MetaMask, the world's leading web3 wallet, has launched its innovative pooled staking service for Ethereum, making it possible for users to contribute to the network's security and earn rewards with any amount of ether. This pioneering feature, developed by Consensys, the mastermind behind MetaMask, marks a significant milestone in the evolution of Ethereum staking.

Prior to this launch, users needed a minimum of 32 ETH, approximately $113,000, to participate in native staking. This limitation excluded a vast majority of users from engaging in the staking process. With MetaMask's pooled staking, users can now stake any amount of ether, democratizing access to Ethereum staking and promoting greater decentralization.

The phased rollout of this service will initially be available to a select group of users, with a broader rollout planned for the coming days. The pooled staking service is built on the robust architecture of StakeWise, an Ethereum liquid staking protocol, ensuring the security and efficiency of the staking process.

Matthieu Saint Olive, Senior Product Manager at Consensys, expressed the company's enthusiasm for this launch, stating, "With Pooled Staking, MetaMask users now have an easy way to stake ETH in enterprise-grade validators while maintaining full control of their ETH, earning rewards, and making Ethereum more secure." Consensys aims to expand this service to a wider user base, fostering greater participation in Ethereum staking.

Currently, only 27.1% of the total ether supply is staked on the network, with a significant portion concentrated in a few large pools. By introducing pooled staking, MetaMask seeks to make native Ethereum validator staking more accessible, mirroring the success of liquid staking solutions like Lido and Rocket Pool. These solutions offer staking options for smaller amounts of ether without requiring the full 32 ETH minimum, providing users with greater flexibility.

The initial launch excludes users in the United States and the United Kingdom due to regulatory uncertainty. However, Consensys plans to extend this service to these markets in the future. The company's pooled staking service boasts an impressive infrastructure, with over 33,000 hosted Ethereum validators across multiple clouds, regions, and clients. This robust setup ensures the security and reliability of the staking process, with over 1 million ETH staked, zero penalized validators, and an impressive 99.9% validator participation rate.

This development comes on the heels of MetaMask's announcement to support Bitcoin for the first time, aligning with similar moves by other web3 wallet providers like Phantom. In April, MetaMask integrated with Daylight, enabling users to check their eligibility for airdrops and potential NFT claims.

The launch of MetaMask's pooled staking service marks a significant milestone in the evolution of Ethereum staking, expanding access to global users and promoting greater decentralization. As the Ethereum ecosystem continues to grow, innovations like this will play a crucial role in shaping its future.