EKOX is an Ethereum liquid restaking protocol built on the EigenLayer framework. The project aims to provide users with compounded yields from staking and restaking activities through its liquid restaking token, eXETH.

Overview

EKOX is designed as a restaking protocol that enables users to deposit Ethereum (ETH) and receive a liquid token representing their staked position, which automatically compounds rewards. The protocol's stated goal is to offer a high-performance, open economic architecture with a user-centric design to enhance capital efficiency within the decentralized finance (DeFi) ecosystem. By integrating with EigenLayer, EKOX allows the staked ETH to be delegated to its operator, which in turn provides security to various Actively Validated Services (AVSs). The value of the liquid token, eXETH, is designed to increase over time as staking and restaking rewards are accrued. ^{[1] [2]}

The project has undergone several public testing phases. Its V1 testnet was launched on the Holesky network on August 7, where it reportedly processed over 5 million transactions with a total volume exceeding $10 billion and surpassed $70 million in Total Value Locked (TVL). Following this phase, EKOX migrated its platform to the Hoodi Test Network for its Testnet V2, which went live in early November 2025. The project has also announced the postponement of its native token listing, citing unfavorable market conditions. The development entity associated with the project is Ekoxlabs, and its smart contracts have undergone a security audit by Certik. ^{[3] [4] [1]}

Products

EKOX's product suite includes its core restaking service and several planned future offerings. ^{[1] [2]}

• Restaking Platform: The primary product is a decentralized application (dApp) that allows users to stake ETH to earn yield. It serves as the main interface for interacting with the protocol.
• eXETH: A liquid restaking token (LRT) that users receive in exchange for depositing ETH. It represents a user's share of the staked ETH pool and automatically accrues the value of staking and restaking rewards, allowing the holder to maintain liquidity.
• PAY: A planned Web3-compatible, cross-chain payment infrastructure. It aims to offer low-cost and fast transactions while generating passive yield from funds held before a payment date. This product is listed as "Coming Soon."
• AI Cube: A planned AI-powered agent designed to simplify cryptocurrency interactions. It is intended to understand and execute user commands entered via text. This product is also listed as "Coming Soon."

These products are designed to form a comprehensive ecosystem for yield generation and financial utility. ^{[1] [2]}

Features

The protocol incorporates several features to support its function as a liquid restaking service.

• Liquid Restaking: Users deposit ETH and receive the eXETH token, which is a liquid asset representing their underlying staked position. This allows users to engage with other DeFi protocols while their assets continue to earn rewards.
• Auto-Compounding Rewards: The protocol is designed to automatically compound the rewards earned from both staking and restaking. These yields are reflected in the appreciating value of the eXETH token, eliminating the need for users to manually claim or restake their earnings.
• EigenLayer Integration: EKOX is built on top of EigenLayer's infrastructure. It utilizes this framework to delegate staked assets to secure a variety of Actively Validated Services (AVSs), contributing to the shared security model of the broader ecosystem.
• Modular Framework: The protocol is described as having a modular framework, which is intended to support a composable and accessible decentralized financial system.

These features aim to provide a streamlined user experience for participating in Ethereum restaking. ^{[1] [5] [2]}

Ecosystem

The EKOX ecosystem is centered around its interaction with the Ethereum and EigenLayer networks. Its main participants include ETH stakers who deposit assets, the EKOX protocol smart contracts that manage the assets, the EKOX Operator which delegates the stake, and the Actively Validated Services (AVSs) on EigenLayer that are secured by the protocol's delegated assets. The eXETH token is the primary asset within this ecosystem, representing the value of a user's contribution. ^[1]

The protocol's economic model is sustained by a revenue system based on its performance. EKOX charges a 10% fee on all staking and restaking rewards generated. This revenue is allocated according to a defined structure:

• 10% is designated for community revenue sharing.
• 40% is used for a token buyback program and to fund a community pool.
• 50% is allocated to operational expenses and a growth fund.

