Talking Tokens Why Staking Is Becoming the “Savings Account” for Wall Street | Lorien Gabel
Aug 28, 2025
Lorien Gabel, co-founder and CEO of Figment, shares insights from his journey in building a leading non-custodial staking provider. He discusses how staking is evolving to become the new crypto 'savings account' for institutions. The conversation explores the importance of distribution in crypto, misconceptions about staking, and the rise of liquid staking. Lorien predicts a future where 80% of institutions will engage in staking by 2030, likening it to traditional savings products as the digital asset landscape matures.
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Founders Came From Internet Infrastructure
- Figment's founders started from internet infrastructure and got into staking around 2017 with Tezos.
- Their background in data centers and cloud made protocol staking a natural extension.
Staking Defined As Protocol Participation
- Staking is converging on a clear definition: protocol staking that secures consensus and earns rewards.
- The SEC's stance helped clarify staking as native protocol participation.
Confirm Non‑Custody When Delegating
- Remember staking with Figment does not transfer custody of tokens; delegation keeps asset control with the holder.
- Verify non-custodial guarantees when onboarding staking providers.