Ankr is a Web3 infrastructure company that operates liquid staking alongside its primary business of blockchain RPC services (powering thousands of dApps and wallets with API access to blockchain nodes). Ankr's liquid staking product (ankrETH on Ethereum) is one of several chains where Ankr offers LSTs, making it part of a broader infrastructure ecosystem.
ankrETH Mechanics
ankrETH is a non-rebasing ETH LST that appreciates in ETH value as staking rewards accumulate. Ankr operates a curated set of validators using institutional-grade hardware across multiple data centers globally. The staking commission is 10% of rewards.
A distinctive feature: Ankr integrates ankrETH with its RPC products, allowing dApps using Ankr's infrastructure to easily incorporate liquid staking into their user flows. Partnerships with DeFi protocols and wallets have helped maintain ankrETH liquidity despite competition from Lido and Rocket Pool.
Flash Unstake
Ankr implements "Flash Unstake" for ankrETH — allowing instant redemption of ankrETH for ETH using a liquidity reserve pool, without waiting the standard ~7-day validator withdrawal period. The flash unstake charges a small fee (0.5%) to compensate liquidity providers in the reserve pool.
ANKR Token
ANKR is used primarily for Ankr's broader platform (staking to access RPC services at discounted rates, governance) rather than exclusively for liquid staking. The dual-use nature means ANKR demand is supported by both the staking product and the RPC business, providing more stable token fundamentals than single-product protocols.