The project also maintains a community presence on platforms such as Discord, which has over 16,300 members, and Telegram, with over 13,200 members. An entity known as the Ekox Foundation is also associated with the project. ^{[4] [3] [6] [7]}

Use Cases

The primary and planned use cases for the EKOX protocol and its associated products are derived from its restaking functionality.

• Earning compounded yields from Ethereum staking and EigenLayer restaking.
• Maintaining asset liquidity through the eXETH token, which can be used in other DeFi applications while the underlying ETH earns rewards.
• Contributing to the economic security of the EigenLayer network by helping to secure various Actively Validated Services (AVSs).
• Executing low-cost, cross-chain payments via the planned PAY infrastructure.
• Simplifying crypto-related tasks and commands using the planned AI Cube agent.

The protocol also has future plans to enable the restaking of assets from other blockchain networks. ^{[1] [4]}

Architecture

The EKOX protocol's architecture is built as a layer on top of Ethereum and EigenLayer, utilizing a modular framework described as a "Liquid Restaking Architecture." The operational flow begins when a user stakes ETH on the EKOX platform and receives the liquid eXETH token in return. The deposited ETH is then delegated to the EKOX Operator through an EigenLayer pod. This operator validates for Actively Validated Services (AVSs), which leverage the restaked ETH for their security. The rewards generated from these activities are collected by the protocol and reflected in the appreciating value of the eXETH token. ^{[1] [2]}

The system also includes a "Validator & Operator Model" to manage the network's operational integrity. The smart contracts are designed to handle ETH deposits, interact with EigenLayer's contracts for restaking, and mint the corresponding amount of eXETH to users. The testnet version of the eXETH token contract was implemented as a TransparentUpgradeableProxy, a common smart contract pattern that allows for logic upgrades without changing the public-facing contract address. This implementation utilized standard libraries from OpenZeppelin for its proxy and ownership functionalities. ^[8]

Tokenomics

The EKOX ecosystem includes two primary tokens: EKOX, its native utility token, and eXETH, its liquid restaking token.

EKOX Token

EKOX is the native utility token of the protocol. It is an ERC-20 token on the Ethereum network with a total supply of 1,000,000,000 EKOX. The project has a stated Fully Diluted Valuation (FDV) of $70,000,000 and an Initial Market Cap of $4,725,000. The public sale vesting schedule is 25% unlocked at the Token Generation Event (TGE), followed by a 6-month linear vesting period. ^[4]

Allocation

The total supply of EKOX tokens is allocated as follows:

• Ecosystem: 30%
• Community: 20%
• Team: 15%
• Liquidity: 10%
• Marketing: 10%
• Private Sale: 7%
• Advisors: 5%
• Public Sale: 3%

This allocation structure is intended to support the long-term growth and decentralization of the protocol. ^[4]

Utilities

The EKOX token is designed with several utilities tied to the protocol's revenue model.

• Participation in community revenue sharing, which distributes 10% of protocol fees to community members.
• Funding a token buyback program, which is allocated 40% of protocol revenue alongside a community pool.

These utilities are designed to align token holders with the success of the protocol. ^[4]

Governance

Information regarding specific governance rights or mechanisms associated with the EKOX token has not been detailed in the available documentation. ^[2]

eXETH Token

eXETH is the protocol's liquid restaking token. It functions as a receipt for a user's deposited ETH and represents their share of the total ETH restaked through the EKOX protocol. The token's value is designed to increase over time as it accrues rewards from staking and restaking, providing a liquid, yield-bearing asset. During its testnet phase on the Holesky network, the token, under the ticker exETH, had a max total supply of approximately 783,590 and was held by over 125,000 addresses. ^{[1] [8]}

Confirmed Partnerships

EKOX has engaged in collaborations to support its development and community growth.

• ChainGPT: EKOX partnered with the ChainGPT Pad launchpad to host its token generation event. The collaboration also included a "Buzzdrop" community and marketing campaign with a reward pool valued at $330,000 in EKOX tokens.

This partnership was established for the project's token launch and initial distribution efforts. ^{[4] [3]}