Update to the Fee Structure for imToken Non-Custodial ETH Staking
Dear imToken Staking Users,
Since the launch of imToken Non-Custodial ETH Staking, more than 80,000 ETH has been staked through imToken. We sincerely appreciate your trust and continued support.
To ensure the long-term sustainability of our non-custodial ETH staking service, we are updating our fee structure. Under the new model, the overall cost of staking will be significantly reduced for users.
1. New Fee Structure (Effective July 1, 2026)
1.1 Fee Calculation
The new fee structure replaces the previous model—which combined a fixed ETH service fee with a variable share of execution-layer rewards—with a simpler model based on your actual staking rewards.
- The initial service fee is 10% of your total staking rewards.
- Total Staking Rewards = Execution Layer (EL) Rewards + Consensus Layer (CL) Rewards.
- Service fees accrue throughout the year and are updated daily on the Billing page.
1.2 How Service Fees Are Paid
Under the new fee structure, service fees are settled automatically using a combination of Prepaid Service Fees and Execution Layer Reward Deduction.
Prepaid Service Fee
When you create a new validator, the system estimates one year's service fee based on the current network reward level. This amount is paid upfront and credited to your prepaid balance for future fee settlement.
Execution Layer Reward Deduction
Execution-layer rewards generated by your validator belong to you and are automatically applied to outstanding service fees.
2. Effective Date
Starting July 1, 2026, all newly created validators will use the new fee structure.
At the same time, all existing active validators will automatically migrate to the new fee model.
3. Payment Requirements
New Validators (New Users)
When creating a validator, you will complete the prepaid service fee payment and the staking process separately.
Existing Validators (Current Users)
Please complete any outstanding payment under the previous fee model (if applicable), along with the required prepaid service fee under the new model, before September 1, 2026, to ensure uninterrupted staking service.
Addresses with outstanding payments will receive periodic reminders. Validators that remain unpaid after the deadline will exit according to the Ethereum protocol. Your staked ETH will remain safe and unaffected.
4. Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Why do I have an outstanding bill under the previous fee model?
Under the previous fee model, service fees accrued continuously based on validator uptime.
Before migrating to the new fee model, we calculate any unpaid service fees accumulated from your last settlement date through the migration date according to the previous pricing rules.
If you have already settled all historical fees, no additional payment is required. You only need to complete the prepaid service fee required under the new model. Please refer to the Billing page for the final amount.
Q2. Why is a prepaid service fee required, and how is it calculated?
The prepaid service fee helps ensure uninterrupted validator operation.
Because imToken never accesses your staked ETH or consensus-layer rewards, a small prepaid balance is required to cover infrastructure and operational costs whenever execution-layer rewards are insufficient to cover the service fee.
The prepaid amount is calculated as 10% of your estimated staking rewards over the coming year, based on your total staked ETH.
For example, for a standard 32 ETH validator, the required prepaid amount has been reduced from 0.20 ETH under the previous model to 0.08 ETH under the new model.
Q3. If execution-layer rewards are sufficient to cover service fees, will my prepaid balance still be used?
No.
Your prepaid balance is only used when execution-layer rewards are insufficient to cover the service fee. If execution-layer rewards fully cover the fee, your prepaid balance will remain unchanged.
Q4. When are service fees charged?
Service fees are calculated daily under the new fee model.
However, they are settled once per year, or when all of your validators have exited staking, whichever comes first.
Q5. What happens if my prepaid balance becomes insufficient?
The system will notify you when it estimates that your prepaid balance will be depleted within the next 180 days. A reminder will also appear on the Billing page.
You can add more prepaid funds during this period to avoid any interruption to your staking service.
If no action is taken after repeated reminders and your prepaid balance is exhausted, your validator(s) will exit the validator queue according to the Ethereum protocol. This will not affect the safety of your staked ETH.
Q6. When will I receive my annual bill?
Under the new fee model, an annual bill will be generated on January 1 each year.
You will receive a notification, and a detailed breakdown will also be available on the Billing page.
Q7. What happens if I do not complete the outstanding payment or prepaid service fee by September 1, 2026, 00:00:00 UTC?
According to the updated imToken Non-Custodial ETH Staking Terms of Service, all validators under your address will enter the Ethereum validator exit process.
Your staked ETH will be withdrawn according to the Ethereum protocol and returned to your designated withdrawal address. You will receive a separate notification before the exit process begins.
Q8. Will exiting staking affect my staked ETH?
No.
Exiting staking simply stops validator operation. Your staked ETH will be returned to your designated withdrawal address according to the Ethereum protocol.
If you have any questions, please contact us at support@token.im.
imToken Team
2026.07.01 SGT