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Liquid StakingEthereumDeFi
Rocket Pool: Decentralized ETH Liquid Staking
+120 XP · 10 min read · Updated March 2026
TVL
$4.1B
APY
~3.8%
Token
$RPL
Min Stake
0.01 ETH
Node Ops
3,200+
Rating
⭐ 4.7
What is Rocket Pool?
Rocket Pool is Ethereum's leading decentralized liquid staking protocol. Unlike centralized staking, it distributes validation across thousands of independent node operators, preserving decentralization. Users deposit ETH and receive rETH — a liquid staking token that automatically accrues staking rewards over time.
How to Use Rocket Pool
1
Deposit ETH
Send any amount of ETH to Rocket Pool. You receive rETH in return — a rebasing token whose ETH value increases as staking rewards accumulate.
2
rETH accrues yield
rETH's exchange rate to ETH grows every 24 hours. No claiming needed — just hold rETH and your position grows.
3
Run a Node (optional)
Bond 8 or 16 ETH + $RPL collateral to run a node operator and earn extra commissions (14% on mini-pool rewards).
4
Unstake anytime
Burn rETH back to ETH via the protocol's withdrawal queue or swap on DEXes for instant liquidity.
Risks to Consider
- Smart contract risk in staking contracts
- $RPL price exposure for node operators
- Withdrawal queue delays during high demand
- Validator slashing risk (socialized across protocol)
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