Key Takeaways

• Rocket Pool is a decentralized Ethereum liquid staking protocol.
• It lets anyone stake ETH or run a mini-node (with ETH).
• rETH is the liquid staking token (LST) you receive when you stake, which earns rewards while staying usable in DeFi.

The Basics: What is Rocket Pool?

Rocket Pool is an Ethereum-based protocol that makes staking more accessible, decentralized, and liquid. Instead of locking your ETH to run a validator or trusting CEXs, Rocket Pool allows you to:

• Stake any amount of ETH (starting at 0.01 ETH).
• Receive rETH, a liquid staking token (LST) that earns rewards.
• Participate in Ethereum staking without giving up custody.
• Run a mini-validator node if you are interested in something more technical.

Why Use Rocket Pool?

• Decentralized: Anyone can join, no KYC required.
• Trustless: Rocket Pool is ran by smart contracts, and it handles everything.
• Liquid: Staking ETH gives back rETH, which lets you use staked ETH in DeFi.
• Accessible: Easy to stake with amounts as low as 0.01 ETH.
• Scalable: Increasing amount of node operators mean more decentralization.

Whether you’re a casual staker or a power user, Rocket Pool is designed to be of great use.

How rETH Works

When you stake ETH through Rocket Pool, you get rETH which is a liquid staking token that automatically tracks your staking rewards.

• Your rETH’s value slowly increases vs. ETH (not via rebasing, but via exchange rate).
• You can use rETH in DeFi while still earning staking rewards.
• You can swap rETH back to ETH later (or swap it via DEXs).

Who is Rocket Pool For?

There are two main users:

• Liquid Stakers: Stake ETH, receive rETH. No need to manage any infrastructure or go technical. Be sure to learn what liquid staking is first and manage risks.
• Node Operators: Run a validator with either 8 or 16 ETH. Rocket Pool pools the rest from users, and node operators earn extra commission. To learn more about running your own mininode, read more from their official documentation website.

Risks and Considerations

Since the protocol runs on smart contracts, you need to take note of the following risks and considerations before committing your assets.

• rETH Price: rETH may trade at a premium/discount rate on secondary markets.
• ETH Withdrawals: These are gated by Ethereum’s queue and Rocket Pool’s liquidity.
• Node Management: Node operators take on more responsibility (slashing risk, uptime).

Rocket Pool Governance: $RPL and More

Rocket Pool’s governance is structured around a decentralized autonomous organization (DAO), called Protocol DAO. Combined with the protocol’s native token RPL, changes can happen.

• Process: Members of the DAO can propose changes to the whole protocol, which are then voted on by the community.
• Voting Power: Each node operator’s voting power is based on the amount of RPL they have staked in their node.

As a regular user, you don’t need RPL to stake ETH.

Get Started With Rocket Pool

Rocket Pool lets anyone stake ETH, earn rewards, and stay decentralized. With rETH, your ETH keeps working in DeFi—no lockups, no central middlemen.