Abstract

The blockchain industry is experiencing rapid evolution, with decentralized finance (DeFi), staking, and interoperability becoming central themes in 2024. As global financial markets continue to grapple with inflation and economic instability, investors and blockchain enthusiasts are seeking more efficient capital allocation models. The Proof of Stake (PoS) mechanism has gained immense popularity due to its ability to decentralize security while providing rewards for participants. However, the demand for even more efficient use of staked assets has given rise to the concept of restaking, which has proven highly successful with projects like EigenLayer on Ethereum, reaching a capitalization of $12 billion. This success highlights the growing appetite for platforms that allow users to maximize the utility of their staked tokens.

Amid this landscape, the Bittensor blockchain stands out for its unique focus on decentralized machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI). Bittensor's $TAO token plays a pivotal role in incentivizing participants to contribute AI models in a decentralized manner. However, as the ecosystem matures, there is a pressing need to improve liquidity, security, and overall Total Value Locked (TVL) within the network. This is where a Restaking Layer comes into play, enabling users to restake their assets across multiple DeFi protocols, thus expanding the network’s security and capital efficiency.

By building a dedicated Restaking layer for Bittensor, goTAO aims to unlock the full potential of staked assets, creating a more resilient, interconnected, and scalable ecosystem. Staking and restaking allow participants to generate additional yields while securing both Bittensor and external protocols, mirroring the success of restaking on other major blockchains like Ethereum, but uniquely adapted to the needs and architecture of the Bittensor ecosystem.