Tag: Lido

  • Liquid Staking Explained: How It Works, Benefits, Risks, and Key Differences from Traditional Crypto Staking

    Liquid Staking Explained: How It Works, Benefits, Risks, and Key Differences from Traditional Crypto Staking

    Traditional staking allows cryptocurrency holders to earn protocol rewards by helping secure a Proof-of-Stake blockchain. Liquid staking adds another layer: users receive a transferable token representing their staked assets, allowing them to keep using that capital while staking rewards accumulate. Ethereum has become the largest example of this model.

    How Traditional Staking Works

    On Ethereum, a solo validator requires 32 ETH. The validator is involved in consensus and earns ETH based on verification and approval of the blocks. Solo staking offers the operator direct control of both the infrastructure and keys, but requires tech knowledge, hardware, and adequate funds.

    Delegated staking allows a third-party operator to conduct the validation on behalf of the owner, providing the required ETH. Smaller holders delegate their staking assets through staking pools.

    How Liquid Staking Changes the Model

    A liquid staking protocol pools ETH from many users and delegates it to validators. In return, users receive a liquid staking token, or an LST, representing their share of the underlying staked ETH and accumulated rewards.

    Ethereum.org says liquid staking protocols currently account for roughly one-third of all staked ETH. Lido’s stETH and Rocket Pool’s rETH illustrate two different approaches.

    With a rebasing token such as stETH, the holder’s token balance increases as rewards accrue. With exchange-rate tokens such as rETH, the balance remains constant while each token gradually becomes redeemable for more ETH.

    Why Liquidity is Important

    Traditional staking can make capital less flexible as assets may need to wait for protocol withdrawal queues. An LST can generally be transferred, traded, or deployed in decentralized finance while the underlying ETH remains staked.

    This means one asset can simultaneously earn staking rewards and serve as collateral in lending markets or liquidity pools.

    Ethereum’s staking market has grown significantly. Lido reported total staked ETH rising 19% during H1 2026, from 36.3 million ETH to 43.1 million ETH.

    Liquid Staking Adds New Risks

    Liquidity does not come free. An LST depends on smart contracts, protocol governance, and validator operators in addition to Ethereum itself.

    The token can also trade below the value of the ETH backing it during stressed markets. Ethereum.org notes that secondary-market prices may deviate from redemption value.

    Validator slashing can also reduce underlying assets, while DeFi integrations introduce additional smart-contract and liquidation risk.

    Traditional vs Liquid Staking

    Traditional solo staking offers greater control and removes protocol intermediaries but requires 32 ETH and technical infrastructure.

    Liquid staking lowers the entry barrier and keeps assets usable, but adds another layer of counterparty and smart-contract risk.

    Why this Matters

    Liquid staking makes staked crypto more flexible by allowing users to earn rewards while still using tokenized representations across DeFi. The trade-off is added exposure to smart contracts, validator performance, liquidity conditions, and protocol-level risks.

    Final Thoughts

    Liquid staking improves capital efficiency and lowers barriers to staking participation, especially for smaller holders. However, the added flexibility also introduces more complexity. Investors should weigh yield opportunities against smart-contract, liquidity, and validator risks before choosing an LST.

    FAQs

    1. What is liquid staking?

    Liquid staking lets users stake cryptocurrency while receiving a transferable token representing the staked assets. That token can often be traded, transferred, or used across DeFi while rewards continue to accrue.

    2. How is liquid staking different from traditional staking?

    Traditional staking can make assets less liquid because they may remain locked or subject to withdrawal queues. Liquid staking provides an LST that keeps the economic value usable while the underlying crypto stays staked.

    3. What are liquid staking tokens?

    Liquid staking tokens, or LSTs, represent a user’s share of staked assets and accumulated rewards. Examples include Lido’s stETH and Rocket Pool’s rETH.

    4. What are the main risks of liquid staking?

    Risks include smart-contract vulnerabilities, validator slashing, protocol governance problems, and liquidity issues. LSTs can also trade below the value of the underlying assets during stressed market conditions.

    5. Do you need 32 ETH for liquid staking?

    No. Solo Ethereum staking requires 32 ETH, but liquid staking protocols pool assets from multiple users. This allows smaller holders to participate without operating their own validator.

