing single points of failure.

Since 2020, we’ve built infrastructure for over thirty networks, and we’ve brought that experience to Stader. We operate hundreds of validators with a 99.9% SLA, in-house monitoring, and 24/7 human support. Our ISO 27001 certification, SOC 2 Type II audit, and staking insurance policy further reinforce community trust.

As an ETHx PowerUp Partner, we’re part of Stader’s official permissioned node operator set. This means we’re authorized to run ETHx validators with the technical backing, guarantees, and trust required by Stader. By belonging to this select group, we actively contribute to the security, stability, and decentralization of the network.

It’s super easy! Just follow these steps:

1. Go to Stader Labs and connect your wallet.
2. Select the Ethereum network, then under the “Liquid Staking” menu, enter the amount of ETH you want to stake.
3. Confirm the transaction. You’ll instantly receive ETHx, which you can use anywhere — from liquidity pools to lending platforms.

Although we’re focusing on ETHx, Stader also offers equivalent products on BNB Chain, Polygon, and Hedera. The mechanism is identical: a liquid token that accrues rewards and maintains instant liquidity options.

In conclusion, Stader provides a reliable, audited way to access Ethereum liquid staking with ETHx. If you’re looking to earn yield on your ETH without giving up flexibility, this combo is currently one of the strongest options on the market.

Visit Stader, make your first deposit, and join the Stakely community if you have any questions!