Convert between LDO and US dollars at the live rate.
$7.30
−94.58% from current
$0.235028
+68.39% from current
Independent editorial ranking. Score is 0–10 across six criteria: Security, Fees, UX, Features, Support, Reputation.
US and EU users who prioritise a spotless security record — no major hack since 2011 — and want a serious pro-grade trading terminal.
Institutions and funds requiring an SEC-registered venue with segregated qualified custody and audited on-chain reserves.
Active spot traders chasing the deepest global liquidity and the widest listing catalogue outside the US perimeter.
Traders who mix spot and on-chain — the Web3 wallet, DEX aggregator and Ethereum L2 X Layer sit inside the same account as CEX pairs.
Long-horizon EU holders who want the oldest continuously-operating exchange (2011) with conservative listings and full MiCA licensing.
Derivatives-first traders who want tighter perp funding and a maker-friendly fee schedule; accept offshore regulatory footprint.
Top coins in the same category, ordered by market cap.
Lido is the largest liquid staking protocol in DeFi, primarily focused on Ethereum staking. Launched in December 2020 by a consortium including Semantic VC, ParaFi Capital, and others (with development led by Lido DAO contributors), Lido enabled ETH holders to stake without needing 32 ETH or running validator infrastructure. Users deposit ETH and receive stETH — a liquid, transferable representation of their staked ETH that automatically accrues staking rewards.
In 2026, Lido remains the largest liquid staking provider on Ethereum with approximately 27-30% of total staked ETH — down from 32% peaks in 2023 due to intentional Lido governance actions to reduce dominance. Total ETH staked through Lido sits at approximately 9-10 million ETH (dollar equivalent in the $20-25 billion range). LDO is the governance token of Lido DAO.
Lido has expanded beyond Ethereum staking to include Polygon (stMATIC), and various other chains at different points. The strategic focus in 2024-2026 has been Ethereum-focused with the Lido V3 architecture and continued emphasis on stETH ecosystem depth rather than aggressive multi-chain expansion.
When users deposit ETH into Lido, the protocol pools their deposits and distributes them across Lido's curated validator set (currently ~30 professional node operators). Users receive stETH at a 1:1 ratio to deposited ETH. stETH is a rebasing token — the balance increases automatically as staking rewards accrue. Alternatively, users can hold wstETH (wrapped stETH), a non-rebasing version that appreciates in exchange rate.
stETH is deeply integrated across DeFi. Lending markets (Aave, Morpho, Sky) accept stETH and wstETH as collateral. DEX pools (Curve, Balancer, Uniswap) provide substantial stETH liquidity. Structured yield protocols (Pendle, various vault protocols) build sophisticated strategies around stETH.
Node operator selection is governed by Lido DAO — the community-driven governance body composed of LDO token holders. The Node Operator Curated Set is intentionally geographically and technically diverse. Post-shanghai/Capella (April 2023), Lido operators can withdraw as well as deposit, giving stETH holders a direct redemption path back to ETH.
LDO has a fixed maximum supply of 1 billion tokens. As of July 2026, circulating supply sits at approximately 900 million LDO — most vesting has completed. Distribution:
LDO governance controls all critical Lido decisions including node operator additions, fee structures, protocol upgrades, and treasury management. The DAO has been notably deliberative in its self-limiting actions — including the 2023-2024 decisions to not aggressively add validator capacity to reduce Lido's share of total staked ETH from ~32% peak toward the 22-25% range the DAO has targeted.
stETH is the largest LST in DeFi by TVL and integration count. Notable integrations:
The stETH ecosystem effect is one of the strongest network effects in DeFi. New DeFi protocols routinely integrate stETH as a first supported asset because that's where users' capital already sits.
Lido's 2026 setup is one of managed decline in market share combined with continued dominant absolute position. Lido has been deliberate about reducing its share of Ethereum staking to address centralisation concerns, but its scale advantages in DeFi integration and stETH liquidity remain unmatched.
The bull case is Lido maintaining dominant stETH ecosystem position while ETH staking as a whole grows meaningfully (potentially to 35-40% of ETH supply from current ~28%), producing continued absolute growth even with relative share decline. The bear case is aggressive LST competition combined with EigenLayer-related dynamics that reduce Lido's specific competitive advantage.
For a comparison of Lido versus Rocket Pool, ether.fi, and other liquid staking protocols, see our independent rating of liquid staking.
Analysis last updated:
Lido DAO (LDO) trades at $0.395756 with a 24-hour volume of $27.18M and a market capitalization of $330.87M. The asset is currently ranked #121 among all tracked cryptocurrencies.
In the last 24 hours, the LDO price has risen +1.20%. On a seven-day window, Lido DAO has climbed +6.32%, showing consistent upward momentum across both windows. Short-term moves are often amplified by liquidity, news flow, and derivatives positioning, so confirm signals across multiple indicators before acting.
Lido DAO's all-time high of $7.30 was set on August 20, 2021. The current price sits +94.58% below that peak. Distance from the all-time high is a common reference point when evaluating long recoveries and macro support or resistance.
Buying Lido DAO (LDO) is a five-step routine once you have picked the right venue and pair. The steps below mirror what most investors do today.
You can also use the Lido DAO converter above to estimate how much LDO you would get for a given dollar amount before placing the order.
Whether Lido DAO is a good investment depends on your goals, time horizon, and tolerance for volatility. Like all cryptocurrencies, LDO carries real market risk: prices can rise or fall sharply in a day, and past performance is not a reliable indicator of future returns.
This page provides data and analysis for educational purposes only. It is not financial advice. Always do your own research, diversify, and never invest more than you can afford to lose.
