Introducing Symbiotic Finance

Symbiotic Finance is a generalized shared security system that enables decentralized networks to build robust, fully sovereign ecosystems. It serves as a shared security protocol and a thin coordination layer, empowering network builders to control and adapt their own restaking implementations in a permissionless manner.

• Flexibility through Modularity: Networks have full control over their restaking implementations, including supported collateral assets, node operator selection mechanics, rewards, slashing, and resolving mechanisms. Participants can opt in and out of shared security arrangements coordinated through Symbiotic.
• Risk Minimization through Immutability: The core contracts of Symbiotic are non-upgradeable and reside on Ethereum, which removes external governance risks and single points of failure. The simple yet flexible contract design minimizes execution layer risks.
• Capital Efficiency through Restaked Collateral and Reputation-Based Curation: Symbiotic employs a permissionless, multi-asset, and network-agnostic design that allows for scalable and capital-efficient sourcing of economic security. The protocol also features an operator-centric cross-network reputation system to further enhance capital efficiency.

Projects use the Symbiotic protocol to source operators and scale economic security for their decentralized networks.

• OPEN: Symbiotic enables capital-efficient sourcing of node operators and economic security through an extendable collateral base and scalable architecture.
• MODULAR: The protocol acts as a minimal coordination layer that can integrate with existing or new network architectures, offering flexibility to all market actors.
• PERMISSIONLESS: Symbiotic’s immutable core contracts provide builders with choice and control over shared security agreements without unnecessary governance or permissioning.
• FLEXIBLE: Networks using Symbiotic can customize their punishment and reward mechanisms. The adaptable restaking logic allows networks to seamlessly adjust to evolving requirements.

Symbiotic Finance consists of five interconnected components that work together to provide shared security:

1. Collateral: This is the security layer of Symbiotic, representing underlying on-chain assets. Collateral in Symbiotic can include ERC20 tokens, Ethereum validator withdrawal credentials, or other on-chain assets like LP positions, regardless of the blockchain they are held on.
2. Vaults: The restaking layer of Symbiotic. Vaults manage the delegation of collateral to operators across networks. These vaults can be curated in a custom manner, such as by liquid restaking providers like Lido or institutional holders, or through operator-specific vaults.
3. Operators: Entities that run infrastructure for networks, such as validators, sequencers, or keepers. Symbiotic maintains a registry of operators, enabling them to opt into networks and receive economic backing from restakers through vaults.
4. Resolvers: Entities or contracts responsible for passing or vetoing slashing penalties incurred by operators on networks. Resolvers are agreed upon by vaults and the networks they secure and can be fully automated or take the form of slashing committees or external dispute resolution frameworks.
5. Networks: Defined as protocols that require a distributed set of node operators to provide trust-minimized services, such as decentralized sequencing of transactions, consensus about off-chain data, or automating specific protocol functions. Symbiotic allows network builders to define, control, and adapt their methodologies for onboarding, incentivizing, and penalizing operators and their delegators.

Symbiotic Finance offers a highly customizable and secure platform for decentralized networks, providing the tools needed to build powerful, sovereign ecosystems. As a node operator, we are proud to contribute to the growth and security of the Symbiotic Finance network.