Introduction

The blockchain ecosystem is entering a new era of innovation, with liquid staking protocols emerging as key infrastructure components for modular and scalable networks. Among these, MilkyWay has captured industry attention with its streamlined approach to staking, advanced security mechanisms, and modular architecture. Designed to simplify staking and boost composability across blockchains, MilkyWay has secured backing from major investors, including Binance Labs and successfully closed a $5 million seed round, underscoring its strategic importance in the evolving DeFi landscape.

What is MilkyWay?

MilkyWay is a Cosmos-based Layer-1 blockchain built around two core innovations: Liquid Staking (LSD) and Restaking. These mechanisms enable users to retain liquidity on their staked assets while simultaneously securing multiple blockchain services—including oracles, bridges, rollups, and data availability layers.

In traditional proof-of-stake (PoS) networks, staked tokens are locked and cannot be reused elsewhere. MilkyWay solves this by allowing users to stake tokens like TIA, BABY, or INIT, and receive corresponding LSD tokens (e.g., milkTIA, milkBABY, milkINIT) that can freely move across cross-chain DeFi protocols or bridging networks.

Restaking builds upon this by allowing the same staked assets to secure multiple services, known as Actively Validated Services (AVSs). This modular approach avoids the inefficiencies of fragmented validator sets, offering one consolidated pool of trust and security across the Cosmos ecosystem. Built using Cosmos SDK and CometBFT (formerly Tendermint), MilkyWay supports advanced staking logic, slashing conditions, and cross-chain compatibility via IBC.

Our History and Expansion

MilkyWay launched in December 2023 with an enhanced liquid staking system for the Celestia blockchain, enabling TIA holders to retain liquidity through milkTIA while earning staking rewards. This marked the beginning of Phase 1, where MilkyWay positioned itself as a liquid staking portal tailored for Cosmos-native assets.

The success of milkTIA in various DeFi protocols laid the foundation for Phase 2—an expansion to modular ecosystems like Babylon and Initia, and the introduction of new LSD tokens such as milkBABY and milkINIT. In parallel, MilkyWay is integrating a restaking layer that provides “security plug-ins” for AVSs, offering developers easy access to shared validator infrastructure and users access to multi-layer yield opportunities.

Who is MilkyWay for?

Stakers: Stake tokens like TIA or INIT while retaining liquidity via LSD tokens, and access broader DeFi opportunities.
AVS Builders: Secure your off-chain or app-specific services without creating a full validator set or issuing a staking token.
Operators & Validators: Earn additional revenue by validating across multiple AVSs within a unified infrastructure.
Restakers: Maximize rewards by opting into restaking modules that utilize staked assets across services.
Investors & LPs: Engage in a growing modular staking economy with scalable yield strategies and liquidity flows.

Project Background

MilkyWay is a modular staking portal that seeks to be the primary liquidity and security hub for the modular blockchain economy. By reducing complexity in staking processes and providing a seamless user experience, it empowers both individual users and developers to participate in decentralized finance more efficiently.

A key innovation behind MilkyWay is its use of CosmWasm smart contracts on the Osmosis blockchain, which allows for enhanced flexibility and composability. The platform integrates a multisig custody mechanism for asset protection, giving users increased confidence in the protocol's security framework.

The project is built by a seasoned team of engineers from prominent blockchain ventures, including Tendermint, Osmosis, Cosmostation, Oak Security, and Composable Finance. This collective expertise brings together deep knowledge of Cosmos-based architecture and staking dynamics, giving MilkyWay a competitive edge in both product execution and protocol design.

MilkyWay’s vision centers on enabling interconnected blockchain environments by acting as a foundational layer for staking, restaking, and liquid staking across multiple chains. Its ultimate goal is to unlock composability at scale while ensuring a robust security layer for modular ecosystems.

Project Categories

MilkyWay operates within the staking and infrastructure sectors of the blockchain space, with a particular focus on liquid staking for modular blockchains. This rapidly growing category addresses long-standing pain points around capital inefficiency and validator coordination.

