{"id":"amitej-gajjala","version":1,"language":"en","title":"Amitej Gajjala","hidden":false,"content":"**Amitej Gajjala** is the Co-founder of [Stader Labs](https://iq.wiki/wiki/stader-labs), a non-custodial, [smart contract](https://iq.wiki/wiki/smart-contract)-based [staking](https://iq.wiki/wiki/staking) platform designed to streamline the utilization of staking solutions.. [\\[1\\]](#cite-id-iiqv14awexc)  \n$$widget0 [YOUTUBE@VID](sj4YTqjMjig)$$  \n  \n# Education  \n  \nGajjala earned his Bachelor’s in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, in 2009. He later graduated from the Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta, with an M.B.A. in Management in 2014. [\\[1\\]](#cite-id-iiqv14awexc)  \n  \n# Career  \n  \nGajjala worked as a business analyst at ZS Associates, a management consulting and technology firm, until 2012 when he returned to school to earn his Master’s. [\\[1\\]](#cite-id-iiqv14awexc)  \n  \nAfter earning his M.B.A., he worked as a senior business analyst and later as an associate at A.T. Kearney, a management consulting firm in Mumbai, until 2017. He became an assistant vice president at Zapr Media Labs, a media-tech startup, until 2018. In August 2018, Gajjala worked as the assistant vice president at Swiggy, an on-demand delivery platform in India.  \n  \n## Stader Labs  \n  \nIn April 2021, Gajjala and [Sidhartha Doddipalli](https://iq.wiki/wiki/sidhartha-doddipalli) co-founded [Stader Labs](https://iq.wiki/wiki/stader-labs). Stader Labs is dedicated to crafting decentralized financial protocols and solutions tailored for effective asset [staking](https://iq.wiki/wiki/staking) management across public [blockchain](https://iq.wiki/wiki/blockchain) networks. [\\[1\\]](#cite-id-iiqv14awexc)   \n$$widget0 [YOUTUBE@VID](6VS6SVhsObA)$$  \n  \n### Stader ETHx  \n  \n[Stader ETHx](https://iq.wiki/wiki/stader-ethx) is a [liquid staking](https://iq.wiki/wiki/liquid-staking) solution for [Ethereum](https://iq.wiki/wiki/ethereum), allowing users to [stake](https://iq.wiki/wiki/staking) [ETH](https://iq.wiki/wiki/ether-eth) and receive stETHx, a liquid staking token. This product allows users to earn staking rewards while retaining liquidity, facilitating participation in [decentralized finance](https://iq.wiki/wiki/defi) (DeFi) activities without locking up assets. [\\[5\\]](#cite-id-f2bjxyng1tt)  \n  \nIt was launched by Stader Labs in July 2023, ETHx ensures continuous staking rewards, enabling the growth of Ethereum holdings while integrating with [dApps](https://iq.wiki/wiki/decentralized-application) to allow users to explore additional [yield farming](https://iq.wiki/wiki/yield-farming) and lending opportunities. Additionally, [ETHx](https://iq.wiki/wiki/stader-ethx) contributes to [Ethereum](https://iq.wiki/wiki/ethereum)'s decentralization efforts, promoting scalability and resilience within the network.   \n  \n### SD Token  \n  \nThe Stader (SD) token serves as the value accrual and [governance token](https://iq.wiki/wiki/governance-tokens) for the Stader ecosystem. It conforms to the [ERC-20](https://iq.wiki/wiki/erc-20) standard with a total supply capped at a total of 150 million tokens. [\\[6\\]](#cite-id-flepm90hqkp)  \n  \n### Funding  \n  \nIn January 2022, the Stader Labs team raised $12.5 million in a funding round led by Three Arrows Capital, valuing the company at $450 million. Blockchain.com, Accomplice, GoldenTree Asset