EigenLayer vs Swell Network
A detailed head-to-head comparison of EigenLayer and Swell Network — pricing, features, and which one wins for different use cases.
EigenLayer
Restaking protocol that extends Ethereum economic security to new services for additional yield
EigenLayer invented restaking — a primitive that allows Ethereum validators and liquid staking token holders to extend their slashable economic stake to additional services beyond Ethereum consensus, …
Full review →Swell Network
ETH liquid staking and restaking with swETH and rswETH
Swell Network is an Ethereum liquid staking and restaking protocol offering swETH (liquid staking) and rswETH (liquid restaking), aiming to provide a full staking-to-restaking product suite with a str…
Full review →Feature Comparison
| Feature | EigenLayer | Swell Network |
|---|---|---|
| Liquid Token | ✗ | swETH / rswETH |
| Minimum Stake | No minimum | None |
| Reward Frequency | AVS-determined | Continuous |
| Defi Compatible | ✗ | ✓ |
| Node Operator Model | Permissioned operators (AVS-specific) | Decentralized operators |
| Governance Token | ✓ | ✓ |
| Multi Chain | ✗ | ✗ |
| Slashing Protection | ✗ | ✗ |
| Withdrawal Enabled | ✓ | ✓ |
| Avs Ecosystem | ✓ | — |
| Insurance Fund | — | ✗ |
EigenLayer Pricing
EigenLayer
Free (AVS-determined rewards)
Free
- ✓ETH + LST restaking
- ✓Multiple AVS opt-in
- ✓EigenDA access
- ✓EIGEN rewards
- ✓Ethereum mainnet
Swell Network Pricing
Swell Network
Free (protocol fee on rewards)
Free
- ✓Liquid staking (swETH)
- ✓Liquid restaking (rswETH)
- ✓Swellchain L2 ecosystem
- ✓Decentralization focus
- ✓SWELL governance token
Verdict: Which Should You Choose?
EigenLayer is the better pick if you need invented restaking — incremental yield on already-staked eth. Swell Network wins when both liquid staking and restaking in one protocol. Both are production-ready — the right choice depends on your team's workflow and budget.