Bybit Revolutionizes Ethereum Staking with mETH Protocol Partnership and Enhanced Liquidity
In a significant move to bolster its Ethereum staking offerings, the cryptocurrency exchange Bybit has announced a strategic partnership with the mETH Protocol, launching the 'mETH Boosted Yield Campaign.' This initiative promises to deliver a fixed 3% bonus Annual Percentage Rate (APR) on top of standard staking rewards for users who stake their Ethereum (ETH). The promotional campaign is set to run for an extended period, concluding on February 15, 2026, providing a long-term value proposition for participants. A core innovation of this offering is the addressing of a major pain point in traditional Ethereum staking: withdrawal delays. By leveraging Bybit's newly upgraded Buffer Pool, the platform now facilitates near-instant liquidity for staked assets. This means users can convert their staked ETH into the liquid staking token mETH and access its value without being subject to the typical unbonding or waiting periods associated with validator exits on the Ethereum network. The service is designed to be seamless and on-platform, allowing for direct ETH-to-mETH conversion without requiring users to navigate external wallets or decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols. This integrated approach significantly lowers the technical barrier to entry. Bybit is explicitly targeting a broad audience with this launch, catering to both retail investors seeking enhanced yield opportunities and institutional participants looking for efficient, liquid staking solutions. The combination of a boosted yield, instant liquidity, and a user-friendly, custodial experience positions this offering as a competitive product in the crowded liquid staking derivatives (LSD) market. As of December 2025, this development underscores Bybit's commitment to expanding its suite of financial products beyond spot and derivatives trading, moving deeper into the crypto-native yield economy. It reflects a growing trend among centralized exchanges to integrate DeFi-like functionalities, providing users with the benefits of decentralized protocols—such as yield generation and tokenized assets—within a more familiar and managed interface. This partnership could potentially attract substantial Ethereum capital to Bybit's ecosystem, increasing platform engagement and solidifying its role as a comprehensive crypto financial hub.
Bybit Enhances Ethereum Staking with mETH Protocol Partnership
Bybit has launched its mETH Boosted Yield Campaign, offering a fixed 3% bonus APR on ethereum staking through the mETH Protocol. The promotion, running until February 15, 2026, eliminates traditional withdrawal delays by leveraging Bybit’s upgraded Buffer Pool for near-instant liquidity.
The initiative targets both retail and institutional participants, allowing direct ETH-to-mETH conversion on-platform without external wallets. This marks Bybit’s strategic push into on-chain yield products amid growing demand for Ethereum’s post-Merge staking ecosystem.
2025 Crypto Hacks Surge to $6.5B Despite Fewer Incidents
Cryptocurrency theft soared to a record $6.5 billion in 2025, marking a 51% annual increase despite a decline in the number of hacking incidents. North Korean state-sponsored groups dominated the attacks, employing sophisticated tactics like infiltrating companies with fraudulent IT workers to gain privileged access.
Centralized exchanges bore the brunt of the losses, with Bybit suffering a single $1.5 billion breach—the largest of the year. Chainalysis data reveals North Korean hackers alone stole $2.02 billion, bringing their all-time crypto theft total to $6.75 billion.
The paradox of rising stolen value amid fewer incidents points to more targeted, high-value attacks. The industry's security challenges are escalating even as adoption grows, with centralized platforms becoming the primary battlefield for sophisticated threat actors.