  • Crypto News Roundup: Bitcoin ETF Outflows, Lido Moves 8M ETH, BitMine Expands, CLARITY Act Delayed, Apple Sued

    Crypto News Roundup: Bitcoin ETF Outflows, Lido Moves 8M ETH, BitMine Expands, CLARITY Act Delayed, Apple Sued

    Overview

    US spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded $11.64 million in net outflows, with BlackRock’s IBIT and Fidelity’s FBTC accounting for the entire daily withdrawal. Lido started transferring over 8 million ETH through its Curated Module V2 upgrade. BitMine purchased another 9,946 ETH, taking total holdings to 5.79 million ETH, while approximately 85% of its Ethereum portfolio is staked. The crypto market saw several major developments as spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded $11.6 million in net outflows, the CLARITY Act was delayed in the U.S. Senate, Lido migrated 8 million ETH, and BitMine expanded its already substantial Ethereum holdings.

    Bitcoin ETFs Witness $11.6 Million in Outflows

    According to SoSoValue, the Bitcoin spot ETFs saw a total net outflow of $11.64 million yesterday. The Bitcoin spot ETF with the highest net outflow yesterday was BlackRock’s IBIT, with a daily net outflow of $8.82 million. Its cumulative historical net inflow now stands at $60.39 billion. The second highest was Fidelity’s ETF FBTC, with a daily net outflow of $2.82 million, and the total historical net inflow of FBTC currently stands at $10 billion. The total net asset value of Bitcoin Spot ETFs is $78.71 billion, with an ETF net asset ratio of 6.04%. The historical cumulative net inflow has reached $51.37 billion.

    Lido Moves 8 Million ETH

    Lido started moving more than 8 million ETH, worth around $16 billion, onto a new set of validators on 27 July 2026. The migration runs through the protocol’s Curated Module V2 upgrade, which the Lido DAO ratified on 23 July 2026. Lido is the largest liquid staking protocol on Ethereum, where users deposit ether and receive a tradable staking token in return. The Curated Module handles more than 90% of the ether staked through Lido. The upgrade moves validators from the older 0x01 withdrawal standard to the newer 0x02 standard. A single 0x02 validator can hold up to 2,048 ETH, far above the previous limit of 32 ETH.

    CLARITY Act Shelved Until September

    Majority Leader John Thune told reporters he does not expect the Digital Asset Market CLARITY Act to reach a floor vote before the Senate’s summer recess begins around August 7. He reasons that the chamber is first working through federal nominations, then a Russia sanctions bill, a piece of legislation now dedicated to the memory of Senator Lindsey Graham, who died Monday. Graham’s funeral will occupy the Senate floor Tuesday and Wednesday. The sequencing matters because the Senate’s closure process handles one bill at a time. Moving nominations, then Russia sanctions, then clearing the procedural steps for each, uses up days the chamber does not have before recess. “The leadership would have to see where the votes are,” Thune said.

    Apple Faces $1.8 Million Fake Crypto App Lawsuit

    James Ramirez, Christopher Ellis and Jalen Delgado filed the 54-page complaint on July 24 in the US District Court for the Northern District of California. The allegations have not been tested in court, and Apple has not yet filed a public response in the case. The public docket identifies the action as Ramirez et al. v. Apple Inc., case 5:26-cv-07713. It currently shows the complaint, a civil cover sheet and an unexecuted summons filing. The complaint says Delgado downloaded a spoof application around May 1, 2025, and lost about $120,000. Ramirez allegedly downloaded another on July 25 and lost 7.4 BTC, valued at around $875,000. Ellis allegedly lost about $840,000 after using the app around August 3. Each user says the software requested a wallet seed phrase before transferring Bitcoin to attacker-controlled addresses.

    BitMine Adds 9,946 ETH

    According to an official announcement, on July 27, BitMine increased its ETH holdings by 9,946 ETH and simultaneously repurchased 6.1 million common shares. BitMine’s total Ethereum holdings reached 5,787,414 ETH, accounting for approximately 4.8% of the total ETH supply. Currently, BitMine holds a total value of approximately $11.8 billion in cryptocurrencies, cash, and other investment assets, including $268 million in cash and marketable securities, 208 BTC, $180 million in equity assets from Beast Industries, and a $61 million investment in Eightco Holdings (ORBS). The amount of ETH staked is 4,917,189, accounting for 85% of the total holdings, with a value of approximately $9.6 billion and an annualized staking yield of about $254 million.

    FAQs

    How much did Bitcoin spot ETFs lose in daily outflows?

