What Is “Liquid Staking” and How Does It Differ from Solo Staking?

Solo staking requires a user to run their own validator node with 32 ETH and manage the hardware and software. Liquid staking allows users to stake any amount of ETH through a service provider or protocol.

In return, the user receives a "liquid staking derivative" (LSD) token, representing their staked ETH plus rewards. This LSD token provides liquidity and can be used in DeFi.

The key difference is the required capital, technical expertise, and the liquidity of the staked asset.

How Is the “Yield” on an LSD Similar to a Dividend Yield on a Stock Derivative?
What Is the Minimum Amount of Ether Required to Run a Validator Node on Ethereum?
What Is the Difference between Solo Staking and Liquid Staking?
What Is the Regulatory Risk Associated with Centralized LSD Providers?
What Is the Systemic Risk If One LSD Provider Controls a Majority of a PoS Network’s Stake?
What Is “Liquid Staking” and How Does It Affect Token Utility?
How Does an LSD Protocol Maintain the 1: 1 Peg between the Derivative Token and the Underlying Staked Asset?
What Is the Difference between a Mining Pool and Solo Mining?

Glossar

Staking Lock-Up Periods

Staking ⎊ Within the cryptocurrency ecosystem, staking lock-up periods represent the duration during which a user's tokens are committed to a proof-of-stake (PoS) network and cannot be freely traded or withdrawn.

Staking Revenue Dynamics

Components ⎊ Staking revenue dynamics are driven by two distinct components: protocol issuance rewards and transaction priority fees.

Delegated Staking Benefits

Benefit ⎊ Delegated staking Benefit refers to the passive income stream generated by users who assign their cryptocurrency holdings to a validator without managing the technical overhead of node operation.

Staking in Decentralized Systems

Incentive ⎊ Locking up native tokens or collateral assets within a decentralized system provides the economic incentive for nodes or validators to secure the network and validate transactions honestly.

Staking Rewards Adjustment

Adjustment ⎊ Staking rewards adjustment refers to the modification of options pricing models to account for the yield generated by holding the underlying asset.

Staking Infrastructure Security

Security ⎊ Staking infrastructure security refers to the technical safeguards and operational procedures implemented to protect validator nodes and their associated staked assets from cyberattacks and operational failures.

Staking Yield Economics

Yield ⎊ Staking Yield Economics analyzes the financial mechanics that generate returns for users who lock up their tokens to support a Proof-of-Stake network's operation or a liquidity pool's function.

Staking Protocol Benefits

Reward ⎊ The direct financial compensation earned by stakers, typically in the form of newly minted tokens or transaction fees, constitutes the primary economic reward.

Staking Investment Risks

Slashing ⎊ Staking Investment Risks include the quantifiable financial penalty known as slashing, where a portion of a validator's staked capital is permanently destroyed for protocol violations like double-signing or extended downtime.

Liquidity Staking Methods

Methodology ⎊ Liquidity staking methods represent a new methodology for participating in Proof-of-Stake consensus mechanisms without sacrificing asset liquidity.