Lido offers a liquid‑staking protocol that lets anyone deposit ETH and receive stETH, an ERC‑20 token that represents the staked ETH plus accrued rewards and can be used across DeFi. The platform aggregates deposits across a diversified set of over 900 node operators, providing high network performance, deep liquidity, and optional yield‑boosting vaults (EarnETH and EarnUSD) that auto‑allocate assets to vetted protocols. Lido’s open‑source, audited contracts and modular stVaults framework also enable institutions and builders to customize validator parameters, fee structures, and liquidity options.
Funding
$24M raised to dateRaised to date based on public sources. This may differ from the amount the company actually raised and is based only on what is publicly available on the internet.
1OFounders
Product
Problem
Ethereum validators require a minimum of 32 ETH to participate, which creates a high entry barrier and locks capital, preventing many users from earning staking rewards while keeping their assets usable in DeFi.
Solution
Lido provides a liquid‑staking protocol that lets anyone deposit ETH and receive stETH, a transferable token that represents the underlying stake plus accrued rewards. The protocol aggregates deposits across a diversified set of over 900 independent node operators, ensuring high network performance and security. stETH can be traded, used as collateral, or integrated into DeFi strategies, giving users continuous liquidity while still earning validator rewards. Lido extends this core service with EarnETH and EarnUSD vaults that allocate stETH or USD‑denominated assets across vetted DeFi protocols to boost yields. For advanced users, the modular stVaults framework allows builders and institutional stakers to customize validator parameters, fee structures, and liquidity options, including non‑custodial and leveraged configurations. All components are open‑source, audited, and governed by the Lido DAO, providing transparent, permissionless access to Ethereum staking rewards.
Target Audience
Primary users are individual ETH holders and DeFi participants seeking liquid staking, as well as institutional investors, builders, and node operators who require customizable staking solutions and integration with existing financial protocols.
Features
- stETH token that tracks ETH stake and rewards while remaining ERC‑20 transferable and usable in DeFi
- Diversified validator set (900+ operators, curated, community, and Simple DVT modules) delivering >99 % network performance
- EarnETH and EarnUSD vaults that auto‑allocate assets to blue‑chip DeFi protocols for optimized APY
- Modular stVaults platform enabling custom fee mechanics, liquidity structures, and DeFi integrations via low‑code SDK and white‑label UI
- Non‑custodial architecture allowing institutional stakers to select their own node operators and retain full control over deposits and withdrawals
- Open‑source smart contracts with $4 M+ in security investments, multiple audits, and bug‑bounty programs
- 100+ integrations across wallets, exchanges, and lending platforms for seamless stETH usage