**🎉 Ecosystem Showcase AMA with Stader Labs🎉** ▪️Date: 25 May 2023 ▪️Platform: [Near Telegram](https://t.me/cryptonear) Special guest from Stader Labs: Shalini - Senior Marketing Manager **1. Liquid staking and its problems vs liquid staking with Stader** - Passive income from staking with concerns about token lock-up and lack of instant liquidity. - Stader provides NearX, a liquid staking token that can be used for DeFi yields and swapped instantly. Integrated with multiple platforms for additional yield opportunities. **2. USPs of Stader** - Diversified portfolio across multiple blockchains. - Diligent validator selection process for trust and security. - Numerous security measures, including 3 audits and bug bounty program ($1m bug bounty program with Immunefi). - Additional opportunities for yield farming beyond liquid staking. - Strong team with expertise in tech, product, business development, and marketing. **3. Utility of NearX token** - Higher rewards than native staking. - Auto-compounding nature and rising value. - Adding liquidity on various exchanges. - Instant liquidity via swapping and trading on order book exchanges. **4. Attraction to NEAR's Tech** - Market maturity and yield opportunities. - Scalability and lower transaction costs. - Community focus and ecosystem development. - Sustainable nature and carbon neutrality. **5. Upcoming Features and Products** - Validator-specific staking: you can stake your NEAR with your favorite validator via Stader. In return, you get access to Stader’s liquid staking token, NearX, unlocking a world of DeFi possibilities and instant liquidity. Plans to bring in more validators for validator-specific staking. - Lockup contract staking: Stake your unvested Near tokens with Stader. - Exploring stake pools for non-liquid staking preferences. - Exploring enterprise-level product launches. - Community efforts and education: **6. Focus on community development and education** - Initiatives like Stader School of Staking (help users understand the crypto staking ecosystem) and Near Nuggets (posts on features and products in the NEAR ecosystem) - Featured partners through the Know Your Community program where we partner with a NEAR community every week to bring users interesting updates, learning programs, and prizes. - Weekend Fun series (short answer quizzes) for interactive community activities. **7. Collaboration with learning platforms:** Currently focusing on educational initiatives on Stader's platform but there is a plan to work with Learn Near Club and Lazyfi. **8. Web3 and Crypto Industry Outlook** - Belief in the future of Web3 as the next step in connectivity. - Advantages of Web3 over Web2, including resistance to censorship and data privacy. - Predicted mainstream adoption of Web3 and crypto in 3-5 years. - Stader's positioning as a leading platform in the space.