# Risks

Liquid staking protocols in general pose several risks to ETH stakers that warrant acknowledgment.

**Smart Contract Risk**: Aspida’s smart contracts could potentially contain defects or vulnerabilities, though mitigated through regular audits and bug bounty programs.

**ETH 2.0 Technology Risk**: As Aspida builds upon Ethereum, it naturally inherits the underlying technology's risks, which may include flaws and vulnerabilities.

**Penalties and Slashing**: Node operators' validators risk penalties and slashing by the Ethereum Beacon Chain for missed attestations or satisfying slashing criteria, potentially imperiling a significant share of staked ETH over time. Aspida mitigates this through access to reputable, professional node operators, collateral requirements, and insurance coverage.

**saETH Price Fluctuations**: Secondary market saETH token prices could depeg if markets become oversupplied with saETH.