Coinbase Cloud launches ‘No Minimum ETH Required’ staking program

Staking is a way for crypto holders to earn passive income without selling their digital assets, similar to depositing money in a high-yield savings account. Just as a bank lends deposited funds to others and pays a fraction of the interest earned in return, staking involves locking up digital assets to help run a blockchain and maintain its security. In exchange, participants receive rewards, typically yielding much higher returns than traditional bank interest rates.

The partnership between Coinbase Cloud and Kiln, a staking service provider, has introduced an innovative Partial ETH Staking program. This program is unique because it eliminates the minimum ETH requirement, a standard in traditional staking setups. Now, users can secure the Ethereum network and earn rewards without accumulating a specific minimum ETH balance. This groundbreaking feature democratizes staking, making it accessible to wallet holders with smaller balances, thereby increasing inclusivity and enabling a broader range of individuals to engage in blockchain validation and enjoy the benefits of staking.

Enhanced Accessibility and Inclusivity 

The Partial ETH Staking program, established in partnership with Kiln through Coinbase Cloud, represents a groundbreaking development in cryptocurrency, fostering enhanced accessibility and inclusivity.

At its core, this program addresses accessibility concerns by eliminating the minimum ETH requirement, a significant hurdle in traditional staking models. This removal of barriers means that a broader audience can now participate in Ethereum staking, including those with smaller wallets and individual users previously excluded due to their limited holdings.

This newfound inclusivity is a game-changer for small wallets and individual stakers eager to engage in the Ethereum network’s security and reap the rewards. It democratizes the process, allowing a more diverse group to actively contribute to the network’s decentralization. Furthermore, this initiative creates opportunities for Ethereum Casinos enthusiasts and other individuals who may not have met the stringent prerequisites of traditional staking setups.

Coinbase Wallet Integration

A comprehensive review of Coinbase shows that Coinbase Wallet offers several notable benefits compared to keeping your cryptocurrency on an exchange. These advantages include:

• Tools: To assist you in learning how to handle your digital assets, Coinbase provides a library of educational information on cryptocurrencies, including Web3 tools. The browser plugin and mobile app also provide essential options for monitoring the success of your cryptocurrency portfolio for Coinbase Wallet.
• Choice: According to Coinbase, their wallet handles hundreds of thousands of ERC-20 tokens in addition to Bitcoin, Dogecoin, and Litecoin.
• Integration: You can make purchases and trades from your wallet using Coinbase Wallet. The wallet supports hundreds of digital coins, including all tokens on the Ethereum network and NFTs, claims the Coinbase website.
• Storage: Coinbase Wallet uses technology on an internet-connected device to save the private keys to your crypto assets, making it a software, or “hot,” wallet. 

Consider a cold wallet, which keeps your keys offline and saves your Bitcoin on a physical device, if you want to add another degree of security to your cryptocurrency. You may convert Bitcoin using a function in the Coinbase Wallet to cold storage devices offered by the wallet manufacturer Ledger.

• Functionality: Although there isn’t a desktop program accessible, Coinbase Wallet may be accessed using a mobile app or browser extension.

Coinbase Wallet offers a seamless staking experience with its staking APIs, allowing users to stake their Coinbase Wrapped Staked ETH (cbETH) and Rocket Pool Staked ETH (rETH). Users can easily convert their ETH through a simple swap process to obtain these tokens.

For cbETH, it is a versatile utility token that permits users to sell, send, or utilize their staked ETH. This token represents your staked ETH position at Coinbase, mirroring its value and accrued rewards. While rewards are earned, they are not obtained directly through Coinbase, and there are no fees associated with wrapping your initial staked ETH or its rewards into cbETH. Availability may be limited to select regions, and your cbETH balance is conveniently displayed on your Coinbase Wrapped Staked ETH asset page.

On the other hand, rETH represents ETH staked via Rocket Pool, a decentralized staking service. Notably, rETH continuously accumulates staking rewards without imposing any lock-up period. Being a standard ERC20 token, rETH offers versatility, enabling users to employ it like any other token. These staking options provide users with flexibility and accessibility in managing their Ethereum assets within the Coinbase Wallet ecosystem.

Partnership Insights

Currently, Ethereum’s native staking protocol requires a hefty 32 ETH to become a validator, making it out of reach for most wallet holders, as 99% hold less than this amount. Coinbase Cloud’s innovative program addresses this disparity by allowing even those with small wallets to actively participate in securing the Ethereum network and earn rewards. This democratizes the staking process, fostering greater decentralization and community involvement.

Coinbase Wallet is at the forefront of implementing this solution, enabling its users to stake ETH without any minimum amount limit. Moreover, Coinbase Cloud’s staking APIs will be extended to clients and other self-custodial wallet providers, making this new staking service accessible to a broader range of platforms and services, including decentralized exchanges (DEXes). This unique integration signifies a step toward a more inclusive and decentralized Ethereum network driven by collaboration and innovation.

Infrastructure Utilization 

The staking program leverages the existing Coinbase Cloud infrastructure, benefiting from the robust and well-established foundation provided by Coinbase’s cloud-based services.

Coinbase Cloud, known for its reliability and security, offers a stable environment for the staking program to operate seamlessly. It draws upon Coinbase’s expertise in cryptocurrency custodianship and blockchain technology, ensuring the safekeeping of users’ assets.

Furthermore, Coinbase Cloud provides the computational power and network connectivity required for efficient staking operations. It offers a dependable framework for the execution of staking activities, including transaction validation and block production, contributing to the overall stability and reliability of the Ethereum network. By building upon Coinbase Cloud’s infrastructure, the staking program can deliver a secure and trustworthy experience and accommodate a growing user base without compromising performance.