As part of the launch of the Stage 2 testnet, operators can now register with the network and begin validation for the first App-Verified State (AVS) – EigenDA.
EigenLayer, a leading blockchain protocol, has officially launched the Goerli testnet for EigenDA, marking significant progress in its development journey towards the full EigenLayer vision.
The release of Stage 2 follows the successful launch of resuming on Ethereum mainnet in June, which was met with a strong response from the community. Security-focused jumps in Total Value Locked (TVL) limits have resulted in an impressive 170,000 ETH redraw on the EigenLayer protocol. While Redraw limits on Liquid Staking Tokens (LSTs) remain in place, EigenLayer plans to introduce additional supported LSTs in the coming months, along with continued increases and eventual removal of limits.
Phase 2 introduces several crucial developments. Operators can now register with the network and begin validation for the first App-Verified State (AVS) – EigenDA. Restakers have the option to delegate their deployment to operators, using shared security with EigenDA. Additionally, Rollups integrate with EigenDA to explore cost-effective, large-scale use cases.
It is critical to note that the primary objectives of this testnet release are to rigorously test the protocol’s functionality, ensure security, and gather valuable feedback for further refinement. EigenLayer encourages active community participation, as user involvement will accelerate progress towards the mainnet release.
EigenLayer also provided insight into how an operator, restaker or AVS developer can interact with the EigenLayer testnet or the EigenDA testnet.
Using the EigenLayer testnet
The advanced blockchain protocol has detailed the various components of the recently launched testnet, aimed at restakers, operators and App-Verified State (AVS) developers.
For restakers: resume and delegate to an operator
Re-stakers can actively participate by re-staking Native Goerli ETH or Liquid Staking Tokens (LSTs). After the re-recording process, they can seamlessly delegate to their preferred operator. Operators play a critical role in choosing the AVSs they want to support, and allow restarters to tailor their support to the AVSs they want. EigenDA is the exclusive AVS option for this testnet. Notably, restakers have the flexibility to easily back-delegate their deployment from any operator and re-delegate it as needed.
For operators: register with EigenLayer
Operators can now connect to the EigenLayer network by registering via the Operator Command-Line Interface (CLI). The operator registration process is permission-free and welcomes a wide range of participants, from individual strikers to large institutions. EigenLayer looks forward to fostering a dynamic and inclusive community of operators.
For AVS developers: discover live AVS code
AVS developers are encouraged to explore the first testnet example of an AVS, specifically EigenDA. In addition, EigenLayer has introduced a demo AVS called ‘Incredible Squaring’, with sample onchain contracts and offchain node software. This comprehensive demonstration can help developers gain insight into building their own AVSs, using the examples provided as valuable learning tools. Furthermore, EigenLayer remains committed to supporting and empowering AVS developers throughout their exploration and development journey.
Using the EigenDA Testnet
EigenDA is at the forefront and offers rollups a revolutionary approach for cost-efficient and hyperscale data availability. Furthermore, this transformative capacity is supported by the collective cryptoeconomic security generously provided by EigenLayer restakers.
For the ongoing testnet phase, EigenLayer has opted for a measured rollout strategy, carefully introducing the full feature set and functionality of EigenDA. The initial launch further aims for a throughput speed of 1 Mbps, facilitated by 30 operators. As the testnet progresses, EigenDA will incrementally scale its capabilities to achieve a target throughput of 10 Mbps, with the active participation of a more extensive network of operators.