Liquid staking has emerged as a game-changer in the decentralized finance (DeFi) landscape, offering users a smarter way to earn passive income while maintaining liquidity. By allowing participants to stake their crypto assets and receive tokenized representations in return, liquid staking enhances capital efficiency and opens doors to deeper DeFi integration.
With growing demand, numerous platforms now offer liquid staking services—each with unique features, fee structures, and security models. To help you navigate this evolving space, we’ve compiled a list of the top 10 liquid staking platforms that stand out for reliability, innovation, and user experience.
What Is Liquid Staking?
Liquid staking refers to the process of locking up cryptocurrency in a smart contract to support blockchain network operations—like validation—while receiving a liquid token in return. This token (often called a “staked” or “receipt” token) represents your staked assets and can be freely traded, used as collateral, or leveraged across DeFi protocols.
For example, when you stake ETH through a liquid staking platform, you might receive stETH or rETH in return. These tokens retain the value of your original stake plus accrued rewards, all while being usable elsewhere in DeFi ecosystems.
👉 Discover how liquid staking can boost your DeFi returns today.
This model significantly improves capital efficiency, reduces lock-up periods, and enables yield compounding through strategies like re-staking and liquidity mining. However, not all platforms operate equally—some offer better security, lower fees, or broader multi-chain support. Let’s explore the leading options.
1. Lido Finance
Lido Finance is one of the most widely adopted liquid staking solutions, supporting Ethereum (ETH), Polygon (MATIC), and Solana (SOL). Users receive stETH, stMATIC, or stSOL tokens proportional to their stake, which can then be used across various DeFi applications.
Key advantages include:
- No minimum deposit requirement – anyone can participate.
- Daily reward distributions – enhancing cash flow predictability.
- Open-source and audited – ensuring transparency and security.
- Integration with major wallets and DeFi platforms like Aave and Curve.
However, Lido charges a 10% fee on staking rewards, which is higher than some competitors. Despite this, its strong ecosystem presence and seamless user experience make it a top choice for both beginners and advanced users.
2. Coinbase Prime
Backed by one of the world’s largest crypto exchanges, Coinbase Prime offers institutional-grade liquid staking services. It partners with Liquid Collective, a non-custodial liquid staking protocol, to provide secure ETH staking with slashing protection via Nexus Mutual coverage.
Notable features:
- As low as $1 minimum stake.
- Supports lsETH, a liquid token backed 1:1 by staked ETH.
- KYC/AML compliant – ideal for enterprises and regulated entities.
- 15% service fee on rewards.
Coinbase leverages multiple validator providers like Figment and Staked to enhance redundancy and uptime. Its robust infrastructure makes it a trusted option for institutions seeking scalability and compliance.
3. Rocket Pool
Rocket Pool delivers a decentralized approach to ETH 2.0 staking through community-run nodes. Unlike centralized alternatives, it empowers users to become mini-node operators without needing 32 ETH—the standard requirement for solo validators.
Highlights:
- Users receive rETH, a yield-bearing liquid token.
- Access to RPL governance tokens for voting within the DAO.
- Strong decentralization model with node operator diversity.
- Fees range from 15–20%, among the highest in the sector.
- Standard lock-up period of 3–12 months before withdrawals.
Despite higher fees and longer unlock times, Rocket Pool remains popular due to its commitment to decentralization and transparent operations.
4. Frax Ether (frxETH)
Frax Finance extends its stablecoin ecosystem into liquid staking with Frax Ether (frxETH). Users stake ETH and receive either frETH (transferable) or sfrxETH (non-transferable, compounding rewards).
Why Frax stands out:
- Offers deep integration with Frax’s lending, AMM, and cross-chain bridging tools (Frax Ferry).
- Open-source and community-governed via a DAO.
- Attractive for power users who want advanced DeFi strategies.
- Potential regulatory scrutiny due to self-issued stablecoins.
Frax is best suited for experienced users comfortable navigating complex DeFi environments and managing associated risks.
5. Jito Network
Jito dominates the Solana ecosystem with its innovative approach to MEV (Miner Extractable Value) optimization. Instead of letting MEV profits go to validators alone, Jito redistributes them to stakers—boosting overall yields.
