December 23, 2025 - In a significant development for the blockchain staking community, Everstake, a prominent validator serving over 1 million users across more than 80 blockchains, has announced its departure from the CoreDAO network. This move highlights ongoing challenges in the BTCFi space and raises questions about Core's sustainability. As a crypto enthusiast and professional blogger, I'll break down the announcement, explain Core's innovative BTC staking model, and explore what this means for stakers and the ecosystem.
The Announcement: Everstake's Exit from CoreDAO
Everstake made the announcement via an X (formerly Twitter) post, stating: "We would like to inform you that we will be leaving the @Coredao_Org network. To continue receiving staking rewards, please redelegate your stake to another active validator before January 9." The post urges users to redelegate via a provided link to avoid any loss of rewards. This decision comes amid what appears to be an internal strategy shift, as Everstake has been a key partner with CoreDAO since their collaboration in early 2023.
For those unfamiliar, Everstake has built a reputation as a reliable validator, offering staking services for major chains like Ethereum, Solana, and Cosmos. Their exit from CoreDAO, an EVM-compatible blockchain focused on Bitcoin integration, signals potential profitability issues in maintaining validator operations on the network.
Reasons Behind Everstake's Departure
While the official statement cites an internal strategy adjustment, community discussions on X reveal deeper insights. Responses to the post suggest that low external delegations have made operations unprofitable. One user noted, "It's challenging to keep going, especially in an environment where attracting delegators is difficult, and larger validators capture most of the attention." Another highlighted the high costs of running a validator outweighing profits, especially with minimal external participation.
CoreDAO, now in its third year, has faced criticisms for a "lifeless" community and lack of visible progress, leading some to label it a potential scam. These sentiments underscore broader issues like high maintenance expenses and difficulties in scaling delegations beyond internal or self-staking.
Community Reactions: Mixed Emotions and Concerns
The announcement sparked varied reactions on X. Positive notes included appreciation for Everstake's service, with one user calling it their "favorite validator on Core." However, negativity dominated, with fears of reduced decentralization as validators depart. Comments ranged from panic over the network's future to defenses drawing parallels to Bitcoin's early days, which survived with minimal activity. Accusations of stagnation and eroded trust were common, with phrases like "trust is dead" and "the chain is being abandoned" reflecting community frustration.
This exit could exacerbate CoreDAO's challenges, potentially leading to fewer active validators and impacting network security and yield opportunities for stakers.
Explaining Core's BTC Staking Model: A Deep Dive
At the heart of CoreDAO is its groundbreaking non-custodial BTC staking model, which allows Bitcoin holders to earn yields without relinquishing control of their assets. Unlike traditional staking that requires transferring funds to a third party, Core's approach leverages Bitcoin's native features for a secure, trustless experience.
How It Works: Users timelock their Bitcoin using Bitcoin's CheckLockTimeVerify (CLTV) opcode, committing it for a minimum of 24 hours. This timelock acts as a vote for validators on the Core network without moving the BTC from the user's wallet. In return, when elected validators produce blocks, stakers receive CORE tokens as rewards, sent directly to a specified EVM-compatible address.
Non-Custodial Nature: Your Bitcoin never leaves your control—there's no wrapping, bridging, or slashing involved. After the timelock expires, the BTC is fully spendable again. This eliminates principal risk, relying solely on Bitcoin's robust consensus rules for security.
Satoshi Plus Consensus: Core's unique consensus mechanism combines delegations from three sources:
- CORE Token Holders: Lock CORE to vote for validators.
- Bitcoin Miners: Delegate hash power via Delegated Proof of Work (DPoW), embedding metadata in Bitcoin block coinbases.
- Bitcoin Holders: Timelock BTC to participate in validator election.
Benefits for Stakers: Earn real yield on idle Bitcoin, transforming it into a productive asset. Dual Staking amplifies rewards by combining BTC and CORE staking, applying multipliers based on ratios (e.g., Satoshi Tier for top yields). With over 3,000 BTC staked, 242 million CORE locked, and 88% of Bitcoin's hash power securing the chain, Core boasts a TVL of $34 million and serves 1 million+ weekly active users.
Recent upgrades like Hermes enhance BTC yields for CORE holders, and the 81-year fixed block reward schedule plus transaction fees ensure long-term incentives. For more details, check Core's official staking dashboard.
Implications for CoreDAO and BTCFi
Everstake's exit could signal broader validator attrition if profitability remains low, potentially harming decentralization and staker confidence. However, Core's strong Bitcoin integration and metrics suggest resilience. As BTCFi grows, networks like Core must innovate to attract more delegations and build vibrant communities to avoid similar departures.
For stakers, this is a reminder to monitor validator performance and redelegate promptly. If you're holding CORE or staked BTC, now's the time to assess your positions.
Related Post: Core Announces 2026 Bitcoin Power Grid Roadmap Expansion With new Yield Products
Final Thoughts
Everstake's departure from Core DAO is a wake-up call for the project to address community concerns and boost engagement. While the BTC staking model remains innovative and secure, execution will determine its long-term success. Stay tuned for more crypto news and insights—subscribe for updates on blockchain developments, BTC staking strategies, and DeFi trends.
Keywords: Everstake exit Core DAO, Core BTC staking explained, Core Chain news, BTCFi updates, non-custodial Bitcoin staking, Satoshi Plus consensus
Written by EnatDigital
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