$EIGEN
The Ethereum restaking protocol EigenLayer announces that its slashing mechanism will go live on the mainnet on April 17. The introduction of this mechanism will provide stronger security guarantees for EigenLayer's Active Verification Service (AVS), making it possible to build verifiable and trustless applications.
Core Function of the Slashing Mechanism
The slashing mechanism is an economic penalty tool in Proof of Stake (PoS) protocols, used to ensure the security and stability of the network. When a node or a group of nodes executes strategies that are clearly inconsistent with the protocol specifications, the slashing mechanism will impose economic penalties on them. This mechanism effectively prevents malicious behavior, such as double-signing or attacking the network, thereby maintaining the healthy operation of the entire network.
Enhancement of Active Verification Service (AVS)
With the launch of the slashing mechanism, EigenLayer's Active Verification Service (AVS) will be able to build more secure, verifiable, and trustless applications. By introducing the slashing mechanism, AVS further strengthens the constraints on node behavior, allowing users to use applications built on EigenLayer with greater peace of mind, without worrying about dishonest behavior from nodes.
Responsibilities of Operators and Stakers
The launch of the slashing mechanism also means that operators and stakers need to take on greater responsibilities. If they fail to comply with the protocol specifications, they may face economic penalties. Therefore, operators and stakers need to manage their nodes more cautiously, ensuring that their actions comply with protocol requirements to avoid losses due to violations.
EigenLayer's slashing mechanism will go live on April 17 on the mainnet, bringing stronger security guarantees to the Ethereum restaking protocol. By introducing the slashing mechanism, the Active Verification Service (AVS) will be able to build more secure, verifiable, and trustless applications, while operators and stakers need to be more cautious in fulfilling their responsibilities to ensure the stable operation of the network.