stETH
stETH is Lido's rebasing token for staked ETH. The Lido tokens guide says a user's stETH balance represents ETH withdrawable directly from the protocol, subject to the withdrawal process.
Stake ETH, keep your custody
Lido Staking — Stake ETH through Lido with a clear view of stETH, wstETH, withdrawal routes and protocol risk.
Live preview — open Lido Staking to stake.
On-chainNon-custodial
What is Lido Staking?
Lido staking is a liquid staking route for ETH that issues stETH, a token representing ETH staked through the Lido protocol. Instead of running validator infrastructure yourself, you interact with Lido's contracts and receive a transferable token that can be held, wrapped, used in supported DeFi, or withdrawn through protocol processes. The official Lido contract documentation explains the core staking pool and stETH accounting.
How Lido Staking works
Lido converts a wallet staking action into protocol accounting, validator allocation and liquid token exposure.
- Submit ETHA user stakes ETH through Lido's app or a supported integration, then receives stETH according to the protocol's minting logic.
- Hold stETHstETH is a rebasing ERC-20 token, so balances can update through Lido oracle reports as protocol accounting changes.
- Use or wrapSome DeFi venues prefer wstETH, the non-rebasing wrapper whose balance stays fixed while its stETH value changes.
- Exit carefullyUsers can request protocol withdrawal or trade through secondary markets, each with different liquidity, timing and price behavior.
stETH and wstETH
The main choice after staking is whether to hold the rebasing token or use its wrapped form.
wstETH
wstETH is a non-rebasing wrapper around stETH, designed for integrations that do not handle rebasing balances well. Its balance changes through transfers, wrapping and unwrapping rather than daily rebases.
Market behavior
stETH and wstETH can trade through external venues, but market price can differ from protocol redemption value. Treat that difference as liquidity and pricing risk, not a guaranteed peg.
Fees, security and withdrawals
Lido staking is non-custodial at the protocol level, but it still adds contracts, governance, operators and liquidity decisions.
Cost components
Costs can include Ethereum gas, wallet approvals, protocol fee components, withdrawal transactions, market spread and slippage if entering or exiting through a swap. Do not assume one fixed fee.
Risk model
Risks include smart-contract bugs, validator penalties, oracle assumptions, governance decisions, stETH market pricing and wallet phishing. Lido's help center summarizes several staking risks.
Withdrawals
Protocol withdrawals use a request and claim flow, while secondary-market exits depend on available liquidity and pricing. Lido's withdrawals page explains both routes.
Core Lido Staking Pieces
These are the main assets and protocol pieces to understand before using Lido staking.
Lido App
Stake and withdraw interface Interface
Use the official Lido interface or a trusted integration when interacting with the protocol. Always verify the domain before connecting a wallet.
Open ↗Lido Protocol
Liquid staking contracts Protocol
The protocol accepts ETH, accounts for stake and issues stETH through smart contracts. Contract risk remains part of the position.
Docs ↗
Staked ETH
Rebasing staking token Token
stETH represents ETH staked through Lido and can be transferred or used in supported venues. Its balance behavior is different from regular ETH.
Docs ↗
Wrapped stETH
Non-rebasing wrapper Wrapper
wstETH wraps stETH for DeFi and cross-chain integrations that expect static balances. It still carries the same underlying Lido exposure.
Docs ↗Withdrawal Queue
Request and claim flow Withdraw
Protocol withdrawals move through a queue and create an unstETH NFT that represents the request. Claim only after the request is finalized.
Docs ↗Checks Before Lido Staking
A careful staking review starts with route, token form, exit plan and the risks you can actually tolerate.
Official Links
Avoid fake wallet prompts Safety
Open Lido from a bookmarked official site or documentation page. Phishing risk appears before protocol risk because a bad signature can lose funds.
Open ↗Token Choice
stETH or wstETH Asset
Choose stETH for rebasing balance behavior or wstETH when a static-balance token is needed. The wrapper does not remove staking risk.
Docs ↗
Exit Route
Queue or market Exit
Protocol withdrawal and market selling are different exits. Compare the current interface estimate, market depth and wallet costs before choosing.
Open ↗Risk Review
Contracts and validators Risk
Review smart-contract, validator, governance, oracle and stETH price risks. Liquid staking is not the same as simply holding ETH.
Open ↗Ethereum Queues
Base-layer mechanics Network
Lido withdrawals sit on top of Ethereum staking mechanics. Network exit demand and validator processes can affect timing.
Docs ↗Lido Staking Compared
Lido is one liquid staking route among several ways to stake ETH. Ethereum.org's staking overview is useful for comparing the base tradeoff between control, liquidity and operational work.
| Route | Best fit | Main tradeoff |
|---|---|---|
| Lido stETH | Liquid staking with broad DeFi support | Smart-contract, governance and stETH liquidity risk |
| Lido wstETH | Integrations that need static balances | Wrapper complexity plus the same underlying exposure |
| Solo validator | Users who can run infrastructure | More direct control, more operational burden |
| Exchange staking | Account-based convenience | Custody, platform terms and regional availability |
Lido Staking FAQ
Is Lido Staking the official Lido app?
No. This page is an independent guide to Lido staking, not the official app or a wallet connection page. Use the official Lido website or Lido documentation when you need current routes, contract references or support information.
What do I receive when staking ETH with Lido?
You receive stETH when staking ETH through Lido's core staking route. stETH is a rebasing token that represents ETH staked with Lido and is updated through protocol accounting. Lido's contract documentation describes the staking pool and stETH token behavior.
What is the difference between stETH and wstETH?
stETH is rebasing, so wallet balances can change with oracle reports. wstETH is a wrapped, non-rebasing version whose balance stays static while its value in stETH changes. Lido's wstETH documentation explains why the wrapper is used for many DeFi integrations.
How do Lido withdrawals work?
Lido withdrawals use a request and claim flow. A user locks stETH or wstETH in a withdrawal request, waits for processing, then claims ETH once finalized. Secondary-market swaps are a separate exit path with market pricing. Lido's withdrawal guide explains the process.
Can stETH always be swapped one-for-one for ETH?
No. Protocol redemption and secondary-market swaps are different. A market trade depends on available liquidity and current pricing, so the execution price can differ from ETH. Lido's withdrawals page notes that stETH can be traded on markets but is not a guaranteed peg.
What risks should I check before using Lido Staking?
Check smart-contract risk, validator penalties, governance decisions, oracle assumptions, withdrawal timing, stETH market pricing, wallet approvals and phishing. Lido's help center lists major staking risks, while Ethereum.org explains base withdrawal mechanics.