Latch Staked ETHPrice

(ATETH)

Latch Staked ETH (ateth) is a Liquid Staking Token (LST) representing a user’s staked position in the Latch "Smart Savings" ETH vault. It allows users to earn staking yield while maintaining liquidity for use across various decentralized applications. Unlike rebasing tokens, ateth uses a value-accruing model where the exchange rate between ateth and ETH increases over time as staking rewards are added to the vault, rather than increasing the quantity of tokens in a user's wallet.

The Latch Protocol is built on the Gravity blockchain, an omnichain settlement layer. While the protocol interacts with Ethereum and other EVM-compatible chains for deposits and withdrawals, the ateth token itself operates as an ERC-20 token on the Gravity network. This architecture allows for efficient cross-chain interactions and settlements within the Latch ecosystem.

Users can obtain ateth through two primary channels. On the Primary Market, users deposit ETH on the Ethereum mainnet to mint ateth on the Gravity chain via the official protocol dashboard. Alternatively, on the Secondary Market, users can acquire ateth by swapping ETH on supported decentralized exchanges. This provides flexibility for users to choose between direct minting or market-based acquisition.

The Latch ecosystem features a points system used to track and reward user activity. Points are accumulated based on specific criteria such as deposit amounts, the duration of the stake, and successful referrals. These points are often used as a metric to determine eligibility for potential future ecosystem rewards or airdrops, incentivizing long-term commitment and active participation within the community.

There are two main withdrawal methods. The first is an Instant Withdrawal (T+0), which allows users to swap ateth back to ETH via major decentralized exchanges, though this may involve slippage. The second is a Standard Withdrawal (T+7) through the Latch dashboard, which involves burning the ateth tokens. This method avoids slippage but requires a 7-day waiting period for the protocol to unstake the underlying assets and bridge them back to the user.

While Latch uses audited infrastructure, users should consider several risks. Smart contract risk involves potential vulnerabilities in the vault or bridge code. DeFi layering risk exists because Latch may utilize third-party protocols for yield; any failure in those external platforms could affect ateth. Additionally, there is slashing risk if the underlying Ethereum validators are penalized. Users are advised to only use official links to avoid scams and never send funds directly to contract addresses.