How to get started with Figment’s Ethereum institutional staking API

Figment provides staking infrastructure for over 700 institutional clients, including asset managers and custodians. The company manages more than $15 billion in staked assets across various networks.

Institutional onboarding and technical setup

Institutions use Figment to delegate or run validators with professional infrastructure. The process requires completing an institutional onboarding process before configuring staking delegation or validator operations. Users manage their staking through a dashboard that tracks performance and rewards. Figment also provides DataHub APIs for blockchain data needs.

The service remains non-custodial, meaning the customer maintains access to withdrawal credentials. Access to validator private keys stays strictly limited to the service. Figment supports several wallets, including MetaMask, Ledger, BitGo, Fireblocks, Copper, and Anchorage. For those using Ethereum, Figment acts as the largest non-custodial provider of staked ETH.

The platform uses a fee structure where it takes approximately 10% of staking rewards, specifically 0% of Consensus Layer rewards and 30% of Execution Layer rewards. Figment achieved NORS full certification for Ethereum, which provides an evidence-based way to evaluate node operations. This certification follows existing SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001, and SOC 1 Type I credentials.

Comparing Figment to other providers

Institutional investors often choose between specialized infrastructure providers and centralized exchanges. Figment prioritizes developer tools and compliance, whereas Stakefish focuses on operational scale across 40+ networks. Stakefish offers a 99.9%+ uptime guarantee and 100% MEV revenue sharing to clients. Figment provides the Hubble data platform and SOC 2 Type II certification to support mission-critical allocations.

Other platforms serve different market segments. Coinbase targets beginners in the US with a simple interface, though it charges a 25-35% commission on rewards. Kraken serves security-conscious investors by keeping 95% of deposits in air-gapped cold storage. Lido dominates the liquid staking space with 30% of staked ETH, but its smart contract risks remain a concern.

If you require deep protocol engagement and regulatory alignment, Figment provides a compliance-first framework. However, some institutions might find the 99.5% SLA uptime lower than the 99.9%+ uptime seen at Stakefish.

Managing risks and regulatory requirements

Staking involves several financial and technical risks. Slashing occurs when a validator fails due to downtime or double-signing, causing a loss of 0.1% to 5% of the stake. Figment includes slashing protection in its institutional services. Market volatility also poses a risk because rewards arrive in the native token. If the token price drops faster than the yield accumulates, the investment loses value in dollar terms.

Regulatory shifts influence how funds interact with staking protocols. The Blockchain Association, which Figment joined, works on establishing guidelines for the staking ecosystem. This includes addressing the treatment of protocol staking in exchange-traded products. In the European Union, MiCA rules require reporting for amounts exceeding €600.

Will the current regulatory focus on liquid staking tokens change how institutions use non-custodial providers? Professional operators must monitor network participation levels, as higher participation can reduce individual returns. Most institutions limit staking to 25% of their total portfolio to maintain discipline.