What Is Liquid Staking and Why Is It Needed?

For transactions on a blockchain to be processed, a consensus mechanism is required. The two most popular consensus mechanisms are Proof-of-Work (PoW) and Proof-of-Stake (PoS). Bitcoin uses the former, and Ethereum, Solana and BNB use the latter. Consensus mechanisms ensure network nodes (computers) agree on the blockchain state, valid transactions and block additions, without relying on a central authority.

PoW used by Bitcoin requires miners to solve complex puzzles in order to validate transactions. PoS on the other hand requires validators to “stake” some of the blockchain’s native tokens to gain the right to validate transactions. Validators verify transactions, add blocks to the blockchain, and receive rewards as a result.

A challenge, however, is that validators of the largest PoS blockchain, Ethereum, must stake a minimum of 32 ETH (worth around $52,000). This amount is not feasible for most users and makes staking on Ethereum inaccessible. Hence, platforms like Lido, Rocket Pool, and Tranchess emerged that offered users a service called “liquid staking” so that they can deposit a small amount of ETH in order to gain rewards even if they don’t hold 32 ETH.

Since staking became possible in December 2020, staked ETH has remained locked for over two years. Staked Ether was locked to ensure that the network remains decentralized and secure, even as it transitioned to a new consensus mechanism in 2022 during the Merge. However, this stands in stark contrast to other pools where users can withdraw their staked assets according to their preference. This made Ethereum staking a less-than-ideal option for investors and contributed to the rise of liquid staking to enable liquidity in Ether tokens for their holders. #CPI_BTC_Watch #Ethereum_ETFs_Expected_Date #BinanceTurns7 #SOFR_Spike #US_Job_Market_Slowdown