Ethereum staking lets you earn passive income while helping secure the network. Here's everything you need to know about staking ETH in 2026.
What is Ethereum Staking?
Staking involves locking up ETH to validate transactions and secure the Ethereum network. In return, you earn staking rewards, currently around 4-5% APY.
Staking Options
1. Solo Staking (32 ETH minimum)
Run your own validator node. Requires technical knowledge and 32 ETH but offers maximum rewards and control.
2. Staking Pools
Join a pool through exchanges like Coinbase, Kraken, or Binance. Lower minimums but you share rewards.
3. Liquid Staking
Use protocols like Lido (stETH) or Rocket Pool (rETH) to stake any amount and receive liquid tokens you can use in DeFi.
How to Stake with Lido
- Visit stake.lido.fi
- Connect your wallet (MetaMask or similar)
- Enter the amount of ETH to stake
- Approve and confirm the transaction
- Receive stETH tokens that accrue rewards automatically
Staking Rewards
Current ETH staking APY is approximately 4-5%. This varies based on network activity and total staked ETH.