Liquid staking has witnessed explosive growth over the last few years, and it’s now one of the biggest trends in web3. Instead of locking cryptocurrency for days or weeks the old-school way, it lets individuals earn rewards and still keep a tradable version of their staked asset. Also, liquid staking protocols are already holding over $80 billion in value, showing how fast people are moving toward this model. For many, it’s the sweet spot between yield and agility. However, finding the right platform that fits without causing complications can be a hassle. For this reason, we’ve put together this article to walk you through the top liquid staking platforms in 2025, breaking down how they compare on reliability, yield, and how easy they are to use.
What is the Difference between Liquid Staking and Regular Staking?
The main difference between regular staking and liquid staking is how much access you have to your tokens after you stake them. With regular staking, your tokens stay locked for a set period, and you can’t move them, trade them, or use them in any DeFi activity until the lock period ends. You earn rewards, but your asset stays stuck. On the other hand, liquid staking works in a different way. When you stake, you receive a token that represents your staked asset. You keep earning rewards, and can still use this token across DeFi, trade it, or move it whenever you want. This hands you the reins and opens doors for earning opportunities.
Table of Contents
What makes Liquid Staking Attractive to Crypto Traders?
- Liquidity and Easy Access
You can move, trade, or use your staked tokens whenever you want. The easy access without a long unlock period presents fewer limits when the market changes fast. - Higher Earning Potential
You earn normal staking rewards, coupled with the advantage of taking the token you receive and putting it into other DeFi platforms for extra yield. You use one asset to earn from many places. - Restaking Opportunities
Some platforms let you restake your liquid staking token to earn from new networks and services. With this method, you get rewards without adding new funds. - Strong Integration Across DeFi
Liquid staking tokens work in lending apps, trading pools, yield farms, and more. You can use your tokens across many systems without limits. - Faster Reaction to Market Changes
Avoiding long lock periods lets you act fast when prices move. You can sell, swap, or move your assets without friction. - High Demand for LSTs Across the Market
Tokens like stETH move across many DeFi protocols and stay active. This encourages trading without fear of low demand or low liquidity.
Top 7 Liquid Staking Platforms to Use in 2025
Lido
Lido is one of the most popular liquid staking platforms for crypto. The platform sends you stETH, a token that shows your staked balance and rewards. This token stays in your wallet and moves like normal crypto, making it possible to trade and utilise it across DeFi. It is a strong fit for anyone farming in DeFi or switching from a centralised exchange and wants something with better reward potential.
Key Features
- Stake any amount of ETH with no 32 ETH requirement.
- Staked ETH managed by a large pool of independent validators.
- Governance decisions through the Lido DAO.
Fees: 10% fee on staking rewards.
Supported Assets: ETH, MATIC, DOT, and KSM.
APY: Around 3% to 4% for ETH.
Payout Frequency: Once each day.
Rocket Pool
Rocket Pool is a decentralised liquid staking protocol built for Ethereum. When you stake your ETH, you receive rETH tokens in return. Users can also use it in other DeFi platforms while their ETH keeps earning rewards in the background. You don’t need to run a validator node yourself, as the network pools ETH from multiple users and handles the technical work. Long-term holders who want flexibility, DeFi users who desire rETH for farming extra yield will find it functional.
Key Features
- rETH tokens representing staked ETH and rewards.
- Use of rETH across other DeFi platforms for additional yield.
- Zero individual validator node management.
Fees: 14% for node operators.
Supported Assets: Ethereum (ETH) only.
APY: Around 2.36%, depending on network conditions.
Payout Frequency: Automatic rETH, which grows over time.
Ankr
Ankr is one of the leading crypto staking platforms that converts your digital asset into liquid staking tokens, like aETH or aETHc for Ethereum, representing your staked assets. You can use these tokens to earn extra yield in other protocols or sell them anytime. It possesses a network of trusted node operators and a simple setup. The platform gives ease of use to beginners who want a straightforward way to start staking.
Key Features
- Low minimum staking, requiring no technical setup.
- Defi-ready liquid tokens representing staked assets.
- Multiple supported assets.
- Decentralised validator network.
Fees: Ranges between 5% and 30%
Supported Assets: Ethereum (ETH), Binance Coin (BNB), Polygon (MATIC), and others.
