Compare the best ways to stake ETH in 2026. Liquid staking, pooled staking, and exchange staking services ranked by yield, fees, and decentralization.
Updated February 20, 2026·6 picks reviewed
Staking ETH is one of the easiest ways to earn passive yield in AI. The problem is the 32 ETH minimum for solo staking. At current prices, that's over $50,000 just to run your own validator. Most people don't have that kind of money sitting around, so staking services fill the gap. They pool your ETH with others, run the validators, and give you a cut of the rewards. Some hand you a liquid token so you can keep using your staked ETH in DeFi. Others are simple "click and stake" options on exchanges. The trade-off is always between yield, decentralization, and convenience. Here's how the top services compare.
ETH stakers who also want exposure to restaking yield
Clean interface
Newer protocol
Detailed Reviews
#1
Lido
Lido dominates ETH staking with roughly 30% of all staked ETH. Deposit any amount of ETH, receive stETH that earns ~3-4% APY while staying liquid. stETH is accepted as collateral on Aave, Maker, and basically every major DeFi protocol. It's the standard that everything else gets compared to.
Best for: ETH holders who want maximum DeFi composability with their staked ETH
Pros
Largest liquid staking protocol
stETH accepted everywhere in DeFi
No minimum stake
Liquid, no lock-up period
Cons
10% fee on staking rewards
Centralization concerns at 30% of staked ETH
Smart contract risk on top of staking risk
#2
Rocket Pool
The decentralized counterweight to Lido. Anyone can run a Rocket Pool minipool with 8 ETH (down from 32). rETH is the liquid staking token and it accrues value over time rather than rebasing like stETH. The protocol is fully permissionless with no trusted operator set.
Best for: Users who prioritize decentralization over maximum DeFi utility
Pros
Most decentralized liquid staking option
Minipool operators only need 8 ETH
rETH value accrues (no rebase)
Permissionless validator set
Cons
Higher commission (~14%)
Smaller TVL and DeFi integration than Lido
rETH less liquid than stETH
#3
Coinbase (cbETH)
If you use Coinbase, staking ETH is a one-tap operation. Your staked ETH becomes cbETH, which is liquid and tradeable. Coinbase handles all the validator operations. The simplicity is unmatched, though you pay for it with a 25% commission on rewards. For someone who doesn't want to think about it, this is fine.
Best for: Coinbase users who want zero-friction ETH staking
Pros
Dead simple, one-tap staking
Regulated US platform
cbETH is liquid and tradeable
No minimum stake
Cons
25% commission on rewards
Custodial (you trust Coinbase)
cbETH has less DeFi adoption than stETH
#4
Frax (sfrxETH)
Frax Ether takes a dual-token approach. frxETH is pegged 1:1 to ETH. Stake frxETH to get sfrxETH which earns all the staking rewards from the entire frxETH pool. This concentrates yield for stakers. If you hold frxETH without staking, you earn nothing but sfrxETH holders get a boosted yield.
Best for: Yield optimizers who understand the dual-token model
Pros
Higher yield for sfrxETH holders (concentrated rewards)
Dual-token design is clever
Growing DeFi integrations
No minimum
Cons
More complex to understand
Smaller TVL than Lido or Rocket Pool
Tied to Frax ecosystem health
Less battle-tested
#5
StakeWise
StakeWise V3 lets you choose your own node operators or run your own. The osETH liquid staking token is over-collateralized, meaning the protocol holds more ETH in reserves than osETH in circulation. It's a more conservative approach to liquid staking that appeals to risk-aware users.
Best for: Users who want operator choice and over-collateralized liquid staking
Pros
Choose your own operators
Over-collateralized osETH
Can run your own validator through V3
More conservative risk model
Cons
Smaller TVL and brand recognition
osETH has limited DeFi integrations
V3 is newer and still growing
#6
Swell
Swell's swETH offers competitive ETH staking yields with a clean interface. The protocol also plugs into restaking via EigenLayer, letting you earn extra yield on top of base staking rewards. Swell is positioning itself as the bridge between liquid staking and restaking.
Best for: ETH stakers who also want exposure to restaking yield
Pros
Clean interface
EigenLayer restaking integration
Competitive yields
Growing TVL
Cons
Newer protocol
Restaking adds additional risk
Smaller TVL than Lido or Rocket Pool
swETH has limited DeFi use so far
Frequently Asked Questions
How much can I earn staking Ethereum?
Base ETH staking yields are around 3-4% APY. The exact rate depends on network activity (more transactions mean more tips for validators). Liquid staking protocols take a commission (5-25%) from rewards. After fees, expect roughly 2.5-3.5% net APY from most services.
What is the difference between stETH, rETH, and cbETH?
All three are liquid staking tokens representing staked ETH. stETH (Lido) rebases daily, meaning your balance grows. rETH (Rocket Pool) and cbETH (Coinbase) accrue value, so the token price goes up instead. stETH has the most DeFi integration. rETH is the most decentralized. cbETH is the simplest to get.
Can I unstake my ETH?
Yes. Liquid staking tokens can be sold on DEXs at any time for instant liquidity. You can also redeem directly through the protocol, which may take a few days depending on the withdrawal queue. Exchange staking (Coinbase, Kraken) may have short unstaking delays too.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Always do your own research before investing in any AI technology or using any platform. Some links may be affiliate links.