The fee on staking rewards ranges from 4% on Jito to 25% on Robinhood, so the same validator yield can reach you very differently. Lido keeps 10% of ETH rewards, and Rocket Pool accepts deposits from 0.01 ETH. Liquid staking protocols give you a token you can use in DeFi; exchanges such as Robinhood and Gemini hold the coins for you.
Quick answer
Lido is the best staking platform for ETH: it keeps 10% of rewards, starts paying within 24 hours and stETH works across DeFi. Use Rocket Pool for a smaller, decentralized option from 0.01 ETH, Jito for SOL at a 4% fee, and Gemini or Robinhood if you want a US exchange to hold the coins.
- 01Lido: best for ETH
- 02Rocket Pool: Best decentralized ETH
- 03Jito: best for SOL
- 04ether.fi: best for ETH plus a card
- 05Gemini: Best US exchange
The 7 best staking platforms
Lido pays staking rewards within 24 hours of a deposit and keeps 10% of rewards for node operators and the DAO. Its audits page lists 99 reports for Lido on Ethereum.
- Chains
- Ethereum
- Platforms
- Web
- Custody
- Non-custodial
- Fees
- 10% of staking rewards
- Security audits
- 99 reports for Lido on Ethereum
Pros
- Rewards start accruing within 24 hours of deposit
- 99 audit reports listed for Lido on Ethereum
- stETH is widely accepted as collateral in DeFi
Cons
- 10% fee on staking rewards
- Lido Earn vaults are not open to US residents or citizens
- Fee can be changed by a DAO vote
Skip it if you want the lowest fee: Jito on Solana keeps 4%, and the fee can change by DAO vote.
Rocket Pool accepts deposits from 0.01 ETH and lets anyone run a node with an ETH bond. Audited by Sigma Prime and Consensys Diligence since 2021, and by Cantina and Bailsec in 2026.
- Chains
- Ethereum
- Platforms
- Web
- Custody
- Non-custodial
- Pricing
- Minimum stake 0.01 ETH
- Security audits
- Sigma Prime, Consensys Diligence, Cantina, Bailsec
Pros
- Stake from 0.01 ETH
- Audited by Sigma Prime and Consensys Diligence since 2021
- Permissionless node operators rather than a curated set
Cons
- Ethereum only
- rETH trades at an exchange rate to ETH, not 1:1
- Node operators earn a commission out of staker rewards
Skip it if you want a 1:1 token: rETH trades at a rising exchange rate to ETH.
Jito's JitoSOL earns staking rewards plus MEV tips and keeps 4% of rewards, about 0.3% of deposits a year. Stake is spread across up to 400 validators.
- Chains
- Solana
- Platforms
- Web
- Custody
- Non-custodial
- Fees
- 4% of rewards (about 0.3% of deposits per year); 0.1% on direct unstake
- Token
- JTO (governance); JitoSOL (liquid staking token)
Pros
- Management fee of 4% of rewards, about 0.3% of deposits a year
- Adds MEV rewards on top of staking yield
- Stake spread over up to 400 validators chosen automatically
Cons
- 0.1% fee on direct unstaking through the website
- Direct unstaking waits up to 1 epoch, about 2 days
- Solana only
Skip it if you unstake often: direct unstaking costs 0.1% and waits up to about 2 days.
ether.fi mints eETH or weETH for staked ETH and adds a Cash card, borrowing and vaults. Its audits page lists 45+ reports. US residents can stake but cannot use Liquid vaults.
- Chains
- Ethereum
- Platforms
- Web
- Custody
- Non-custodial
- US availability
- Stake allowed; Liquid not available to US residents
- Security audits
- 45+ reports from Certora, CertiK, Halborn, Nethermind, Zellic and others
Pros
- More than 45 public audit reports since February 2023
- US residents can use the Stake service
- eETH and weETH stay usable across DeFi
Cons
- Liquid vaults not available to US residents
- Legacy AtomicQueue exploit in September 2026 took about $40K from users
- Tokenized stocks and metals not offered in the US
Skip it if you want a clean record: a legacy contract exploit took about $40K in September 2026.
Gemini offers staking and serves all 50 states, DC and Puerto Rico, as a New York trust company. The exchange holds the coins for you, so no wallet is needed.
- US availability
- All 50 states, DC and Puerto Rico
- Trading fees
- 0.60% maker / 1.20% taker
- Simple buy fee
- Varies, shown before you confirm
- Debit card purchase
- Not verified
- Coins available (US)
- Not verified
Pros
- Available in all 50 states, DC and Puerto Rico
- Public company that files with the SEC
- ActiveTrader fees fall to 0% / 0.02% at high volume
Cons
- High entry fees on ActiveTrader: 0.60% maker / 1.20% taker
- $37M NYDFS fine over Gemini Earn (2024)
- Instant-buy fee is not published as a fixed rate
Skip it if you want self-custody: Gemini holds your staked coins.
Robinhood offers crypto staking in most states inside the same app as stocks. It keeps a 25% commission on staking rewards.