APY: 2.62% for ETH, varies by asset.
Payout Frequency: Claim or trade anytime.
Coinbase Prime
When you stake your ETH on Coinbase Prime, it goes through Liquid Collective, which delegates it to top validators. In return, you get a token called LsETH. All users go through KYC checks, and the platform uses a mix of trusted validators to reduce risk. This setup is perfect for those who desire safe staking with the option to move or sell assets when needed. Serious investors, DeFi users, or anyone who wants flexibility without giving up security would appreciate its performance.
Key Features
- Strong security with KYC and trusted validators.
- Slashing coverage through insurance and protection funds.
- Deep liquidity with integration to major exchanges and custodians.
Fees: Depends on the asset and validator used.
Supported Assets: ETH via LsETH for liquid staking, Solana, Polkadot, Cosmos, and Tezos for traditional staking. mSOL for Solana via Marinade integration.
APY: Depends on Ethereum staking rewards and protocol conditions, while LsETH value grows over time based on your staked ETH and rewards
Payout Frequency: LsETH conversion rate updates every 24 hours. Reward balance increases gradually.
Marinade Finance
Marinade Finance is one of the top crypto staking platforms that lets you stake SOL while keeping your funds flexible. When you stake SOL on Marinade, you get mSOL, a token that represents your staked SOL. You can use mSOL for other activities in other Solana DeFi apps while still collecting staking rewards. It is high-performing for people who want steady SOL rewards without locking up their tokens.
Key Features
- Automated staking with no need to manage validators.
- mSOL token keeps your staked SOL usable.
- Works with multiple Solana DeFi platforms for extra yield.
Fees: No protocol fee.
Supported Assets: SOL.
APY: 6–7% depending on network conditions.
Payout Frequency: Every day.
Stader Labs
Stader Labs is a platform that lets you stake Stader in exchange for a liquid staking token. This token shows your staked asset and the rewards you earn, while granting flexibility of use between DeFi platforms. It works with multiple blockchains, so you can stake different tokens in one place. It works best for individuals looking for flexibility with staked assets and who want to explore staking across different blockchains.
Key Features:
- Multi-chain support.
- DeFi integrations for extra yield.
- Tradable token that represents your staked asset and rewards.
Fees: 3-10% depending on the token and blockchain.
Supported Assets: ETH, SOL, BNB, and other major proof-of-stake tokens.
APY: Around 4–10% depending on the asset and network
Payout Frequency: Daily in liquid staking tokens
Jito
When you stake your SOL with Jito, you get JitoSOL, a token that represents your staked SOL but stays liquid. Validators in Jito’s network reorder or package transactions to earn extra profits, and those rewards are added to the staking pool. Over time, each JitoSOL token grows in value, so when you unstake, you get more SOL than you initially put in. Jito is great for anyone who wants higher yield and a chance to use staked tokens in other DeFi opportunities.
Key Features
- MEV(Maximal Extractable Value)-based rewards.
- Liquid staking token (JitoSOL) for extra yield.
- Automatic value growth.
Fees: About 4% of total rewards.
Supported Assets: Staked SOL.
APY: 6% or more, depending on MEV rewards.
Payout Frequency: Automatic reward growth in the value of JitoSOL instead of separate token payouts.
FAQs
Who can Benefit Most from Liquid Staking?
Liquid staking works best for people who want to earn rewards while still running their crypto portfolio show. If you want to move, trade, or use your staked tokens in DeFi without waiting through long lock periods, this is for you.
What is the Most Profitable Liquid Staking Platform?
Among the top liquid staking platforms, Jito stands out as the most profitable. It not only offers staking rewards but also adds MEV profits directly to your staked pool. In turn, your JitoSOL tokens grow faster in value while staying usable across DeFi.
Can I Lose my Crypto in Liquid Staking?
Even with liquid staking, your crypto isn’t completely safe. You can lose funds if a validator misbehaves, the network suffers downtime, or smart contracts have bugs. Price drops in the staked token or poor MEV rewards can also reduce your overall returns.
Conclusion
With all we’ve shared in this guide, you can now easily compare rewards, risks, and features before putting your tokens into a platform. Start with small amounts to see how different platforms perform, or combine options to spread risk and find what suits your goals. This way, you make informed decisions and make your crypto work for you without leaving opportunities on the table.
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