Aethir Launches Pre-Deposit Staking Program with EigenLayer

What is this program?

Aethir, a GPU-centric decentralized cloud infrastructure (DePIN) platform for AI and gaming, has announced a major step forward in its ecosystem through a partnership with EigenLayer – a prominent restaking protocol on the Ethereum blockchain.

This event marks the launch of a pre-deposit staking program, allowing users to stake $ATH tokens to receive $eATH, a liquid staking token with the potential to generate attractive returns and support the operation of the Aethir network. This article will analyze the event in detail, its significance, opportunities, and potential risks of this program.

How the program works

The Aethir and EigenLayer pre-deposit staking program is designed to connect stakers (people who stake $ATH) with GPU infrastructure providers (Cloud Hosts) in the Aethir ecosystem. The mechanism of operation can be summarized as follows:

1. Users stake $ATH tokens into the EigenLayer ATH Vault via the user.aethir.com/stake/eigenlayer platform to receive $eATH – a liquidity token representing their staking position, at a 1:1 ratio to $ATH.

2. GPU Hosts Rent $eATH: GPU infrastructure providers (Cloud Hosts) can borrow $eATH to participate in the Aethir network, thereby providing computing power for AI and gaming applications.

3. GPU Hosts pay a fee to use the infrastructure, and this fee is redistributed to $eATH holders as rewards.

4. Auto-compounding feature: Rewards are automatically compounded, optimizing profits for stakers.

5. DeFi Integration and Delegation: $eATH can be used in DeFi protocols (after the lock-up period) and users can delegate $eATH to operators to optimize returns.

Program Highlights

Staked $ATH tokens will be locked for 1 year to ensure network stability, with a 30-day withdrawal period after the program opens for withdrawal from June 13, 2026.

Staking rewards come from service fees of GPU Cloud Hosts, distributed proportionally to the amount of $eATH held by the user.

While $eATH is limited to DeFi applications during the lock-up period, it can then be traded or used on DeFi platforms, depending on the protocols' support.

Aethir plans to launch an annual rate of return (APR) calculator in the near future, helping users estimate profits based on staking activities.

Scaling in Q4 2025 - The program will scale with the integration of additional GPU Hosts and full reward distribution in Q4 2025.

Strategic significance of cooperation

The partnership between Aethir and EigenLayer is strategic not only for the two projects but also for the entire blockchain ecosystem, especially in the DePIN and AI space. Here are some highlights:

Integrating with EigenLayer’s AVS (Autonomous Verifiable Services) model allows Aethir to simplify the onboarding process for new GPU Hosts, thereby scaling the decentralized cloud infrastructure network. This is especially important as Aethir serves more than 120 customers in the AI ​​and gaming space, with annual revenue exceeding $113 million.

The pre-deposit staking program not only offers $ATH rewards but also adds bonuses of $EIGEN, EigenLayer’s native token. This creates an attractive “double” mechanism, encouraging participation from both long-term investors and those seeking passive returns.

$eATH, as a liquidity token, provides flexibility to users. After the lock-up period, $eATH can be used in DeFi protocols, opening up additional earning potential through yield farming, lending, or other decentralized finance activities.

With a network utilization rate of 70% (compared to 10-25% for other DePIN projects like Akash), Aethir is a leader in providing decentralized GPU infrastructure. The partnership with EigenLayer not only solidifies this position, but also brings Aethir’s on-chain revenue (currently over $125 million) into the restaking ecosystem, creating real value for both parties.

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Compiled and analyzed by HCCVenture

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