What happens if a Rocket Pool node operator underperforms or is slashed?

Rocket Pool has a built-in slashing insurance mechanism backed by RPL collateral. If a node operator is penalized for downtime or misbehavior, the RPL they staked as collateral may be slashed to protect user deposits. This acts as an incentive for high uptime and ethical behavior.

Can rETH be used to earn additional yield in DeFi?

Yes. rETH can be deposited in protocols like Aave, Yearn, Balancer, Curve, and MakerDAO to earn extra yield. Some DeFi strategies even stack yields by borrowing against rETH or pairing it in liquidity pools. However, these strategies carry smart contract and liquidation risks.

Is there a cap on how much ETH can be staked through Rocket Pool?

Yes. Rocket Pool’s staking capacity is directly tied to the amount of RPL staked by node operators. To expand ETH staking capacity, more RPL must be bonded as collateral. This mechanism prevents overleveraging and encourages demand for RPL, but also introduces a growth bottleneck.

Does Rocket Pool support MEV or block proposer rewards for node operators?

Rocket Pool node operators can capture MEV (Maximal Extractable Value) and proposer rewards, just like any other Ethereum validator. Rocket Pool does not interfere with or redirect those earnings — they go directly to the node operator, on top of protocol incentives.

Can I stake RPL without running a node?

No. RPL staking is only available to node operators. Regular users who deposit ETH and receive rETH do not need or use RPL. This limits RPL's staking utility to technically-inclined participants but helps maintain a strong alignment between RPL holders and the network’s performance.

How does Rocket Pool handle validator exit or rage quitting?

Rocket Pool allows node operators to exit their validators and dissolve their minipools. When a validator exits (manually or due to slashing), the ETH is returned to the pool, and the operator can reclaim their RPL collateral. Rage quitting prematurely may result in penalties or loss of rewards.

Are there any projects or funds created by the community in Rocket Pool?

Yes. Through its open grants, Rocket Pool provides support for tools, dashboards, improved user interfaces and educational material. Rocket Watch, RP Status and the integration with Dune Analytics have all won support from the community or have been funded.

What makes rETH different from stETH according to its technical design?

Rather than having its price change, rETH rises in value as more time passes (much like yield-bearing tokens), while stETH increases in units instead. In other words, rETH is readily available in protocols such as Aave or Maker which can’t handle updating token balances.

Is Rocket Pool resistant to government restrictions?

Rocket Pool was made for user-friendly, independent staking, so it is harder for states or big companies to censor staking activities. Validators can use whatever execution client or relay they prefer, or bypass using centralized MEV-Boost software if they wish.

How can developers build on or integrate Rocket Pool into their apps?

Rocket Pool exposes public smart contracts and APIs for developers to build staking dashboards, rETH integrations, or node operator tooling. The protocol is open-source and offers SDKs and technical documentation on GitHub, with active support via Discord and the community forum.

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