Management, Accel, and other investors also provided funding. [\\[7\\]](#cite-id-p2repfutqr)  \n  \nIn October 2021, Stader Labs raised $4 million in a seed round, led by [Pantera Capital](https://iq.wiki/wiki/pantera-capital). [Coinbase Ventures](https://iq.wiki/wiki/coinbase), True Ventures, Jump Capital, and Ledgerprime also participated in the round. [\\[8\\]](#cite-id-5vzy462zvqn)  \n  \n# Interviews/Panels  \n  \n## Restaking Rewards & DeFi  \n  \nDuring Restaking and Infra Day at L2con in Dubai, Gajjala, as a keynote speaker, provided insights into the liquid restaking landscape, emphasizing its potential for higher rewards than traditional staking. He discussed users' complexities in selecting validators, managing rewards across multiple protocols, and challenges such as high gas fees and liquidity constraints. [\\[2\\]](#cite-id-s5to9oxya8a)  \n  \nGajjala introduced liquid restake tokens (LRTs) like [rsETH](https://iq.wiki/wiki/kelp-dao-restaked-eth-rseth) by [Kelp DAO](https://iq.wiki/wiki/kelp-dao) as a solution, simplifying asset liquidity and reward claiming while offering risk-adjusted rewards. Additionally, he highlighted the development of proprietary technology enabling native restaking on [Layer 2](https://iq.wiki/wiki/layer-2) solutions, aiming to save users [gas](https://iq.wiki/wiki/gas) fees and expand accessibility. [\\[2\\]](#cite-id-s5to9oxya8a) $$widget0 [YOUTUBE@VID](KX1Eq0FBgps)$$  \n  \n## Pioneering LRT  \n  \nAt ETHStaker 2023, Gajjala delved into the evolution of [liquid staking](https://iq.wiki/wiki/liquid-staking) as a new paradigm in [decentralized finance (DeFi)](https://iq.wiki/wiki/defi) following the emergence of [Ethereum](https://iq.wiki/wiki/ethereum) as a global value exchange network in 2015. He discussed the democratization of [staking](https://iq.wiki/wiki/staking) and the introduction of [liquidity](https://iq.wiki/wiki/pol-proof-of-liquidity) to staked assets through platforms like [Lido](https://iq.wiki/wiki/lido-dao) and [Rocket Pool](https://iq.wiki/wiki/rocket-pool). [\\[3\\]](#cite-id-wx8v6viqdno)  \n  \nThe presentation identified key challenges facing [liquid staking](https://iq.wiki/wiki/liquid-staking) adoption, including complex user interfaces, multi-token rewards systems, and liquidity loss during restaking periods. The Liquid Restake Tokens (LRTs) concept is introduced to simplify user experiences, provide liquidity, and mitigate risks such as slashing and centralization in restaking networks to address these challenges. [\\[3\\]](#cite-id-wx8v6viqdno) $$widget0 [YOUTUBE@VID](eSednA0x0wI)$$  \n  \n## DeFi For Everyone  \n  \nAt FILBangalore 2023, Gajjala introduced [liquid staking](https://iq.wiki/wiki/liquid-staking), where users stake [Ethereum](https://iq.wiki/wiki/ethereum) or other [PoS](https://iq.wiki/wiki/proof-of-stake) tokens to obtain representative tokens usable in [DeFi](https://iq.wiki/wiki/defi) protocols. This innovation democratizes staking by removing large capital requirements and enabling broader participation. The liquid staking market has a total capitalization exceeding $35-40 billion, as seen on platforms like Aave. Additionally, Gajjala discussed liquid restaking as the next innovation frontier, aiming to enhance efficiency and unlock liquidity for restaked assets. [\\[4\\]](#cite-id-esmparsay59) $$widget0 [YOUTUBE@VID](Fnn_3lheLiI)$$","summary":"Amitej Gajjala is a co-founder of Kelp DAO and Eigenlayer, with