I'm writing for friends asking about ETHFI and EIGEN.

I like both projects.
BUT IN THE ETH STAKE ECOSYSTEM, THE HIGH PROBABILITY SCENARIO IS CLEAR TO ME.
FIRST, CORE ETH STAKE.
$LDO $RPL
THEN RE-STAKE.
$EIGEN $ETHFI $REZ
PEOPLE FIRST CHOOSE SAFE RETURNS,
THEN LEVERAGED RETURNS.
LDO is the undisputed leader of the market.
Its strength comes from the widespread adoption of liquid stETH. It’s the first name that comes to mind when thinking of safe yields.
RPL offers a more decentralized structure compared to Lido. It’s more attractive for node operators. The second largest fortress in the ETH staking ecosystem.
These protocols are proven to be reliable. The risk is lower, and the returns are steady.
Once basic staking is established, people look for ways to earn more with the same ETH.
This is where Restaking comes into play.
EIGEN is the brain behind this.
The foundational infrastructure built on top of other protocols. We can call it the king of the restaking narrative.
ETHFI & REZ are liquid restaking protocols built on EigenLayer.
They provide investors with staking rewards, restaking points, and liquidity on top.
Restaking adds a new layer of risk to smart contract risk.
In other words, returns increase but so does risk.
FIRST THE BASE.
THEN THE NEW STORY.
This is my personal opinion and logic.
That’s why I’m initially on REZ with a small amount, due to the low market cap and the possibility of the opposite scenario, while holding a significant LDO position.
However, the crypto market doesn’t always progress rationally. Sometimes, a new story can be priced in much faster than the old one. Because investors always seek high-beta assets.
From my perspective, after large funds and institutional entries via ETFs, established giants like LDO will attract the most capital first.
Always do your own research and make moves that align with your logic.
Wishing you great gains.