When you stake Ethereum, you lock up ETH to help secure the network and earn rewards. But what if you want to keep using your ETH while it’s staked? That’s where an Ethereum staking token, a tokenized receipt representing your staked ETH and accrued rewards. Also known as liquid staking derivative, it lets you trade, lend, or use your staked assets in DeFi—all while still earning staking rewards. Think of it like a coupon you get when you deposit money in a savings account, but this coupon can be spent anywhere.
These tokens aren’t magic. They’re backed by real ETH locked in validators on the Ethereum network. Projects like Lido’s stETH, Rocket Pool’s rETH, and Coinbase’s cETH issue them. Each has different rules: some are pegged 1:1 to ETH, others have slight delays or fees. The big draw? You’re not stuck. You can move your staking token to Uniswap, borrow against it on Aave, or even use it in yield farms. But here’s the catch: not all staking tokens are equal. Some have higher risk, lower liquidity, or hidden fees. And if the underlying validator gets slashed, your token’s value could dip. You need to know who’s backing it and how transparent they are.
Related to this are liquid staking, the process of turning locked ETH into tradeable tokens, and staking derivatives, the broader category that includes Ethereum staking tokens and similar assets on other chains. These aren’t just niche tools—they’re now central to DeFi. Over $30 billion in ETH is staked through liquid protocols, and that number keeps growing. But the market’s messy. Some tokens are backed by audited, multi-sig validators. Others? Barely tested, with no public reporting. You’ll find both in the posts below.
The articles here don’t just explain what Ethereum staking tokens are. They show you which ones to trust, which ones carry hidden risks, and how they connect to real-world DeFi platforms like Uniswap, Sovryn, and LCX. You’ll see how tokenized assets like TIPon and BTEX fit into this ecosystem, and why some projects—like fake tokens on Sui or meme coins with zero volume—have nothing to do with real staking. Whether you’re trying to earn passive income, maximize DeFi yields, or just avoid scams, this collection cuts through the noise. No fluff. Just what works, what doesn’t, and why it matters right now.
BETH crypto refers to two completely different tokens: a failing Solana meme coin and Binance's legitimate Ethereum staking token. Know which one you're buying before investing.
