Best Ethereum Staking Options of 2026: Where to Stake ETH

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Staking lets you earn rewards on Ethereum you already own by helping secure the network. Since Ethereum moved to proof of stake in 2022, staking has become one of the most popular ways to put ETH to work, and today you can stake through an exchange, a liquid staking protocol, your own hardware wallet or even an ETF. We compared the best ways to stake ETH in 2026 on rewards, fees, risk and ease of use.

Quick answer: The best way to stake Ethereum for most beginners is an exchange such as Coinbase or Kraken, where you can stake any amount in a few taps. If you want to keep control of your ETH, Lido (stETH) and Rocket Pool (rETH) are the leading liquid staking options; Lido’s 7-day average rate was about 2.2% a year after fees in early October 2026. Expect roughly 2% to 3% a year in ETH, minus platform commissions. Rewards aren’t guaranteed, ETH’s price can fall far more than you earn, and staking rewards are taxable income in the US.

Staking rates change daily. Rates and availability were checked in October 2026 and vary by platform and US state.

Best Ethereum staking options compared

Option	Best for	Highlights
Coinbase Easiest	Beginners	Stake any amount; Coinbase One boosts rewards	Stake on Coinbase
Kraken Best exchange value	Regular stakers	Flexible and bonded staking in most US states	Visit Kraken
Gemini Security-focused	Cautious investors	ETH staking from a New York trust company	Visit Gemini
Lido (stETH) Best liquid staking	Self-custody users	Stake any amount from your wallet; 10% fee on rewards
Rocket Pool (rETH) Most decentralized	Decentralization fans	Liquid staking spread across independent node operators

Method	Minimum	Who holds your ETH	Can you exit quickly?	Main risk
Exchange staking	Any amount	The exchange	Usually, but unstaking can take days or weeks	Platform risk
Liquid staking (Lido, Rocket Pool)	Any amount	You (via a token)	Yes, by selling the token	Smart-contract and price-gap risk
Hardware wallet staking	Varies by provider	You	Depends on the provider	Provider and setup risk
Solo staking	32 ETH	You	Exit queue can take days or weeks	Technical and slashing risk
Staking ETFs	One share	The fund	Yes, by selling shares	Fund fees and price risk

How Ethereum staking works

Ethereum uses proof of stake: validators lock up ETH and take turns proposing and checking blocks. In return, they earn newly issued ETH plus a share of transaction fees. Running your own validator requires 32 ETH and a computer that stays online, so most people stake through a service that pools ETH and runs validators for them, keeping a commission on the rewards.

Rewards depend on how much ETH is staked across the whole network and how busy the network is. When more ETH is staked, each staker earns a slightly lower rate. Validators that break the rules or go offline can be penalized, a process called slashing, which is one reason to choose experienced operators. Learn the basics in what is staking.

The best ways to stake ETH

1. Coinbase: easiest for beginners

Coinbase lets you stake ETH with a few taps in its app, with no minimum and rewards shown in your balance. It also offers cbETH, a liquid staking token you can move or use elsewhere. Coinbase keeps a commission on rewards, and Coinbase One members get a staking boost of +5% to +15% depending on their plan.

• Pros: simplest setup, any amount, public US company, Coinbase One boost.
• Cons: commission reduces your rate, not available in every state, Coinbase holds your ETH.

Stake ETH on Coinbase

2. Kraken: best exchange value

Kraken offers ETH staking alongside more than 20 other stakeable assets, with flexible and bonded options. After pausing US staking in 2023, it relaunched for US customers in 2025, though it isn’t available in states such as California, New Jersey, New York and Washington.

• Pros: broad staking menu, strong security record, low trading fees on Kraken Pro.
• Cons: excluded in several large states, Kraken holds your ETH.

Visit Kraken

3. Gemini, Crypto.com and Robinhood: good if you already use them

Gemini offers ETH staking with no minimum from a regulated New York trust company. Crypto.com supports ETH staking in its app, and Robinhood customers in the US can stake ETH directly in the Robinhood app. Commissions and state availability vary, so compare the rate shown in each app.

• Pros: convenient if your ETH is already there.
• Cons: rates are often lower after commissions; availability varies by state.

