Ankr Staked ETHPrice

(ANKRETH)

ankrETH is a "reward-bearing" liquid staking token (LST) representing your staked ETH plus accumulated rewards. Unlike tokens that rebase, the value of each ankrETH token increases relative to ETH over time. Users don't receive new tokens; instead, when they eventually unstake or swap ankrETH back to ETH, they receive more ETH than initially deposited due to this intrinsic value growth. This mechanism allows users to earn staking rewards while retaining the flexibility to use their assets in decentralized finance (DeFi) applications.

ankrETH (formerly aETHc) is a reward-bearing token where the amount of tokens stays constant, but its price per token grows over time due to accumulated rewards. For example, 1 ankrETH might eventually be worth 1.05 ETH. Conversely, aETHb was a rebasing token where your balance of tokens increased daily. Ankr has largely phased out aETHb in favor of ankrETH to improve its compatibility with various DeFi protocols. The rebranding means aETHc is now ankrETH, functionally the same.

Rewards for ankrETH are automatically reflected in the token's value, meaning you don't need to claim them manually. The token's inherent value grows over time. If you receive less than 1 ankrETH for 1 ETH, it's because ankrETH is reward-bearing and its fair value is typically higher than 1 ETH due to past accumulated rewards. For instance, if 1 ankrETH is already worth 1.05 ETH, staking 1 ETH will yield approximately 0.95 ankrETH. This doesn't represent a loss; the total value of the ankrETH received equals your deposited ETH.

You can unstake ankrETH directly via the Ankr Staking dashboard, but a minimum unstaking amount of 0.5 ETH applies. The unstaking process is subject to the Ethereum network's exit queue, which can take anywhere from a few days to several weeks. For instant liquidity, you can swap ankrETH for ETH on a decentralized exchange (DEX) like Uniswap or Curve. This method bypasses the network's unstaking queue, though it might involve a small slippage cost or a slight discount compared to the token's fair value.

The main security risk is "slashing," where validator nodes are penalized for malicious behavior or downtime. Ankr mitigates this by partnering with reputable node operators. Other potential risks include smart contract vulnerabilities within the ankrETH system and the possibility of the token temporarily "de-pegging" from its fair value on secondary markets. Regarding fees, Ankr charges a 10% technical service fee. This fee is applied only to the staking rewards generated, not to your initial principal amount, covering the operational costs of running the validator nodes.

ankrETH is designed for broad utility within the DeFi ecosystem. It can be used as collateral for lending and borrowing on supported platforms such as Aave or Compound, allowing users to leverage their staked assets. Additionally, users can provide liquidity with ankrETH on decentralized exchanges (DEXs) to earn extra trading fees in addition to the inherent staking rewards. Furthermore, ankrETH is often eligible for restaking on protocols like EigenLayer, providing opportunities to earn additional "restaking points" or rewards from other protocols secured by EigenLayer.