Puffer Finance

Stake ETH once and earn both Ethereum Proof-of-Stake rewards and EigenLayer AVS yields through a single liquid restaking token.

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Why Puffer Finance

Running a solo Ethereum validator takes 32 ETH and constant uptime management. Most people cannot meet that bar. The Puffer Finance platform removes the hardware requirement entirely. Deposit any amount of ETH, stETH, or wstETH and the protocol handles validator operations behind the scenes — while you hold pufETH, a fully transferable ERC-20 token that compounds rewards automatically.

No 32 ETH minimum

Stake any amount. The protocol pools deposits to run validators, so even small holders access the same yields as large operators.

Double yield layer

pufETH accrues both the Ethereum L1 staking APY (~3–4 %) and additional AVS restaking rewards from EigenLayer operators — in a single token.

Liquid and composable

pufETH trades freely on Uniswap and other DEXes. No lock-up. Use it as collateral, provide liquidity, or swap back to ETH whenever you like.

Audited contracts

Multiple independent auditors have reviewed the Puffer Finance's protocol code. Reports are public. Automated on-chain monitoring runs around the clock.

Key Features

pufETH liquid restaking token

An ERC-20 that auto-compounds. Its ETH exchange rate rises over time — no manual reward claims needed.

EigenLayer native restaking

Deposited ETH is routed into EigenLayer's restaking mechanism, letting AVS operators earn extra yield on top of base staking.

Multi-token deposits

Stake ETH, stETH, or wstETH. The router handles conversion internally so you always receive pufETH regardless of input token.

CARROT rewards programme

CARROT tokens are tokenised Puffer Finance points earned by holding or deploying pufETH. They can later be converted to PUFFER governance tokens.

PUFFER governance token

Live on both Ethereum and BNB Chain. Bridge via Stargate, add liquidity on PancakeSwap, and participate in on-chain governance votes.

Referral system

Share a referral code at deposit to boost your CARROT earnings. Codes are optional but stack with other reward multipliers.

DeFi integrations

pufETH is accepted on Curve, Balancer, and several lending protocols. See the integrations list for a full picture. More venues are added regularly as the Puffer Finance team expands partnerships.

How It Works

The process is intentionally short. Here is the exact flow, step by step, so you know what happens on-chain at each stage. If you run into anything unexpected, the help page covers common questions in detail.

Connect your wallet

Any EVM wallet works — MetaMask, Coinbase Wallet, WalletConnect-compatible mobile apps. The interface detects your network automatically.

Choose an input token

Select ETH, stETH, or wstETH from the dropdown. The current exchange rate (e.g. 1 ETH ≈ 0.933 pufETH as of April 2026) is shown before you confirm.

Approve and deposit

For ERC-20 inputs (stETH, wstETH) approve the contract once, then confirm the deposit. For native ETH no prior approval is needed.

Receive pufETH

pufETH appears in your wallet within the same block. From this point rewards accrue silently — no staking dashboard to check daily.

Deploy or hold

Sell on Uniswap, supply to a lending protocol, or simply hold. Whenever you want to exit, swap pufETH for ETH on any Ethereum-compatible DEX.

Puffer Finance by the Numbers

$62M+
Total Value Locked
2
Active Networks (Ethereum + BNB)
2.66%
Current pufETH APY
2022
Year Protocol Launched

FAQ

What is Puffer Finance?

Puffer Finance is a liquid restaking protocol on Ethereum. Deposit ETH, stETH, or wstETH and receive pufETH, an ERC-20 token that accrues Proof-of-Stake and EigenLayer AVS rewards automatically. Think of it as stETH, but with an additional yield layer baked in.

How do I start staking with Puffer Finance?

Connect a Web3 wallet, select ETH on the Stake page, enter an amount, and confirm the transaction. pufETH arrives in your wallet within seconds. The whole process takes under two minutes, assuming your wallet already holds ETH on Ethereum Mainnet.

What is pufETH?

pufETH is the Puffer Finance liquid restaking token. Its exchange rate against ETH rises over time as staking and AVS rewards compound inside the token. You hold fewer tokens than ETH deposited, but each token becomes worth more — that is the auto-compounding mechanic at work.

Is Puffer Finance audited and safe?

Yes. Multiple independent security firms have audited the Puffer Finance's protocol contracts. All reports are published on the team's GitHub. On-chain monitoring adds a real-time safety layer on top of that. No audit eliminates all risk, but the team treats security as the top priority.

Can I use pufETH in DeFi after staking?

Absolutely. pufETH is a standard ERC-20 tradable on Uniswap, Curve, and Balancer. Supply it as collateral, provide liquidity for trading fees, or swap it back to ETH whenever you decide to exit — no unbonding wait for the DEX path.

Why do I receive less pufETH than the ETH I deposited?

The protocol auto-compounds. The pufETH-to-ETH rate starts below 1 and rises continuously. One year from now, the same pufETH will redeem for more ETH than it does today. You are not losing value — the token is appreciating instead of paying out separate reward tokens.

How do I earn CARROT rewards?

CARROT tokens are tokenised Puffer Finance points. Mint and hold pufETH to earn a base rate, then multiply it by deploying pufETH into integrated DeFi protocols. Referral codes add another boost. The help page lists all current multiplier programmes.

What networks does Puffer Finance support?

The core staking contract lives on Ethereum Mainnet. PUFFER tokens crossed to BNB Chain in early 2025 via the Stargate bridge. PancakeSwap hosts the main BNB-side liquidity pool. More chains may follow as governance votes approve expansion proposals.

Why should I restake through Puffer Finance instead of running a validator myself?

Solo validation requires exactly 32 ETH and a server online 24/7. Most people lack either. The Puffer Finance platform pools deposits so any amount earns both L1 staking and EigenLayer AVS yields without hardware management, key custody complexity, or the 32 ETH threshold.

Can I withdraw my ETH from Puffer Finance?

Yes, two ways. Swap pufETH for ETH instantly on Uniswap or Curve at market price. Alternatively, queue a native withdrawal through the Puffer Finance interface; it follows Ethereum's standard exit queue and typically completes within a few days depending on validator exit demand.

What are the risks of using Puffer Finance?

Smart-contract bugs, EigenLayer AVS slashing events, and pufETH liquidity depth are the main risk factors. Contract risk is mitigated by audits and monitoring. The protocol includes slashing protection buffers, and pufETH liquidity has grown substantially since launch. Read more on the protocol page.

How does Puffer Finance differ from other liquid staking tokens?

Standard LSTs like stETH capture only Ethereum PoS rewards. pufETH adds a second layer — EigenLayer AVS restaking — targeting meaningfully higher net APY. The Puffer Finance's protocol also includes a points layer (CARROT) that rewards active DeFi participation, which most plain LSTs do not offer.