Liquid staking gives you a tradable token for crypto staked through a protocol. You can use or sell that token without first waiting for the full staking withdrawal process. The flexibility adds another layer of risk: you depend on validators, smart contracts, token liquidity and the protocol's operation.
With ordinary network staking, coins secure a Proof of Stake network and may not be immediately transferable. In liquid staking, you deposit into a pool or protocol that organises the validator work. You receive a liquid staking token representing your share of the staked position.
On Ethereum, stETH from Lido and rETH from Rocket Pool are familiar examples. The token can be held in your own wallet, sold on a decentralised exchange or used in some DeFi protocols while the underlying ETH remains staked.
The source of the basic reward is still network staking. The difference is the additional technical and financial layer between you and the underlying stake.
Selling on a market is not the same as withdrawing through the protocol. A market sale transfers the token to another buyer at the current price. A protocol redemption requires underlying coins to be available or validators to exit, which may involve a queue.
| Token | What it represents | How rewards appear | Additional point |
|---|---|---|---|
| stETH | ETH staked through Lido | A rebasing balance changes as rewards and other adjustments are processed | Some DeFi applications prefer the wrapped, non-rebasing wstETH token |
| rETH | A share of Rocket Pool’s staked ETH | The amount of rETH stays constant while its redemption value against ETH changes | The market price can differ from the protocol value |
| weETH | The wrapped, non-rebasing form of ether.fi’s eETH | Value accrues in the exchange rate against eETH | eETH also uses restaking and therefore adds another risk layer |
weETH is not simply a third version of ordinary liquid staking. ether.fi describes eETH as a liquid restaking token that also uses EigenLayer. Read our restaking guide before comparing it directly with stETH or rETH.
| Feature | Direct network staking | Liquid staking |
|---|---|---|
| Evidence of your position | Stake recorded with a validator or delegation mechanism | A token representing a share of pooled stake |
| Exit | Subject to the network’s withdrawal rules | The token can often be sold immediately on a market |
| Technical layers | Network and validator | Network, validator, protocol and token contract |
| Costs | Validator commission and network fees | Validator commission, protocol fee, network fees and possible trading costs |
| Main additional risk | Validator failure and withdrawal delay | Smart contracts, price divergence and market liquidity |
Direct staking can still involve a validator or custodian. Liquid staking specifically adds a tradable token and usually a smart contract layer.
The main reason is flexibility. If there is enough market liquidity, you can sell the token instead of waiting for the network or validator exit process.
A liquid staking token can sometimes also be used as collateral or liquidity in another protocol. This improves capital efficiency but stacks risks. A problem in one protocol can affect a position used as collateral elsewhere.
Pools also lower the entry threshold. Running your own validator requires technical knowledge, hardware, key management and, on some networks, a substantial minimum stake.
You rely on code handling deposits, tokens, rewards and withdrawals. A vulnerability, faulty upgrade or governance failure can cause loss or block access. An audit reduces but does not remove that risk.
The underlying coins are still staked by validators. Poor performance can reduce rewards and serious violations can cause slashing. Check how validators are selected and who absorbs any losses.
A liquid staking token trades on a market. Its price can fall below the value of the underlying stake, particularly when many holders want to sell or confidence in the protocol falls. The token may still be redeemable eventually, but if you must sell immediately, the current market price is what matters.
Tradable does not mean any amount can be sold without price impact. Inspect market depth, not only the last quoted price. Direct redemption may also depend on the network withdrawal queue.
Fees, validator selection, emergency measures and upgrades may be controlled by an organisation, governance process or both. Concentrated control can add risk even when the code works as intended.
Using the token as collateral adds oracle and liquidation risk. Restaking uses the same economic stake to secure additional services and introduces more rules and loss scenarios. Treat weETH as a more layered product than a plain liquid staking token.
The basic liquid staking reward comes from network staking. In lending, a borrower or provider uses your coins and pays interest. The distinction can be obscured by a simple percentage in an app.
Check whether the underlying coin is genuinely staked, which token you receive and which protocol issues it. Our lending versus staking guide explains how the source of the return changes the risk.
Compare current rates from these protocols with other staking platforms. The displayed rate is useful only after you know which layers and conditions sit behind it. The broader crypto staking risks article puts smart contract and depeg risk next to custody, validator and lending risk.
We collect rates directly from providers through their APIs or official websites and check them daily. Every rate shows when it was last checked. Providers can change terms without notice, so confirm the current rate before depositing.
Crypto returns are never guaranteed. On-chain staking can involve slashing, liquid staking adds smart contract and depeg risk, and lending can expose your entire deposit if a provider fails. In every category, a fall in the coin price can exceed the rewards earned.
StakingRewards.eu compares and explains; it does not provide investment advice. Some links are affiliate links, which may earn us a fee. This does not affect the table order, which is based on the displayed rate.