Staked ether, or stETH, is a cryptocurrency token that represents an equivalent amount of ether (ETH) that has been staked. The concept of stETH is designed to solve the liquidity problem associated with staking ETH, where staked ETH becomes locked and illiquid until certain network upgrades occur. When users stake their ETH through Lido, they receive an equivalent amount of stETH tokens in return. These tokens are pegged 1:1 with the value of ETH and can be freely traded, sold, or used in DeFi protocols, providing liquidity to the staker. Moreover, stETH holders are entitled to staking rewards, which are automatically re-staked, increasing the amount of stETH tokens in the holder's wallet over time.

In May 2023, with the completion of the Ethereum Shanghai upgrade, Lido also upgraded to version V2, introducing the ability for liquidity staking users to withdraw from Lido at a 1:1 ratio, meaning users can exchange their stETH for ETH at any time. Additionally, in September 2023, Lido partnered with Synthetix to launch a trading incentive program aimed at boosting stETH trading volumes. By January 2024, Lido's market share in ETH staking slightly decreased to 28.2%, but it remains a leading player in the market. Furthermore, in August 2024, Lido announced its first cross-chain expansion by integrating stETH into the BNB Chain. In September 2024, Lido launched Lido Institutional, a liquidity staking solution specifically designed for institutional clients.

Above are only for introduction, not intended as investment advice.