Lido Staked Ether (stETH) - Price & Chart

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Lido Staked Ether (stETH) has emerged as a leading liquid staking solution in the Ethereum ecosystem, combining the benefits of staking rewards with DeFi flexibility. As Ethereum transitions to proof-of-stake, stETH enables users to earn passive income while maintaining liquidity—offering a powerful tool for crypto investors seeking yield without sacrificing usability.

What Is stETH?

stETH is a tokenized representation of Ethereum (ETH) that has been staked through Lido, a decentralized liquid staking protocol. When users stake their ETH via Lido, they receive stETH in return, which accrues value in line with staking rewards generated on the Ethereum network.

Unlike traditional staking, where funds are locked for extended periods, stETH remains liquid and can be traded, transferred, or used across decentralized finance (DeFi) platforms. This innovation bridges the gap between long-term network security and short-term capital efficiency.

👉 Discover how stETH unlocks yield opportunities across DeFi protocols.

Key Features of stETH

Supply Overview

The supply metrics for stETH reflect its growing adoption within the Ethereum ecosystem:

Note: The discrepancy between total and max supply stems from the dynamic nature of staking rewards, which increase the effective value of stETH over time rather than issuing new tokens.

This high circulating supply indicates strong market participation and trust in Lido’s infrastructure.

Market Performance & Metrics

As of the latest update, stETH holds a prominent position in the cryptocurrency market:

stETH reached its all-time high of $5,455.84 on November 13, 2021, during the peak of the bull market. While currently trading below that level, it continues to serve as a core asset in many portfolios due to its utility and reliability.

The token was first listed on July 23, 2021—marking over four years of operation with consistent performance and minimal downtime.

Exchange Listings & Trading Pairs

stETH is widely available across major exchanges, enhancing its accessibility and liquidity. Key trading pairs include:

These listings reflect robust demand across both stablecoin and native ETH trading pairs, reinforcing stETH’s role as a bridge between staking and active trading strategies.

👉 Explore real-time stETH markets and start earning yield today.

Contract Address

For verification and wallet integration purposes, the official Ethereum contract address for stETH is:
0xae7ab96520de3a18e5e111b5eaab095312d7fe84
You can view transaction history, token analytics, and holder distribution directly on Etherscan.

How stETH Works: Behind the Scenes

When you stake ETH through Lido:

  1. Your ETH is pooled with other users’ deposits.
  2. Validators are selected to propose and attest blocks on the Ethereum blockchain.
  3. Rewards from block validation accrue to the pool daily.
  4. The value of your stETH gradually increases relative to ETH—reflecting accumulated rewards.

This process is trustless and non-custodial. Users never lose control of their assets and can exit the system when withdrawals are enabled via Ethereum protocol upgrades.

Importantly, stETH does not pay out rewards as separate tokens; instead, the exchange rate between stETH and ETH rises over time. For example:

Core Keywords

To align with search intent and enhance SEO visibility, key terms naturally integrated throughout this article include:

These keywords reflect common queries from investors, traders, and developers exploring yield-generating opportunities in Web3.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the difference between ETH and stETH?

ETH is the native cryptocurrency of the Ethereum network. stETH is a derivative token representing staked ETH in Lido. While ETH can be used for transactions or held passively, stETH earns yield automatically and can be used across DeFi platforms.

Can I swap stETH back to ETH?

Yes—but not instantly through Lido directly yet. However, you can trade stETH for ETH on decentralized exchanges like Uniswap or centralized platforms such as OKX or Bybit at any time.

Is stETH safe?

Lido uses audited smart contracts and distributes validators across multiple node operators to minimize risk. While no system is 100% risk-free, Lido is one of the most trusted liquid staking protocols with billions in total value locked (TVL).

Why is stETH trading below ETH?

During periods of market stress or low confidence in Ethereum upgrades enabling withdrawals, stETH may trade at a slight discount to ETH due to liquidity preferences. However, this gap typically narrows as network conditions stabilize.

Does stETH generate yield forever?

Yes—as long as Ethereum continues operating under proof-of-stake and Lido remains functional, stETH will continue accruing value through validator rewards.

Where can I use stETH in DeFi?

Popular protocols that accept stETH include Aave (as collateral), Curve (liquidity pools), Yearn Finance (yield optimization), and MakerDAO (for generating DAI loans).

Final Thoughts

Lido Staked Ether (stETH) represents a cornerstone innovation in modern blockchain finance. By combining the security of Ethereum staking with the flexibility of tradable tokens, it empowers users to maximize capital efficiency without compromising on decentralization or yield potential.

Whether you're a long-term hodler looking to earn passive income or a DeFi enthusiast leveraging assets for higher returns, stETH offers a proven, scalable solution backed by a mature protocol and broad ecosystem support.

👉 Start using stETH to earn yield and unlock DeFi opportunities now.