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Liquid staking
Liquid staking is staking through a service that gives you a token representing your staked coins and their rewards. You can hold, trade or use that token while the original coins stay staked. The token is a claim on the stake, not the stake itself.
What it means for you. The token can trade below the value of the coins backing it, so selling it quickly may cost you. Its value also depends on the service's smart contracts, its operators and rule changes you may not vote on, and validator penalties are usually shared by all holders. Check how redemption works and how long it takes.
Source: ethereum.org: Pooled staking · checked 4 October 2026
Staking
Staking is locking up a proof-of-stake network's coins to help secure it, in return for rewards. On Ethereum, 32 ETH activates your own validator; smaller amounts can be staked through pools or exchanges, which run the validator for you.
What it means for you. Staked coins can be penalized if the validator goes offline or breaks the rules. Each step away from running your own validator adds a party between you and the protocol: a pool adds smart-contract risk, and an exchange holds your coins for you.
Sources: ethereum.org: Staking, ethereum.org: Proof-of-stake · checked 4 October 2026