Liquid Staking

Lido is a leading liquid staking protocol designed to simplify and secure staking on Ethereum and other Proof-of-Stake (PoS) blockchains. Launched in 2020, it enables users to stake their tokens without locking them up, by issuing liquid staking tokens (e.g., stETH for Ethereum) that represent staked assets and accrue staking rewards. These tokens remain tradable and usable across DeFi applications, unlocking liquidity and composability for stakers. Lido’s protocol is governed by the decentralized Lido DAO, which manages node operator selection, protocol parameters, and upgrades.

The protocol supports multiple staking modules, including permissioned curated node operators, permissionless community staking, and distributed validator technology (DVT) modules that enhance decentralization and security. Lido’s validator set is geographically and technically diverse, with over 800 node operators globally, ensuring high uptime and robust network performance. The protocol applies a 10% fee on staking rewards, shared between node operators and the DAO treasury. Lido’s liquid staking tokens have deep liquidity and are integrated with over 100 DeFi platforms, wallets, and exchanges, including MetaMask, Ledger, Curve, AAVE, and Uniswap.

Lido also offers advanced staking vaults like stRATEGY, Lido GGV, and Lido DVV, which optimize rewards through DeFi strategies and decentralization incentives. Developers can integrate Lido tokens into their dApps using the open-source Lido Ethereum SDK and smart contracts. Comprehensive documentation, governance forums, and community resources support developers and node operators. Lido’s multichain approach extends liquid staking to other networks, reducing fees and broadening access. To get started, users can stake ETH via the Lido web app or supported wallets, while developers can explore SDKs and integration guides available on GitHub and the official docs.