educational background in engineering and management from premier Indian institutions.","categories":[{"id":"people","title":"People in crypto"}],"promoted":0,"tags":[{"id":"Founders"},{"id":"PeopleInDeFi"}],"metadata":[{"id":"references","value":"[{\"id\":\"iiqv14awexc\",\"url\":\"https://www.linkedin.com/in/amitej-gajjala/\",\"description\":\"Amitej Gajjala | LinkedIn\",\"timestamp\":1715885241617},{\"id\":\"s5to9oxya8a\",\"url\":\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KX1Eq0FBgps&pp=ygUOYW1pdGVqIGdhamphbGE%3D\",\"description\":\"Restaking Rewards & Participate in DeFi | YouTube\",\"timestamp\":1715885502569},{\"id\":\"wx8v6viqdno\",\"url\":\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eSednA0x0wI&pp=ygUOYW1pdGVqIGdhamphbGE%3D\",\"description\":\"Pioneering LRT | YouTube\",\"timestamp\":1715885528700},{\"id\":\"esmparsay59\",\"url\":\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fnn_3lheLiI&pp=ygUOYW1pdGVqIGdhamphbGE%3D\",\"description\":\"DeFi for Everyone | YouTube\",\"timestamp\":1715885576767},{\"id\":\"f2bjxyng1tt\",\"url\":\"https://www.staderlabs.com/eth/\",\"description\":\"stader ethx\",\"timestamp\":1720198598511},{\"id\":\"flepm90hqkp\",\"url\":\"https://staderlabs.notion.site/staderlabs/Introducing-SD-1160c9a4217d477eaafb963e21f90aba\",\"description\":\"sd token\",\"timestamp\":1720198673804},{\"id\":\"p2repfutqr\",\"url\":\"https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/funding/crypto-startup-stader-labs-gets-funding-at-450-million-valuation/articleshow/89021014.cms?from=mdr\",\"description\":\"12.5$ funding raise\",\"timestamp\":1720198770859},{\"id\":\"5vzy462zvqn\",\"url\":\"https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/funding/stader-labs-raises-4-million-in-round-led-by-pantera-capital/articleshow/86841107.cms\",\"description\":\"4$ million funding\",\"timestamp\":1720198808570}]"},{"id":"website","value":"https://www.staderlabs.com/"},{"id":"twitter_profile","value":"https://twitter.com/GAmitej"},{"id":"linkedin_profile","value":"https://www.linkedin.com/in/amitej-gajjala/"},{"id":"commit-message","value":"updated page"},{"id":"previous_cid","value":"QmQe2vuVT5WmwsyBpDfdgofk8NPFuAYDPgza5JGbGroP21"}],"user":{"id":"0x212Cb3F4aE6611054637f9f78F18fB628AD258bb"},"author":{"id":"0xacb6c5AD52b8f605299B0d774CE97F26e3DB80c2","profile":{"username":"JSD","avatar":""}},"media":[{"name":"6VS6SVhsObA","id":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6VS6SVhsObA","size":"0","type":null,"source":"YOUTUBE"},{"name":"KX1Eq0FBgps","id":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KX1Eq0FBgps","size":"0","type":null,"source":"YOUTUBE"},{"name":"eSednA0x0wI","id":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eSednA0x0wI","size":"0","type":null,"source":"YOUTUBE"},{"name":"Fnn_3lheLiI","id":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fnn_3lheLiI","size":"0","type":null,"source":"YOUTUBE"},{"name":"sj4YTqjMjig","id":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sj4YTqjMjig","size":"0","type":null,"source":"YOUTUBE"}],"views":40,"events":[],"linkedWikis":{"founders":[],"blockchains":[]},"ipfs":"QmQe2vuVT5WmwsyBpDfdgofk8NPFuAYDPgza5JGbGroP21","transactionHash":"0xb182ee561cabb41910d393728533c9ce7b57508fdcc40412ef526fc77f711d80","created":"2024-05-16T19:04:05.813Z","updated":"2024-05-26T02:27:11.731Z","images":[{"id":"QmRxbR3gwWGD3Sgdj8DYBUbEVGqDWHTfLPF9jpS9kayQug","type":"image/jpeg, image/png"}]}