Staking · Review
ActiveZearn Protocol Review 2026: ZetaChain Liquid Staking
Zearn Protocol is a small liquid staking protocol for ZetaChain, with a Bitlayer deployment, that issues stZETA for staked ZETA. It is a niche, low-TVL product with no listed audits.
By the DappsAtlas editorial team · Updated
DappsAtlas score
4.8/10
Weak
Our verdict on Zearn Protocol
4.8/10Zearn Protocol suits users who already hold ZETA, want staking rewards while keeping a liquid token, and are comfortable with a very small, unaudited protocol. Its main strength is a simple stZETA model with a points program and a Bitlayer route. The main caveat is risk: TVL is around $54,000, no audits are listed, and fees and withdrawal terms are not published. Treat it as an experimental position and stake only what you can afford to lose.
Score breakdown
How Zearn Protocol scores
- Security
- 3.5/10
- Ease of use
- 6.5/10
- Fees
- n/a
- Features
- 5.0/10
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 Zearn Protocol?
Zearn Protocol is a liquid staking protocol built for ZetaChain. It lets users stake ZETA and receive stZETA, a token representing the stake, so they can earn staking rewards without running infrastructure. DeFiLlama has listed it since February 2024 and also tracks a Bitlayer deployment.
The protocol is small. DeFiLlama shows about $54,000 in TVL, down 2.7% over seven days, no audits listed and no native token tracked. Zearn's own pages promote a points program and ZEA token rewards for BTC deposits, which suggests growth is driven partly by incentives.
The team, fee structure and governance are not published in the material reviewed, so this is a product for users who accept early-stage risk.
How Zearn Protocol works
Zearn is a liquid staking protocol. A user deposits ZETA, the native token of the ZetaChain proof-of-stake network, and the protocol stakes it on their behalf. In return the user receives stZETA, a token that represents the staked position.
Because stZETA is a normal token, it can be held, moved or used in other places such as liquidity pools, while the underlying ZETA keeps earning staking rewards. This avoids the lock-up and the need to run validator infrastructure that come with staking directly.
The app also runs a points system. Users earn ZPoints per day for holding stZETA or providing liquidity, and for completing missions. Search listings also mention ZEA token rewards for first-time BTC deposits, tied to a Bitlayer integration. How these rewards convert to value is not described in the sources reviewed.
4 features
Key features
01
stZETA liquid staking
Stake ERC20 ZETA on the ZetaChain mainnet and receive stZETA straight away, without running validator infrastructure.
02
Retained token control
Users keep control of their stZETA tokens while staking rewards accrue to the position.
03
Bitlayer and BTC angle
DeFiLlama tracks Zearn on both ZetaChain and Bitlayer, and the project describes BTC-related deposit integrations.
04
ZPoints incentives
The app has a leaderboard where users earn ZPoints for missions, holding stZETA and providing liquidity.
Pros and cons
What we like
- Clear, simple purpose: liquid staking for ZETA with stZETA as the receipt token
- Users keep control of their stZETA and can use it elsewhere
- Supports ZetaChain and Bitlayer, adding a BTC-oriented route
- Incentive program through ZPoints rewards holding and liquidity provision
- Listed on DeFiLlama since 2024, so activity is publicly trackable
Watch out for
- TVL is only about $54,000, so liquidity for stZETA is likely thin
- No audits are listed in the DeFiLlama data and none were found in the sources
- Fees, validator selection and withdrawal terms are not published in the sources reviewed
- Points and token incentives (ZPoints, ZEA) can attract short-term users and may change without notice
- Team and governance details are not published
- Small TVL and a 7-day decline of 2.7% suggest limited traction
Zearn Protocol fees
Zearn does not publish a fee schedule in the sources reviewed. Liquid staking protocols commonly take a share of staking rewards, but the rate for Zearn is not stated.
Users should check the Zearn app before staking to see the reward rate, any commission, and the network gas costs on ZetaChain or Bitlayer. Unstaking terms and any withdrawal delay should also be confirmed in the app.
Is Zearn Protocol safe?
DeFiLlama lists zero audits for Zearn, and no audit report appears in the sources reviewed. Smart-contract risk is therefore unverified. Users face the usual liquid staking risks: bugs in staking contracts, validator slashing on the underlying chain, and stZETA trading at a discount to ZETA when liquidity is thin.
Custody follows the liquid staking model, in which deposited ZETA is held by protocol contracts rather than by the user. The team, admin key setup and any upgrade controls are not published in the material reviewed. No hacks or incidents are mentioned in the sources. With a TVL near $54,000, only risk capital should be used.
6 steps
How to get started with Zearn Protocol
- 1
Check that you hold ZETA on ZetaChain, or BTC-related assets if you plan to use the Bitlayer route.
- 2
Open the official Zearn app from the project's official website and connect a compatible wallet.
- 3
Read the current reward rate, fee and unstaking terms shown in the app.
- 4
Stake a small amount of ZETA and confirm that stZETA arrives in your wallet.
- 5
Optionally check the leaderboard page to see which missions earn ZPoints.
- 6
Monitor your position and the stZETA market price, and only add more if you are comfortable with the risks.
Who Zearn Protocol is for
Zearn is for ZETA holders who want staking yield with a liquid receipt token, and for DeFi users interested in points programs and BTC-linked deposits on Bitlayer. It is not suited to users who need audited contracts, deep liquidity or clearly published fee terms.
Zearn Protocol FAQs
What is stZETA?
stZETA is the liquid staking token Zearn gives you when you stake ZETA through the protocol. It represents your staked position and accrues staking rewards, and you keep control of the token.
Which chains does Zearn support?
Zearn's own materials describe it as a liquid staking solution for ZetaChain, and one listing mentions Bitlayer as well. DeFiLlama tracks it on both ZetaChain and Bitlayer.
Has Zearn been audited?
DeFiLlama lists no audits for Zearn, and none were found in the other sources reviewed. The protocol does not publish audit reports in the material available, so users should treat smart-contract risk as unverified.
Does Zearn have a token?
DeFiLlama shows no token for the protocol. Zearn's site refers to ZPoints for activity such as holding stZETA or providing liquidity, and a listing mentions ZEA tokens for first-time BTC depositors. Terms of these programs are set by Zearn and can change.
Is Zearn safe to use?
Staking rewards and incentive programs are not guaranteed. Risks include smart-contract bugs, stZETA trading below the value of the underlying ZETA, validator slashing on the underlying network and low liquidity.
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How we checked
Sources
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