Deep Dive
1. Staking Pool Overhaul (April 2025)
Overview: Swell deprecated its atomic deposit/NFT system for a unified ERC20 liquid staking token (swETH), enabling seamless DeFi composability.
The upgrade resolved validator activation bottlenecks identified during the guarded launch phase. By shifting to a pooled deposit model, users now receive swETH (a yield-bearing token) instead of NFTs, simplifying staking rewards tracking. The DAO collaborated with Ethereum Foundation advisors to optimize validator set management.
What this means: This is bullish for SWELL because it reduces friction for Ethereum stakers, improves liquidity, and aligns with industry standards like Lido’s stETH. (Source)
2. Mainnet Guarded Launch (March 2025)
Overview: A mid-March testnet preceded the mainnet relaunch, capping deposits at 256 ETH initially to stress-test the new architecture.
The phased rollout included allow-listed addresses to monitor protocol stability. Critical fixes addressed edge cases in validator onboarding, ensuring smoother mainnet performance. Audits by blockchain security firms preceded the launch.
What this means: This is neutral for SWELL – while it delays full decentralization, the cautious approach mitigates systemic risks and builds trust.
3. Protocol Decentralization Roadmap (2025)
Overview: Swell introduced institutional-grade node operators and LP/yield optimizer strategies within its dApp.
The DAO plans to gradually remove deposit caps and enable permissionless node participation. Partnerships with EigenLayer for restaking and DVT research aim to strengthen validator decentralization.
What this means: This is bullish long-term, as enhanced yield options and validator resilience could attract more ETH stakers.
Conclusion
Swell’s codebase shifts prioritize scalability, liquidity, and security – critical for competing in the liquid staking sector. While short-term deposit limits persist, the ERC20 transition and yield strategies position SWELL for broader adoption. How quickly will the DAO transition to full permissionless operation?