Symbiotic provides the core building blocks for networks to deploy bespoke Proof of Stake (PoS) systems utilizing their native token, with the option to bootstrap extra economic security from capital across the wider Symbiotic ecosystem.
Symbiotic’s value is more than just technical resources, we provide full go-to-market support from helping with fundraising to bootstrapping a node operator network, to building brand awareness and facilitating partnerships across our ecosystem. Networks that deploy their PoS with us join an ecosystem of value-aligned builders that are all benefiting from the network effects of launching through Symbiotic and creating maximal value for their native tokens.
Our mission is simple, remove all barriers to decentralization and ensure that centralized network launches are a thing of the past. Symbiotic achieves this by streamlining and enhancing the go-to-market for any platform that requires a decentralised node operator network and economic capital/stake.
At its core, Symbiotic is a thin-coordination layer between stakers, networks and node operators, enforcing the PoS rules set by each network. It enables the trustless, non-custodial delegation of capital from stakers and the ability to reward and slash capital based on pre-determined, network-specific conditions.
By design, Symbiotic is maximally flexible to enforce the rules of any type of PoS system, allowing networks full control over the design of their staking implementation, whether it is purely native token staking to multi-asset staking with complex slashing conditions.
Symbiotic abstracts away the complexities of building network-specific PoS architecture by leveraging ready-made, ready-audited codebase to form their PoS foundation. Our core team will also be on hand to help design and structure the optimal staking mechanism for each specific use-case.
Whilst the core Symbiotic contracts reside on Ethereum, the protocol is completely chain agnostic allowing the economic value of capital from anywhere to be staked for security, and for that security to be directed to any network.
Most importantly, networks that launch their PoS through Symbiotic remain 100% self-sovereign: the core Symbiotic protocol is immutable and thus networks retain complete control over their staking implementation, forever. As a public good, Symbiotic is fully permissionless and free to use.
For a limited time, Symbiotic will be co-incentivising the economic security of its early network partners.
Let’s dive deeper into the modules that form the Symbiotic PoS toolkit:
Vaults are where staked capital is stored (non-custodially), whether directly from node operators or from third-party stakers in a delegated proof of stake (dPoS) system.
They provide the enforcement and accounting for the slashing and rewards modules of each PoS system. The Vault epoch, set during Vault deployment, defines the withdrawal period for staked capital and ensures capital cannot escape punishment should slashing occur.
Each Vault can accept only one type of ERC-20 token, such as a native governance token (GOV_A), and can issue receipt tokens, such as stGOV_A. Multiple Vaults can be connected under a single PoS system to enable multi-asset staking should a Network desire.
Vaults can be deployed by the Network itself in an upgradeable manner, or ossified like the rest of the core Symbiotic protocol.
Technical documentation on Vaults can be found here.
Networks can issue rewards via the Rewards Module, split into separate channels for stakers and for operators.
Rewards can be in ERC-20 tokens, points, or any combination thereof, and structured to provide maximal token alignment. For example, stakers of the network’s native token that are locked for governance could receive a greater share of network rewards.
The rewards flow is controlled by the Network and can be updated at any time.
Technical documentation on the Rewards Module can be found here.
The Slasher Module is responsible for the enforcement of slashing requests that come from the Network itself (via the Network Middleware). It verifies the validity of these requests and, if valid, initiates the slashing process.
The mechanism for slashing is set by the Network in advance, such as sending slashed capital to a burn address or to a treasury address that will later be used to reimburse users. Whatever slashing criteria is set by the Network, the Slasher Module enforces it.
Resolvers are a key component to protect Networks from accidental slashing during their infancy, they are training wheels for a slashable Network. Resolvers act as a veto committee, arbitrating on slashing events and deciding whether they proceed, or if the slashing conditions should be changed. Resolvers can be a Network-owned multi-sig, DAO governance, or everything in between, and can be upgraded or even removed at any time.
Technical documentation on the Slasher module can be found here, and Resolvers here.
The Network Middleware is the on-chain component that is developed and deployed by the Network, serving as the interface between Symbiotic core contracts and the Network itself.
Middlewares retrieve the operator set with respective stakes and include the Network’s slashing logic.
Middlewares, alongside the off-chain binaries/clients run by node operators, are the only two components to be developed by the Network. Symbiotic provides a core API and open-source SDK to simplify the integration process.
A simple Middleware example can be found here alongside the necessary documentation.
Symbiotic also permits the sharing of economic stake across multiple networks, including both slashable or non-slashable stake. This further reduces the economic costs for networks to decentralize.
Once a Network’s core PoS is built on Symbiotic, they have the entire Symbiotic ecosystem at its disposal to bootstrap economic security beyond their native token. That’s over $2Bn of capital consisting of mature assets like ETH LSTs, BTC LSTs and stable coins.
It is vital that native token utility is maximized, but equally that native token sell-pressure is minimized, especially during the early stages of launch. Reducing the cost of economic security by leveraging shared security across the Symbiotic ecosystem is one of the best tools to reduce security costs and potential token emissions.
Adding on extra economic security is as simple as signing an on-chain transaction to accept staked capital from extra Vaults. The Symbiotic team will also be on hand to connect Networks with Vault providers to facilitate the delegation of security.