What sets MilkyWay apart is its technical modularity, which allows it to support a wide range of validators, networks, and use cases. While many staking protocols focus on individual chains or tokens, MilkyWay is designed to work across ecosystems—especially those built using Cosmos SDK modules.

Its integration of CosmWasm contracts enables custom logic and greater programmability, a distinct advantage compared to legacy staking protocols. Furthermore, the multisig-based custody system elevates the standard for on-chain security in a time when protocol exploits remain a top concern.

As institutional and retail users increasingly demand yield opportunities without sacrificing liquidity, MilkyWay positions itself as a critical infrastructure provider within the broader liquid staking narrative.

Market Analysis

The market for liquid staking and modular blockchain solutions is expanding quickly, with over $25 billion in staked assets across major networks as of early 2025. As this trend accelerates, the need for scalable, secure, and composable staking platforms becomes paramount.

Competitive Advantages

CosmWasm-Based Infrastructure
MilkyWay’s use of CosmWasm smart contracts ensures modularity and upgradability, aligning well with the evolving Cosmos ecosystem.
Multisig Custody for Asset Security
Unlike protocols relying solely on smart contract security, MilkyWay adds an additional layer of protection via multi-signature custody, reducing single points of failure.
Interoperability with Osmosis and Beyond
MilkyWay is native to the Osmosis blockchain, one of the most active hubs in the Cosmos network. This gives it immediate liquidity advantages and integration potential with other IBC-enabled zones.
Institutional Backing
The $5M seed round backed by Binance Labs and other investors adds credibility and runway to sustain long-term development.

Market Opportunities

Expansion of TIA and Liquid Restaking
The integration with TIA (Celestia's native token) opens pathways for capital efficiency, as restaked assets can be reused in other DeFi layers.
Growing Demand for Modularity
As rollups and app-chains proliferate, MilkyWay’s design aligns with the need for cross-chain staking coordination and liquidity provisioning.
Composability in DeFi
By enabling restaked assets to be used across protocols, MilkyWay enhances yield stacking and utility, a feature increasingly demanded in competitive DeFi environments.

Challenges

While the growth potential is high, MilkyWay must contend with an increasingly crowded liquid staking space dominated by incumbents like Lido, Stride, and pSTAKE. Maintaining differentiation through security and composability will be key to sustaining long-term adoption.

Key Market Stats (as of 02 May 2025):

Current Price: $0.1216
24-Hour Trading Volume: 42.4K
Total Market Cap: $121.70M

Project Overview

Name: MilkyWay
Official Website: MilkWay Website
Whitepaper: MilkWay Whitepaper
Total Supply: 1,000,000,000
Contract Address: ibc/9D8D4CAE9D8F15B69E93969304AF3878D14BDED39FEAF0060566D6AC22288779
Explorer: MilkWay on Mintscan
Exchanges: CoinEx (CEX), Osmosis (DEX)

FAQ

Q: What makes MilkyWay unique?

A: MilkyWay is distinguished by its modular design, CosmWasm-powered smart contracts, and a multisig custody system that significantly enhances user security. Its alignment with Osmosis and the broader Cosmos ecosystem, along with its goal of supporting cross-chain staking liquidity, sets it apart from traditional staking protocols.

Q: Is MilkyWay a good investment?

A: MilkyWay offers compelling fundamentals—strong institutional backing, technical innovation, and integration with modular blockchains. However, as with any crypto project, it remains subject to market volatility and competitive risk. Prospective investors should consider their risk appetite and conduct independent research before investing.

Conclusion

MilkyWay represents a significant leap forward in the world of staking infrastructure. By bridging the gap between security, liquidity, and modularity, it has the potential to become a foundational pillar of the Cosmos and modular blockchain economy. Its early traction, backed by industry giants and built by seasoned developers, demonstrates the market’s growing appetite for solutions that go beyond traditional staking models.

As the demand for composability and cross-chain coordination increases, MilkyWay's architecture is well-suited to meet these evolving needs. While competition will remain fierce, MilkyWay’s focus on simplicity, safety, and scalability positions it as a project worth watching in the next wave of DeFi innovation.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.

Deep Dive into MilkyWay: The Future of Modular Liquid Staking