{project} FAQ

{project} is a permissionless, non-custodial liquid staking protocol built on Ethereum and Gnosis Chain. It allows anyone to stake any amount of ETH or GNO and earn daily staking rewards without giving up custody of their assets. Users can choose from one-click staking for simplicity, select a community Vault based on their preferences, or create their own Vault with custom fees and configurations. {project} has been operating since 2021 and processes billions of dollars in staked assets.

{project} currently supports two networks: Ethereum (where users stake ETH and receive osETH) and Gnosis Chain (where users stake GNO and receive osGNO). Both networks offer permissionless staking with daily reward accrual and the same core set of features including Vaults, Boost, and liquid osTokens.

The base ETH staking APY on {project} typically ranges from approximately 2% to 2.5%, reflecting current Ethereum network consensus rewards. With the {project} Boost feature enabled, users can amplify their effective APY to around 3.5%–4% or higher, depending on Aave borrowing rates at the time. Each Vault displays its individual APY so you can compare options before staking.

Getting started with {project} is simple. Navigate to the Stake page at app.stakewise.io, connect your Web3 wallet (MetaMask, WalletConnect, Ledger, etc.), enter the amount of ETH you wish to stake, and press the Stake button. You will instantly receive osETH tokens that represent your staked position. Alternatively, you can browse available Vaults — each Vault shows its APY, staking fee, operator details, and total value locked — and select one that matches your preferences.

{project} Vaults are independently operated staking pools. Each Vault is created and managed by a specific node operator who sets their own fee, performance parameters, and access controls. One-click staking routes your ETH through the default {project} configuration for the simplest experience. Vaults allow more fine-grained selection — for example, choosing an operator known for high uptime or a specific fee level. Advanced users can also create their own Vault to stake privately or to offer staking-as-a-service to others.

You can convert your osETH back to ETH at any time at its fair exchange rate through the {project} app. If there is sufficient unbound ETH available in the protocol's liquidity buffer, the redemption is near-instantaneous. If additional liquidity is needed, the protocol will initiate validator exits on the Ethereum Beacon Chain. The time required depends on network exit queue conditions but is typically within a few days.

Yes. {project} is a permissionless protocol, meaning anyone can create a Vault without approval. As a Vault operator you set your own staking fee, can configure whitelist or blocklist rules to control who may deposit, add custom branding, and manage validator keys. You can use your Vault solely for your own ETH or open it to outside depositors and earn a fee on their staking rewards. Vault creation is done via the Operate section of the {project} app.

{project} Boost is a yield amplification strategy. Here is how it works step by step: (1) Your ETH is staked and you receive osETH. (2) That osETH is supplied as collateral to the Aave lending protocol. (3) ETH is borrowed against the osETH collateral. (4) The borrowed ETH is staked again, generating more osETH. (5) This loop repeats multiple times automatically. The result is a leveraged staking position that earns the surplus between the additional staking rewards and the Aave borrowing fee. {project} does not charge any extra protocol fee for using Boost.

{project} Boost was designed with safety as a primary concern. Unlike typical leveraged DeFi positions, osETH and ETH are highly correlated in value — Aave uses {project}'s native rate feed rather than DEX spot prices, meaning a temporary osETH price dip on an exchange cannot trigger a liquidation. Because staking rewards historically exceed Aave borrowing costs on approximately 90% of days, your loan-to-value ratio tends to decrease over time. As an additional safeguard, if your LTV ever reaches the 94.5% threshold, your position is automatically unwound and all funds are returned directly to your wallet.

osETH and osGNO stand for Overcollateralized Staked ETH and Overcollateralized Staked GNO respectively. They are {project}'s liquid staking tokens — issued when you stake ETH or GNO. As repricing tokens, their exchange rate against ETH or GNO increases continuously as staking rewards accrue, so simply holding them means your position is growing. You can use osETH and osGNO in DeFi protocols, swap them on DEXs, or redeem them through the {project} app for the underlying asset plus accumulated rewards.

The "overcollateralized" aspect of osTokens refers to the design guarantee that the total ETH (or GNO) staked in {project} Vaults always exceeds the total osETH (or osGNO) in circulation. This means every osToken is backed by more than 1 ETH or 1 GNO worth of staked assets, providing a buffer against edge cases such as validator slashing events. It is a protocol-level safety mechanism ensuring osToken holders can always redeem the full value of their staked position.

{project} has been in production since 2021 with an excellent security track record. The protocol has invested approximately $1 million in professional security audits from leading blockchain security firms. Because {project} is non-custodial, your staked ETH is never held by the company — validator keys operate independently within each Vault. The smart contracts are open-source and have been reviewed multiple times. Additionally, {project} maintains active bug bounty programs to incentivize responsible disclosure of any vulnerabilities.

Because {project} is a non-custodial, permissionless protocol, your staked ETH is secured at the Ethereum protocol level and is never held by {project} the company. Validators can be exited independently of the {project} front-end. osETH holders can always redeem their tokens for the underlying ETH directly via the smart contracts, even without a UI. The decentralized architecture ensures your assets remain accessible regardless of the operational status of any particular company or team.