What Is Liquid Staking?
Regular staking locks your tokens. Liquid staking gives you a receipt token (like stETH or JitoSOL) that you can use in DeFi while still earning staking rewards. It's yield stacking — earn staking APR and use the token as collateral for more yield.
In 2026, liquid staking is the backbone of DeFi. Here's where to stake.
Ethereum Liquid Staking
Lido — The Standard
APY: ~3.5% · TVL: B+ · Token: stETHLido is the largest liquid staking protocol in crypto. Stake ETH, receive stETH. Your stETH rebases daily — it grows in your wallet automatically. Accepted as collateral everywhere that matters (Aave, Maker, Curve).
Why it wins: Deepest liquidity. stETH/ETH pairs have minimal slippage. The Lido DAO is battle-tested through multiple market cycles.
Risk factor: Concentration risk — Lido controls ~30% of all staked ETH. The community debates whether this is too much.
EigenLayer — Restaking for Extra Yield
APY: Variable (staking + restaking) · TVL: B+EigenLayer lets you restake your staked ETH (or LSTs like stETH) to secure additional services (AVSs). More security = more yield on the same capital. It's yield multiplication without extra risk capital.
Why it matters: Restaking created an entirely new yield layer on Ethereum. Points programs and AVS rewards stack on top of base staking APR.
Risk factor: Slashing risk is real — if an AVS misbehaves, your restaked ETH can be slashed. Choose operators carefully.
Pendle — Trade Your Yield
Platform: Ethereum, ArbitrumPendle isn't a staking protocol — it's a yield marketplace. Split any yield-bearing token into principal (PT) and yield (YT) components. Lock in fixed yields or speculate on future rates.
Why it matters: If you think staking APR will rise, buy YT tokens for leveraged yield exposure. Want certainty? Buy PT tokens for a guaranteed fixed rate.
Solana Liquid Staking
Jito — Best on Solana
APY: ~7-8% · Token: JitoSOLJito is Solana's premier liquid staking solution. Stake SOL, get JitoSOL. The bonus: Jito validators capture MEV rewards and pass them to stakers, boosting APY above standard staking.
Why it wins: MEV yield boost is unique. JitoSOL is widely accepted in Solana DeFi (Marginfi, Kamino, Drift).
Marinade — Most Decentralized
APY: ~7% · Token: mSOLMarinade distributes stake across 400+ validators, making it the most decentralized staking option on Solana. Good for network health, good for reducing single-validator risk.
Why it wins: If decentralization matters to you, Marinade is the answer. mSOL has strong DeFi integrations.
Yield Comparison
| Protocol | Chain | APY | Token | MEV Boost | |----------|-------|-----|-------|-----------| | Lido | Ethereum | ~3.5% | stETH | No | | EigenLayer | Ethereum | 3.5%+ | eETH/various | No (restaking rewards) | | Pendle | Multi | Variable | PT/YT | N/A (yield trading) | | Jito | Solana | ~7-8% | JitoSOL | Yes | | Marinade | Solana | ~7% | mSOL | No |
The Yield Stacking Playbook
1. Stake ETH → stETH (3.5% APR) 2. Deposit stETH into Aave (earn supply APR + borrow against it) 3. Restake via EigenLayer (earn AVS rewards on top)
Or on Solana: 1. Stake SOL → JitoSOL (7-8% APR) 2. Deposit JitoSOL into Kamino/Marginfi (earn additional supply APR) 3. Loop if comfortable with risk (borrow SOL, stake again)
Warning: Yield stacking increases liquidation risk. Don't over-leverage.
--- APYs are approximate and change daily. Always verify current rates on each protocol. Not financial advice.