Visit Gemini Visit Crypto.com Visit Robinhood

4. Lido (stETH): best liquid staking

Lido is the largest liquid staking protocol. You stake any amount of ETH from your own wallet and receive stETH, a token whose balance grows daily as rewards arrive. You can hold it, sell it or use it in DeFi while it keeps earning. Lido charges a 10% fee on rewards, and its 7-day average rate was about 2.2% a year after fees in early October 2026.

• Pros: keep custody, any amount, exit anytime by selling stETH, widely supported.
• Cons: smart-contract risk, stETH can trade slightly below ETH in stressed markets, Lido’s large share of staked ETH raises centralization concerns.

5. Rocket Pool (rETH): most decentralized

Rocket Pool spreads staked ETH across many independent node operators, which many in the Ethereum community prefer for decentralization. You receive rETH, a token that rises in value against ETH as rewards accrue, rather than growing in balance.

• Pros: more decentralized, keep custody, rETH works across DeFi.
• Cons: smart-contract risk, smaller liquidity than stETH, slightly more complex.

6. Your hardware wallet: best for security-minded holders

You can stake directly from a hardware wallet through its companion app: Ledger Wallet connects to staking providers, and Trezor Suite supports ETH staking through a partner. Your keys never leave the device, though you rely on the staking provider and its terms. See our Ledger Nano X review and Trezor Safe 5 review.

• Pros: keys stay offline, no exchange risk.
• Cons: minimums and fees vary by provider; more steps than exchange staking.

Shop Ledger Nano X Shop Trezor Safe 5

7. Solo staking and staking ETFs: for specific needs

Solo staking means running your own validator with 32 ETH. It earns the full reward with no commission and is best for the network, but requires technical skill and reliable hardware. At the other end, some US spot Ether ETFs now stake part of their holdings and pass rewards to shareholders after fees, which lets you get staking exposure in an ordinary brokerage account. Check each fund’s prospectus for its staking policy and fees.

• Solo staking: full rewards and control, but 32 ETH and technical work.
• Staking ETFs: simple and IRA-friendly, but you don’t hold ETH directly and pay fund fees.

How much can you earn staking ETH?

Ethereum staking rewards have been around 2% to 3% a year recently. After fees and commissions, most platforms pay somewhat less than the network rate. For example, if you stake 2 ETH at 2.2%, you’d earn about 0.044 ETH over a year. Its dollar value depends entirely on ETH’s price, which can swing far more than 2% in a single day.

Be skeptical of any platform promising much higher fixed yields on ETH. In 2022, lenders such as Celsius and BlockFi advertised high “yield” and then froze customer funds. Read what is APY in crypto and is staking crypto safe?

Risks of staking ETH

• Price risk: ETH’s price can fall far more than the rewards you earn.
• Exit delays: when many people unstake at once, Ethereum’s exit queue can stretch to days or weeks.
• Platform and smart-contract risk: an exchange could fail, or a liquid staking contract could be exploited.
• Slashing: poorly run validators can lose part of their stake.
• Liquid token price gaps: stETH or rETH can trade below the value of the ETH behind them in stressed markets.
• Taxes: in the US, staking rewards are ordinary income when you receive them. See our crypto tax guide.

How to stake Ethereum in 4 steps

1. Choose a method: an exchange such as Coinbase or Kraken for simplicity, or Lido or Rocket Pool if you want to keep custody.
2. Buy ETH or transfer ETH you already own. See how to buy Ethereum.
3. Opt in to staking and review the commission, estimated rate and unstaking time before you confirm.
4. Track your rewards and keep records for taxes. Tools such as Koinly import staking rewards automatically.

The bottom line

For most beginners, staking ETH on Coinbase or Kraken is the simplest path, and Coinbase One can boost your rewards. If you’d rather keep custody, Lido and Rocket Pool let you earn while holding a liquid token, and hardware wallet staking keeps your keys offline. Whichever you choose, expect modest rewards of a few percent a year, only stake ETH you plan to hold anyway, and keep good tax records. Compare other coins in the best crypto staking platforms.

Frequently asked questions