Key benefits:
- Stake SOL and receive JitoSOL (jSOL), a liquid token.
- Higher APY compared to native staking thanks to MEV sharing.
- Fully open-source and non-custodial.
- Seamless interoperability across Solana DeFi protocols.
Jito has rapidly become the go-to platform for Solana users looking to maximize returns without sacrificing liquidity.
6. Binance Liquid Staking
As the world’s largest crypto exchange by volume, Binance offers liquid staking through strategic partnerships like pSTAKE and Helio Protocol. ETH holders can deposit into liquidity pools and receive wBETH, a wrapped version of staked ETH usable across Binance’s ecosystem.
Pros:
- High liquidity and easy onboarding for existing Binance users.
- Strong security track record.
- Fees are relatively high compared to independent protocols.
Binance continues expanding its DeFi footprint with new investments, positioning itself as a major player in liquid staking adoption.
7. Marinade Finance
Marinade Finance is a leading liquid staking solution on Solana, known for its low fees (~6%) and flexibility. Stakers receive mSOL, which can be re-staked or used in yield farms for amplified returns—sometimes exceeding 20% APY.
Other perks:
- No lock-up period – withdraw anytime.
- Auto-compounding feature to boost long-term gains.
- Community-driven governance model via DAO voting.
Its combination of accessibility and high yield makes Marinade a favorite among Solana traders and yield seekers.
8. ANKR
ANKR supports liquid staking across multiple chains including Ethereum, Avalanche, BSC, Fantom, and Polkadot. With no minimum deposit and flexible pool options, it appeals to a broad user base.
Features:
- APY ranges from 3% to 14%, depending on the network.
- Fees vary between 2%–10% per chain.
- Long-standing reputation and partnerships with major industry players.
ANKR’s multi-chain flexibility and proven reliability make it an excellent choice for diversified stakers.
9. Stader Labs
Stader Labs is a multi-chain liquid staking platform supporting Terra, Ethereum, and others. Users receive liquidity tokens usable across 40+ DeFi protocols, enabling complex yield strategies.
Security highlights:
- Audited by CertiK, Peckshield, and Halborn.
- Slightly higher fees offset by integrated yield-enhancing tools.
Stader excels in combining security with functionality for advanced DeFi users.
10. StakeWise
StakeWise offers an open-source ETH staking solution with strong penalty protection mechanisms. It runs on enterprise cloud infrastructure to minimize downtime and slashing risks.
Unique aspects:
- No minimum stake required (though <10 ETH incurs higher fees).
- Real-time monitoring dashboard—no technical expertise needed.
- Pooled staking lowers entry barriers for small investors.
Its intuitive interface and operational resilience make StakeWise accessible to mainstream users.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: What are the risks of liquid staking?
A: Main risks include smart contract vulnerabilities, slashing penalties, depegging of liquid tokens (e.g., stETH losing 1:1 peg), and potential regulatory changes affecting token status. Always assess platform audits and insurance coverage before participating.
Q: Can I lose money with liquid staking?
A: Yes—while rewards are attractive, price volatility of both the underlying asset and the receipt token can lead to losses if markets decline significantly.
Q: Are liquid staking rewards taxable?
A: In many jurisdictions, staking rewards are considered taxable income at the time of receipt. Consult a tax professional for guidance based on your location.
Q: Which platform offers the highest yield?
A: Marinade Finance and Jito Network often offer higher yields on Solana due to MEV sharing and compounding features, while Lido leads on Ethereum with broad DeFi integration.
Q: Do I need technical knowledge to use these platforms?
A: Most platforms are designed for ease of use—even beginners can stake with just a few clicks using compatible wallets like MetaMask or Phantom.
👉 Start earning yield with liquid staking on a trusted platform now.
Liquid staking represents the future of capital-efficient crypto investing. As adoption grows, choosing secure, well-audited platforms becomes crucial for maximizing returns while minimizing risk.
Whether you're new to DeFi or an experienced user, exploring these top 10 platforms can help you build a resilient passive income strategy in 2025 and beyond.
👉 Learn more about optimizing your crypto portfolio with liquid staking tools today.