    According to SoSoValue, US spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded a combined net outflow of $11.64 million. BlackRock’s IBIT accounted for $8.82 million, while Fidelity’s FBTC saw $2.82 million leave the fund.

    Why is Lido moving more than 8 million ETH?

    Lido is migrating ETH under its Curated Module V2 upgrade to reduce network load and improve validator efficiency. The transition replaces the older 0x01 withdrawal standard with the newer 0x02 format.

    How much Ethereum does BitMine currently hold?

    BitMine’s Ethereum holdings reached 5,787,414 ETH after it added another 9,946 ETH. According to the announcement, this represents approximately 4.8% of Ethereum’s total supply.

    Why has the CLARITY Act vote been delayed?

    Senate Majority Leader John Thune indicated that other legislative priorities and procedural requirements would consume the remaining time before the summer recess. The bill is therefore unlikely to receive a floor vote before September.

    What is the lawsuit against Apple about?

    Three plaintiffs allege that fraudulent crypto applications downloaded through Apple’s platform stole wallet credentials and digital assets. The complaint seeks damages linked to reported combined losses of around $1.8 million.

    Disclaimer: This article is provided for informational purposes and does not constitute investment advice. You are responsible for conducting your own research (DYOR) before making any investments. Cryptocurrencies are risky and may lead to financial loss.

  • Ethereum’s $20K Target Revived as Lido Launches Major Validator Upgrade

    Ethereum’s $20K Target Revived as Lido Launches Major Validator Upgrade

    Ethereum traded above $1,900 as CrediBULL Crypto reiterated a $20,000-plus target and Lido began migrating more than 8 million staked ETH, worth about $16.5 billion, into a new validator structure. The analyst tied his forecast to long-term ETH/USD and ETH/BTC patterns, while Lido expects its upgrade to reduce Ethereum’s validator count and consensus-layer traffic.

    CrediBULL Maps a Route Toward $20,000

    CrediBULL first presented the target three weeks earlier, when ETH traded near $1,500. He later replied ‘$20K+’ to alphatracker’s call for Ethereum above $10,000. In a linked video, he called $10,000 the minimum level and described $20,000 as realistic, though not certain. The case starts with the ETH/BTC chart, which has declined for about four years. He said the pair has entered a long-term accumulation zone that could support a new base. He also pointed to a larger five-wave structure on the ETH/USD chart, noting Ethereum completed its first leg and remains above an invalidation level near $1,385.

    Under that framework, the next advance could carry ETH toward $10,000. A later wave could then lift the token beyond $20,000 if the stated support remains intact. CrediBULL compared the setup with April last year, when Ethereum traded near similar levels, faced widespread doubt, and later broke its previous record within months.

    Other traders remain divided. Saiyan set a $10,000 base case, while Cheds Trading rejected that outcome. Sykodelik said $10,000 would equal roughly twice Ethereum’s all-time high. ETH had gained nearly 4% in 24 hours and about 24% during the month, but still remained 60% below its record, according to CoinGecko figures.

    NoName cited four lower highs as evidence of a possible market floor. Ali Martinez identified a bullish MVRV ratio crossover. Meanwhile, Binance funding rates reached their highest level in six months. CryptoQuant analysts linked the rise to improving sentiment, although ETH remained below last year’s comparable price.

    Lido Starts Major Validator Consolidation

    Alongside the price debate, Lido started migrating more than 8 million staked ETH through its Curated Module v2 upgrade. CMv2 marks Lido’s largest core protocol change since Lido V2 launched in 2023. The system adopts Ethereum’s post-Pectra 0x02 validator format, which lets each validator secure up to 2,048 ETH. The previous effective balance limit stood at 32 ETH, requiring more validators for large staking balances.

    Lido expects consolidation to reduce Ethereum’s validator count from approximately 880,000 to about 628,000. The final total will depend on new validators joining during the transition. The protocol also estimates a 29% decline in consensus-layer attestation messages during each epoch, reducing network overhead without directly changing gas fees or transaction speeds. Lido plans to complete the migration gradually over several months, and stETH holders do not need to take any action.

    A Brief Roundup

    CrediBULL Crypto’s $20,000 outlook rests on long-term ETH/BTC accumulation and an ETH/USD wave structure above $1,385. Traders remain split, while improving funding and MVRV signals support the recovery case. Lido’s validator migration adds a separate network-efficiency development for Ethereum users to watch.