Staking · Review
InactiveClayStack Review 2026: Liquid Staking Protocol That Shut Down
ClayStack was a decentralized, cross-chain liquid staking protocol that announced its shutdown on 12 September 2024 and moved to withdrawals only. It is no longer a place to start new staking.
By the DappsAtlas editorial team · Updated
DappsAtlas score
3.0/10
Weak
Our verdict on Claystack
3.0/10ClayStack was a liquid staking protocol that tried to make staked assets tradable across Proof-of-Stake networks, but it announced its shutdown in September 2024 and now supports only withdrawals. It is relevant mainly to people who still hold its tokens or want to understand its history. Anyone looking to stake today should choose an active protocol. Be wary of unrelated promotions that borrow the ClayStack name for AI trading bots.
Score breakdown
How Claystack scores
- Security
- n/a
- Ease of use
- n/a
- Fees
- n/a
- Features
- n/a
Scores run from 0 to 10 and are based only on facts we could verify. Where information was missing we mark the score n/a rather than guess.
What is Claystack?
ClayStack was a decentralized liquid staking protocol for Proof-of-Stake networks. It let users stake tokens and receive a tradable token in return, so their assets stayed liquid while earning staking rewards.
On 12 September 2024, the protocol announced its shutdown and said it would support only withdrawals from then on. A later message attributed to its former team says it ran for over five years and raised more than $5.2M. As of 2026, it is not an active product.
Public reporting also surface promotions that use the ClayStack name for an AI trading robot. Nothing in the sources connects that product to the staking protocol, and anyone encountering such a pitch should be cautious.
How Claystack works
Liquid staking lets a holder stake tokens on a Proof-of-Stake network without losing access to their value. The protocol stakes the deposited tokens with validators and issues a receipt token in return. That token represents the staked position plus accrued rewards and can be held, traded or used in other DeFi applications.
ClayStack described itself in this way, as a decentralized cross-chain liquid staking protocol that unlocked the liquidity of staked assets. Public reporting also show a token called csmatic, which appears to be the receipt token for staked MATIC.
When a protocol winds down, the usual approach is to disable new deposits and leave redemption open so holders can convert their receipt tokens back into the underlying asset. ClayStack said it would support withdrawals only.
4 features
Key features
01
Liquid staking tokens
Users staked tokens on Proof-of-Stake networks and received a tradable token representing the stake, so assets were not locked up.
02
Cross-chain staking
The protocol was described as cross-chain, aiming to serve staking across more than one Proof-of-Stake network.
03
Restaking plans
At a 2024 conference, a ClayStack representative discussed upgradable modules in a restaking protocol, which suggests plans beyond plain staking.
04
Tradable derivative token
A token called csmatic is listed on market-tracking pages, indicating that its liquid staking token could be traded on exchanges.
Pros and cons
What we like
- Clear concept: liquid staking tokens kept staked capital usable
- Described as cross-chain, covering more than one Proof-of-Stake network
- Reported venture backing, per the team's own statements
- Team publicly announced the wind-down and kept withdrawals available rather than disappearing
Watch out for
- The protocol announced its shutdown in September 2024 and, from then on, supported only withdrawals
- No new staking is available, so it cannot be used as a current liquid staking option
- The homepage could not be loaded, so the current state of the interface is unconfirmed
- Audits, fees and exact supported networks are not published in the sources reviewed
- Unrelated promotions using the ClayStack name, including videos pitching an AI trading bot, can confuse or mislead searchers
Claystack fees
ClayStack's fee schedule is not published in the sources reviewed. Liquid staking protocols typically take a share of staking rewards and charge network gas on deposits and withdrawals, but the exact rates for ClayStack are unknown.
Because the protocol moved to withdrawals only, fees for new staking are no longer relevant. Anyone withdrawing would see network gas costs in their wallet before confirming.
Is Claystack safe?
The protocol is shut down, so the main risk now is the withdrawal process and any remaining smart-contract exposure. Audit reports are not published in the sources reviewed, so the quality of the contracts cannot be assessed here. Holders of ClayStack tokens should rely only on verified official channels for instructions.
Impersonation is a separate risk. Videos and posts using the ClayStack name to promote an AI trading bot as a profitable platform are not shown to be connected to the staking protocol. Treat any request to deposit funds with them as high risk.
6 steps
How to get started with Claystack
- 1
Confirm the situation first: the protocol announced a shutdown on 12 September 2024 and supports only withdrawals.
- 2
Do not deposit new funds or attempt to stake anything through any site using the ClayStack name.
- 3
If you hold a ClayStack liquid staking token, find withdrawal instructions through the project's verified social channels or announcements.
- 4
Check the contract address of any token against official sources before interacting with it.
- 5
Use a wallet you control and review the transaction details and gas fee before confirming a withdrawal.
- 6
Ignore videos or ads promoting a ClayStack AI trading bot, which are unrelated to the staking protocol based on available information.
Who Claystack is for
This page is for former ClayStack users who still hold liquid staking tokens, and for researchers tracing the history of liquid staking and restaking projects. It is not for anyone seeking a staking service today, since new staking is no longer available.
Claystack FAQs
Is ClayStack still active?
No. The protocol announced its shutdown in September 2024 and said it would only support withdrawals from then on. It should not be treated as an active staking option.
What was ClayStack?
ClayStack was a decentralized liquid staking protocol for Proof-of-Stake networks. Users staked tokens and received a tradable token in return, so their capital stayed usable while it earned staking rewards.
Can I still withdraw my funds from ClayStack?
Withdrawals were the only function the team said it would support after the shutdown announcement. Anyone who still holds a ClayStack liquid staking token should check official announcements on the project's verified social channels for current withdrawal instructions.
What is csmatic?
Public reporting shows a market listing for a token called csmatic, which appears to be a ClayStack liquid staking token. Its exact mechanics are not described in the sources reviewed, and with the protocol winding down, its redemption value depends on the withdrawal process.
Is the ClayStack AI trading bot the same project?
Some promotional videos use the ClayStack name to pitch an AI trading robot as a profitable platform. Nothing in the sources links that product to the staking protocol, and such pitches deserve strong scepticism. Never send funds to a platform promoted this way.
Was ClayStack backed by investors?
Not independently of the shutdown announcement. The protocol was described as backed by venture funds, and a message from its former team says it ran for over five years and raised more than $5.2M. Those are the team's own statements.
Compare
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How we checked
Sources
No public sources were recorded for this review.
Last updated . Spotted an error? Tell us and we will correct it.