Top Liquid Staking Tokens (Lido, Rocket Pool) in U.S
By Abhishek Chandravanshi
✅ What Are the Top Liquid Staking Tokens in the U.S.?
Liquid staking tokens like Lido’s stETH and Rocket Pool’s rETH are the most popular ways for U.S. investors to stake ETH while maintaining liquidity in 2025.
Unlike traditional staking, liquid staking lets you earn rewards without locking your crypto, allowing access to decentralized finance (DeFi) while securing the Ethereum network.
If you’re wondering which liquid staking tokens are best for U.S. users, this guide compares Lido vs Rocket Pool, their APYs, use cases, and risks — with everything you need to decide where to stake your Ethereum this year.
📈 Why Liquid Staking Matters in 2025
As Ethereum’s proof-of-stake ecosystem matures, liquid staking is rapidly becoming the dominant staking method.
Here’s why it’s trending in the U.S.:
- ✅ Earn ETH staking rewards without locking up your funds
- ✅ Use liquid staking tokens (LSTs) like stETH and rETH in DeFi
- ✅ Avoid long unstaking periods or validator setup
- ✅ Stay compliant with U.S. exchanges and wallets
🔍 What Is Liquid Staking?
Liquid staking refers to the process of staking your crypto while receiving a tokenized representation of your staked assets. This representative token earns rewards and can be traded, used as collateral, or farmed in DeFi protocols.
Example:
- You stake ETH via Lido
- You receive stETH
- stETH can be used on Uniswap, Aave, Curve, or held to accrue rewards
The two most widely adopted liquid staking tokens in the U.S. are:
- stETH (Lido)
- rETH (Rocket Pool)
Let’s explore each.
🥇 Lido (stETH): Most Popular Liquid Staking Token
What Is Lido?
Lido Finance is the largest liquid staking protocol on Ethereum, with over $25B in total value locked. When you stake ETH via Lido, you receive stETH, which mirrors your ETH balance and grows daily with staking rewards.
Key Features of Lido:
- No minimum ETH requirement
- Receive stETH (grows in balance daily)
- Integrated with DeFi platforms like Aave, Curve, Yearn
- Supported by MetaMask and Ledger
- Semi-decentralized validator pool
Lido’s Current APY (2025):
- ~3.6% to 4.5%, depending on network conditions
📍 Use our staking calculator to estimate stETH earnings.
🥈 Rocket Pool (rETH): Decentralized Ethereum Staking
What Is Rocket Pool?
Rocket Pool is a fully decentralized ETH staking protocol. When you stake ETH via Rocket Pool, you receive rETH, which increases in value (not balance) as rewards accrue.
Why Choose Rocket Pool?
- Decentralized node operation
- Only 0.01 ETH needed to stake
- Great for decentralization advocates
- rETH is tradable and accepted in DeFi
Unlike stETH, rETH doesn’t increase your balance — it increases in price.
Rocket Pool’s APY (2025):
- ~3.5% to 4.3%, slightly higher if you run a node
📍 Related post: Kraken vs Coinbase ETH Staking
📊 stETH vs rETH: Which Is Better for U.S. Investors?
| Feature | stETH (Lido) | rETH (Rocket Pool) |
|---|---|---|
| Token Behavior | Grows in balance | Grows in price |
| Decentralization | Semi-decentralized | Fully decentralized |
| Min ETH to Stake | No minimum | 0.01 ETH |
| DeFi Compatibility | Excellent | Moderate but growing |
| U.S. Accessibility | Easy via MetaMask, Uniswap | Easy via DEXs and wallets |
| APY | 3.6%–4.5% | 3.5%–4.3% |
Verdict:
- Choose stETH for maximum DeFi utility and ease
- Choose rETH if you value decentralization
📍 How to Buy stETH and rETH in the U.S.
Even with regulatory pressure, U.S. users can access these tokens through:
1. MetaMask + DEX (Uniswap, Curve)
- Connect wallet to Uniswap
- Swap ETH → stETH or rETH
- Confirm gas fees and trade
2. Direct Staking
- Use Lido to stake ETH and receive stETH
- Use Rocket Pool for rETH
3. Wallet Support
- Both tokens are supported on:
- MetaMask
- Ledger
- Coinbase Wallet
📌 Related: Is Binance.US Still Offering Staking for Americans?
⚠️ Risks of Liquid Staking
Like all DeFi tools, liquid staking comes with risks:
Smart Contract Risk
If Lido or Rocket Pool contracts are exploited, you could lose funds.
Depegging
stETH or rETH could trade below ETH price during high volatility.
Regulatory Uncertainty
U.S. regulations may evolve. Use non-custodial options and self-custody when possible.
📍 Stay safe: IRS Rules for Crypto Staking Income (Explained Simply)
🔮 Future of Liquid Staking in 2025 and Beyond
What’s Next for stETH and rETH?
- Restaking protocols like EigenLayer are building on top of LSTs
- LST-backed stablecoins (e.g., Lybra’s eUSD) are gaining traction
- DeFi will rely more on stETH and rETH as yield-generating collateral
- More U.S.-compliant wrappers may emerge (like cbETH, osETH)
Watch This Space:
- Lido V2 increases validator decentralization
- Rocket Pool Atlas upgrade boosts scalability and node rewards
🔁 Related Internal Links
- Best Ways to Earn Passive Income on Binance (2025)
- How Much Can You Earn Staking $1,000?
- Top U.S. Exchanges for Staking in 2025
❓FAQs About Liquid Staking Tokens (Lido & Rocket Pool)
What is a liquid staking token?
It’s a token like stETH or rETH that represents staked ETH and earns rewards while remaining tradable and usable in DeFi.
Is liquid staking legal in the U.S.?
Yes, self-custodial liquid staking is legal. Regulatory pressure mainly targets centralized platforms, not protocols like Lido and Rocket Pool.
Can I earn DeFi yield with stETH or rETH?
Yes! You can use them as collateral on Aave, Curve, and other protocols to farm, lend, or borrow while still earning staking rewards.
Does stETH grow in balance?
Yes. stETH grows in balance daily as staking rewards are distributed.
Does rETH increase in price?
Yes. rETH appreciates in price over time to reflect earned staking rewards.
How do I choose between stETH and rETH?
Choose stETH for flexibility and DeFi integrations. Choose rETH for decentralization and ETH-like price behavior.
✅ Conclusion: Which Liquid Staking Token Is Right for You?
In 2025, liquid staking is essential for maximizing ETH yields while staying flexible. Both Lido’s stETH and Rocket Pool’s rETH are top choices for U.S. investors.
- Use stETH if you want to dive into DeFi and have easy access
- Use rETH if you care about decentralization and value appreciation
Both are excellent options, and many savvy investors use a blend of both to balance utility and decentralization.
Ready to stake? Use our Staking Calculator to see how much you could earn!
What’s your go-to liquid staking strategy — stETH, rETH, or a mix of both? Share your experience in the comments below!