- US availability
- Most states; some coins limited in NY and TX
- Trading fees
- No commission (spread); 0.50% / 0.95% on Exchange Routing
- Simple buy fee
- No commission, spread in price
- Debit card purchase
- Not verified
- Coins available (US)
- 140+
Pros
- No commission on default routing
- Over 140 tradable coins
- Holds a New York BitLicense
Cons
- Spread on default routing is not published
- 25% commission on staking rewards
- Fined $30M by NYDFS in 2022
Skip it if you care about the fee: 25% is the largest cut on this list.
EigenLayer lets you restake ETH, LSTs or EIGEN to secure other services for extra rewards. Contracts audited by Sigma Prime, Certora, Cantina and Consensys Diligence.
- Chains
- Ethereum (Base as multichain destination)
- Platforms
- Web
- Custody
- Non-custodial
- Security audits
- Sigma Prime, Certora, Cantina, ConsenSys Diligence
- Open source
- Yes, contracts on GitHub
Pros
- Public contract repo with audit reports from 2023 to 2026
- Accepts native ETH, LSTs, EIGEN and ERC-20s
- Core protocol live on Ethereum mainnet
Cons
- Restaked assets can be slashed
- EIGEN emissions to the ETH quorum have ended
- Core protocol not deployed on Base, only multichain destination contracts
Skip it if you want low risk: restaked assets can be slashed.
Staking Platforms compared
Select a name to jump to its review.
| Name | Best for | US availability | Chains | Custody | Security audits |
|---|
| Lido | Liquid ETH staking | Staking not restricted by terms; Lido Earn vaults not for US residents or citizens | Ethereum | Non-custodial | 99 reports for Lido on Ethereum |
|---|
| Rocket Pool | Small ETH stakes | Not verified | Ethereum | Non-custodial | Sigma Prime, Consensys Diligence, Cantina, Bailsec |
|---|
| Jito | Liquid SOL staking | Not verified | Solana | Non-custodial | Stake pool program audited by three firms |
|---|
| ether.fi | ETH staking and spending | Stake allowed; Liquid not available to US residents | Ethereum | Non-custodial | 45+ reports from Certora, CertiK, Halborn, Nethermind, Zellic and others |
|---|
| Gemini | Custodial staking in US | All 50 states, DC and Puerto Rico | Not verified | Custodial | Not verified |
|---|
| Robinhood Crypto | Staking in a brokerage app | Most states; some coins limited in NY and TX | Not verified | Custodial | Not verified |
|---|
| EigenLayer | Extra yield on staked ETH | Not verified | Ethereum (Base as multichain destination) | Non-custodial | Sigma Prime, Certora, Cantina, ConsenSys Diligence |
|---|
“Not verified” means we could not confirm the value on the project’s own pages.
How we rank staking platforms
- 01Fee on rewards: the share of staking rewards the platform keeps, from its own docs or fee schedule.
- 02Custody: whether you hold a liquid token in your own wallet or the platform holds the coins.
- 03US access: what the platform's own terms or availability pages say about US users.
- 04Audits: audit reports listed on the project's own pages.
- 05Minimum and exit: the smallest deposit and how long unstaking takes.
No project paid to be listed or ranked. Full rules: methodology.
How to choose
Work out the cut in dollars
On $10,000 of ETH earning 3% a year, gross rewards are $300. A 10% fee (Lido) leaves $270; a 25% commission (Robinhood) leaves $225.
Liquid or custodial
Liquid staking tokens such as stETH, rETH and JitoSOL stay in your wallet and work in DeFi. Exchange staking is simpler but leaves the exchange holding your coins.
Know the exit path
Liquid tokens can be sold on a DEX at any time, sometimes below face value. Direct unstaking on Jito waits up to about 2 days and costs 0.1%.
Restaking adds a new risk
EigenLayer rewards come with slashing risk from the services you secure. Treat it as a separate, riskier step on top of staking.
Who should skip all of these
- Holders of coins these platforms do not cover, such as ADA or DOT: this list covers ETH and SOL staking.
- Anyone who needs the money on a set date: unstaking queues and token discounts can delay or reduce exits.
- People who want a guaranteed rate: staking rewards vary with network activity.
Bottom line
Stake ETH with Lido or Rocket Pool and SOL with Jito if you can manage a wallet; the fees are lower than exchange staking.
If you prefer an exchange account, Gemini covers every state; Robinhood keeps 25% of rewards.
Educational content, not financial advice. Crypto assets are volatile; do your own research.
FAQ
Which staking platform has the lowest fee?
±
Of those we checked, Jito keeps 4% of SOL rewards. For ETH, Lido keeps 10%. Robinhood keeps a 25% commission.
Can I stake crypto in the US?
±
Yes. Gemini serves all 50 states, DC and Puerto Rico, and Robinhood offers staking in most states. Lido's terms restrict US residents only from its Lido Earn vaults, not from staking.
What is liquid staking?
±
You stake through a protocol and receive a token, such as stETH or JitoSOL, that grows with rewards and can be used or sold while your coins stay staked.
What is the minimum to stake ETH?
±
Rocket Pool accepts deposits from 0.01 ETH.
Is staking income taxable?
±
In the US, staking rewards are generally taxed as income when you gain control of them. Keep a record of each reward.
What changed in this list
2026-09-26First version: 7 staking platforms, fees on rewards checked on each project's own pages.