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Lido vs Rocket Pool: Which is Better?

Compare Lido and Rocket Pool liquid staking protocols. Explore differences in decentralization, validator requirements, fees, and staking token mechanics.

Updated 2026-03-08 Staking Comparison
LD
Lido (LDO)
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RP
Rocket Pool (RPL)
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Lido vs Rocket Pool at a Glance

Feature
LDO
RPL
Liquid Staking Token
stETH (rebasing)
rETH (value-accruing)
Minimum Stake (User)
No minimum
No minimum (via rETH)
Minimum to Run a Node
Not open to public
8 ETH + RPL collateral
Node Operator Model
Curated professional operators
Permissionless — anyone can run a node
Protocol Fee
10% of staking rewards
14% of staking rewards (split between node operators and protocol)
Governance Token
LDO
RPL (also used as node collateral)
Total Value Locked
Largest liquid staking protocol by TVL
Second largest decentralized liquid staking protocol
Decentralization
Moderate — curated operator set
High — permissionless node operators
DeFi Integrations
Widely integrated across DeFi (Aave, Curve, MakerDAO)
Growing DeFi integrations
Withdrawals
Direct unstaking via protocol
Direct unstaking via protocol
Liquid Staking Protocol

What is Lido?

Lido is the largest liquid staking protocol, allowing users to stake ETH and receive stETH in return. It operates through a curated set of professional node operators selected by the Lido DAO.

Ticker: LDO Since 2020
Liquid Staking Protocol

What is Rocket Pool?

Rocket Pool is a decentralized Ethereum staking protocol that allows anyone to run a node with as little as 8 ETH. It issues rETH as its liquid staking token and uses RPL as collateral for node operators.

Ticker: RPL Since 2021

Key Differences

Lido uses a curated set of professional node operators, while Rocket Pool allows anyone to become a node operator with 8 ETH and RPL collateral.

stETH is a rebasing token that updates balances daily, while rETH is a value-accruing token whose price increases relative to ETH over time.

Rocket Pool requires node operators to stake RPL as insurance collateral, adding an extra layer of security for stakers.

Lido dominates in TVL and DeFi integrations, making stETH one of the most liquid and composable assets in DeFi.

Rocket Pool is considered more decentralized due to its permissionless validator set and distributed architecture.

Lido charges a 10% fee on staking rewards, while Rocket Pool takes a 14% commission split between node operators and the protocol.

Which Should You Choose?

Lido is the best choice for users who prioritize liquidity, DeFi composability, and the largest validator network. Rocket Pool appeals to users who value decentralization and want the option to run their own node with a lower ETH requirement. Both protocols provide reliable liquid staking for Ethereum.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is stETH or rETH better for DeFi?
stETH has broader DeFi integration due to Lido's larger market share. It is accepted as collateral on Aave, Compound, and MakerDAO. rETH is gaining adoption but has fewer integrations overall.
Can I run a Rocket Pool node at home?
Yes. Rocket Pool is designed for permissionless node operation. You need 8 ETH plus RPL collateral (minimum 10% of staked ETH value) and a machine running the Rocket Pool smart node software.
What happens if a Lido or Rocket Pool validator is slashed?
Lido covers slashing losses through its insurance fund and operator bonds. Rocket Pool uses RPL collateral staked by node operators to cover slashing penalties, protecting rETH holders.
Which protocol is more decentralized?
Rocket Pool is generally considered more decentralized because anyone can become a node operator. Lido relies on a curated set of operators selected by DAO governance, though it has worked to expand its operator set.
Do I need to hold LDO or RPL to stake ETH?
No. Both protocols allow you to stake ETH and receive liquid staking tokens (stETH or rETH) without holding governance tokens. RPL is only required if you want to run a Rocket Pool node.
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