Stader (ETHx) Review
GPL-3.0, permissionless pool, named auditors
of 10
Stader deducts 10% of ETHx rewards, split evenly between a protocol fee and node operator commission, with a 7 to 10 day unstaking queue. It runs both a permissionless and a permissioned operator pool, releases under GPL-3.0, and names Sigma Prime, Halborn and Code4rena as auditors.
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Fee
10% of rewards: 5% protocol, 5% operator
Receipt token
ETHx, value-accruing
Unstaking
7-10 days, subject to network queues
Operators
Permissionless pool plus a curated permissioned pool
Licence
GPL-3.0
Scores
Each criterion carries equal weight. The overall score is the average of these 5 scores — (9.0 + 7.0 + 9.0 + 10.0 + 9.0) ÷ 5 = 8.8.
Pros
- Fee published as 10% of rewards: 5% protocol, 5% node operator commission
- ETHx is value-accruing, rising in exchange rate against ETH
- Runs a permissionless pool anyone can operate nodes in, alongside a curated pool
- GPL-3.0 on the ethx repository
- Auditors named: Sigma Prime, Halborn and Code4rena, with reports public
Cons
- Unstaking takes 7-10 days, subject to Ethereum entry and exit queues
- No instant-exit route is described in the documentation
- The permissioned pool is curated rather than open
Commission split down the middle, and published
Stader deducts a total of 10% from rewards and states the split: 5% as a protocol fee and 5% as node operator commission. Publishing the destination of the cut, not just its size, is what this criterion looks for.
Genuinely permissionless, in part
Stader runs a permissionless pool in which anyone can participate and operate nodes, alongside a curated permissioned pool. Open operator entry is rarer than it sounds in this category, and it earns a high decentralisation score even though half the design is curated.
Open source and audited
The ethx repository carries GPL-3.0, and the documentation names Sigma Prime, Halborn and Code4rena with reports made public. The one weaker point is exit: unstaking runs 7 to 10 days through the network queues, with no instant route documented.
How it compares
Swell (swETH)
Named operators, docs behind a challenge
Liquid Collective (LsETH)
Institutional model with a slashing-coverage treasury
Bedrock (uniETH)
Fee split published, licence unverified
Ankr (ankrETH)
Instant exit at a stated 0.5%
Frax Ether (sfrxETH)
Insurance-fund carve-out, one repo unlicensed
Puffer (pufETH)
Permissionless operators at a 2 ETH bond
Mantle (mETH)
No-fee redemption and named operators
Origin Ether (OETH)
MIT-licensed with four named auditors
Jito (JitoSOL)
Value-accruing SOL staking with published exit fee
Sources
Scored from published primary sources rather than hands-on use. Every figure above comes from one of the pages below, on the date shown. Manufacturers change prices and specifications without notice — if something here no longer matches the source, tell us and we will correct it.
- 1.Stader — ETHx documentation (fee, unstaking, operators) — checked
- 2.Stader ethx — LICENSE (GPL-3.0) — checked
- 3.Stader ethx — README (operator pools and audits) — checked
Frequently asked questions
What fee does Stader ETHx charge?
A total of 10% of rewards, split evenly into a 5% protocol fee and 5% node operator commission.
How long does it take to unstake ETHx?
Stader states an unstaking period of 7 to 10 days, subject to Ethereum's entry and exit queues.
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