Tapping into passive earnings using your Ethereum (ETH) has never been easier—all from the convenience of your phone.

Partial ETH staking is a powerful tool that can unlock earning opportunities not previously available to everyone, and now, with the help of Coinbase Cloud, we’ve seamlessly integrated this into the Giddy wallet, so you can stake any amount of ETH and earn with a single tap.

In this blog post, we’ll dive into the mechanics behind ETH staking. We’ll discuss how earnings are generated, some hurdles and pitfalls of staking ETH the ‘hard way’, and how partial ETH staking is quickly becoming a game-changer for Ethereum holders.

Understanding ETH Staking and Validator Roles

ETH staking is the process of locking up your Ether tokens for a period of time in order to assist in securing and validating the Ethereum network. Each staker must set up a “validator” which is a server responsible for processing transactions and maintaining the security of the blockchain, and requires an up-front lockup of 32 ETH.

As you continue to maintain your validator and commit your ETH to the network, the network in turn gives you ETH rewards. However, spinning up your own validator isn’t as easy as it seems; the Ethereum network requires a minimum of 32 ETH (approximately $75,000 in today’s prices) to be staked in order to establish a new validator.

This barrier, along with the many technical challenges that ETH validators can pose, has kept a significant number of Ethereum fans out of native ETH staking for years.

Overcoming the Challenges of Traditional ETH Staking 

Cracking that 32 ETH minimum can be a daunting task on its own, but ETH validators are also expected to follow a very strict protocol in order to avoid “slashing,” which could result in the total elimination of their staked ETH. While slashing is typically only enforced on validators attempting to inject malicious or incorrect data into the blockchain, it can be a significant deterrent for less tech-savvy Ethereum fans looking to establish their own validator.

For these reasons, partial ETH staking has emerged as an attractive alternative to the traditional native ETH staking formula, offering not only a more convenient entry point without the otherwise-required 32 ETH commitment, but also peace of mind knowing that the validator is being set up and maintained with enterprise-grade infrastructure from Coinbase Cloud.

The Power of Partial ETH Staking

The 32-ETH minimum needed for staking is a requirement imposed by the Ethereum network itself. It’s not possible for every-day users to lower the 32 ETH threshold, but it is possible to work together to hit the 32 ETH minimum.

This is exactly how partial ETH staking democratizes access to ETH rewards. This approach results in large stakes of ETH owned by a variety of different users—all staking any amount of ETH of their choosing. 

The beauty of this model lies in its inclusivity. Individual users no longer need to invest large sums of money or host the infrastructure themselves. Partial ETH staking makes one of the most highly sought after earning opportunities in crypto easily accessible to just about everyone.

The Giddy Wallet—A New World of Opportunities

With the Giddy Wallet, users can stake any amount of ETH with a single tap and instantly get involved in earning with the largest smart contract-enabled blockchain in the world. 

Giddy is the best way to buy, send, earn, and shop with crypto. You can buy ETH in no time with an ACH transfer or credit card and have it staked and validating the network right away—all within the self-custody mobile app where you’re always in control of your assets.

So, what are you waiting for? Check out native ETH staking in the Giddy app and start earning today. 🤠