Independent ranking

Best Liquid Staking Protocols

Liquid staking protocols scored on the same public evidence: audits you can reach, methodology you can read, data you can re-query.

Kayla PetersonDeFi Research Analyst· Last checked August 10, 2026

Lido

Best for audited protocol with published methodology

Counterparty & contract risk · 35%10.0

Cost transparency · 20%9.0

Market quality · 15%9.0

Transparency & track record · 20%10.0

Public documentation surface · 10%10.0

Pros

Audit report linked from a public dataset
Accounting methodology published
TVL of $18,194m recorded independently

Cons

Several indicators could not be verified from public sources at this check

9.6/10

Overall

Confidence ARubric v2.0Verified August 9, 2026

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Stader

Best for audited protocol with published methodology

Counterparty & contract risk · 35%10.0

Cost transparency · 20%9.0

Market quality · 15%8.0

Transparency & track record · 20%10.0

Public documentation surface · 10%10.0

Pros

Audit report linked from a public dataset
Accounting methodology published
TVL of $203m recorded independently

Cons

Several indicators could not be verified from public sources at this check

9.5/10

Overall

Confidence ARubric v2.0Verified August 9, 2026

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StakeWise V2

Best for audited protocol with published methodology

Counterparty & contract risk · 35%10.0

Cost transparency · 20%9.0

Market quality · 15%7.0

Transparency & track record · 20%10.0

Public documentation surface · 10%10.0

Pros

Audit report linked from a public dataset
Accounting methodology published
TVL of $718m recorded independently

Cons

Several indicators could not be verified from public sources at this check

9.4/10

Overall

Confidence ARubric v2.0Verified August 9, 2026

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Liquid Collective

Best for audited protocol with published methodology

Counterparty & contract risk · 35%10.0

Cost transparency · 20%9.0

Market quality · 15%6.0

Transparency & track record · 20%10.0

Public documentation surface · 10%10.0

Pros

Audit report linked from a public dataset
Accounting methodology published
TVL of $614m recorded independently

Cons

Single-chain deployment

9.2/10

Overall

Confidence ARubric v2.0Verified August 9, 2026

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Lista Liquid Staking

Best for audited protocol with published methodology

Counterparty & contract risk · 35%10.0

Cost transparency · 20%9.0

Market quality · 15%6.0

Transparency & track record · 20%10.0

Public documentation surface · 10%10.0

Pros

Audit report linked from a public dataset
Accounting methodology published
TVL of $575m recorded independently

Cons

Single-chain deployment

9.2/10

Overall

Confidence ARubric v2.0Verified August 9, 2026

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Rocket Pool

Best for audited protocol with published methodology

Counterparty & contract risk · 35%9.0

Cost transparency · 20%6.0

Market quality · 15%8.0

Transparency & track record · 20%10.0

Public documentation surface · 10%9.0

Pros

Audit report linked from a public dataset
Accounting methodology published
TVL of $1,014m recorded independently

Cons

Single-chain deployment

8.5/10

Overall

Confidence ARubric v2.0Verified August 9, 2026

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Jito Liquid Staking

Best for audited protocol with published methodology

Counterparty & contract risk · 35%9.0

Cost transparency · 20%6.0

Market quality · 15%6.0

Transparency & track record · 20%10.0

Public documentation surface · 10%9.0

Pros

Audit report linked from a public dataset
Accounting methodology published
TVL of $764m recorded independently

Cons

Single-chain deployment

8.2/10

Overall

Confidence ARubric v2.0Verified August 9, 2026

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Binance staked ETH

Best for independently tracked protocol

Counterparty & contract risk · 35%8.0

Cost transparency · 20%7.0

Market quality · 15%10.0

Transparency & track record · 20%8.0

Public documentation surface · 10%8.0

Pros

Audit report linked from a public dataset
TVL of $7,120m recorded independently

Cons

No accounting methodology published at this check

8.1/10

Overall

Confidence ARubric v2.0Verified August 9, 2026

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Sanctum Validator LSTs

Best for independently tracked protocol

Counterparty & contract risk · 35%6.0

Cost transparency · 20%9.0

Market quality · 15%8.0

Transparency & track record · 20%8.0

Public documentation surface · 10%8.0

Pros

Accounting methodology published
TVL of $1,127m recorded independently

Cons

No audit report linked in the public dataset at this check
Single-chain deployment

7.5/10

Overall

Confidence ARubric v2.0Verified August 9, 2026

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10B

Binance Staked SOL

Best for independently tracked protocol

Counterparty & contract risk · 35%8.0

Cost transparency · 20%7.0

Market quality · 15%6.0

Transparency & track record · 20%8.0

Public documentation surface · 10%8.0

Pros

Audit report linked from a public dataset
TVL of $778m recorded independently

Cons

No accounting methodology published at this check
Single-chain deployment

7.5/10

Overall

Confidence ARubric v2.0Verified August 9, 2026

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11J

Jupiter Staked SOL

Best for independently tracked protocol

Counterparty & contract risk · 35%6.0

Cost transparency · 20%9.0

Market quality · 15%6.0

Transparency & track record · 20%8.0

Public documentation surface · 10%8.0

Pros

Accounting methodology published
TVL of $397m recorded independently

Cons

No audit report linked in the public dataset at this check
Single-chain deployment

7.2/10

Overall

Confidence ARubric v2.0Verified August 9, 2026

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12m

mETH Protocol

Best for independently tracked protocol

Counterparty & contract risk · 35%4.0

Cost transparency · 20%7.0

Market quality · 15%6.0

Transparency & track record · 20%6.0

Public documentation surface · 10%6.0

Pros

TVL of $457m recorded independently

Cons

No audit report linked in the public dataset at this check
No accounting methodology published at this check
Single-chain deployment

5.5/10

Overall

Confidence ARubric v2.0Verified August 9, 2026

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13K

Kinetiq kHYPE

Best for independently tracked protocol

Counterparty & contract risk · 35%4.0

Cost transparency · 20%7.0

Market quality · 15%5.0

Transparency & track record · 20%6.0

Public documentation surface · 10%6.0

Pros

TVL of $783m recorded independently

Cons

No audit report linked in the public dataset at this check
No accounting methodology published at this check
Single-chain deployment

5.4/10

Overall

Confidence ARubric v2.0Verified August 9, 2026

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14C

Coinbase Wrapped Staked ETH

Best for independently tracked protocol

Counterparty & contract risk · 35%3.0

Cost transparency · 20%4.0

Market quality · 15%6.0

Transparency & track record · 20%6.0

Public documentation surface · 10%5.0

Pros

TVL of $356m recorded independently

Cons

No audit report linked in the public dataset at this check
No accounting methodology published at this check
Single-chain deployment

4.5/10

Overall

Confidence ARubric v2.0Verified August 9, 2026

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15D

Drift Staked SOL

Best for independently tracked protocol

Counterparty & contract risk · 35%2.0

Cost transparency · 20%2.0

Market quality · 15%6.0

Transparency & track record · 20%6.0

Public documentation surface · 10%4.0

Pros

TVL of $215m recorded independently

Cons

No audit report linked in the public dataset at this check
No accounting methodology published at this check
Single-chain deployment

3.6/10

Overall

Confidence ARubric v2.0Verified August 9, 2026

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At a glance

Compare the field

Service	Score	Strongest area	Best for
Lido	9.6	Counterparty & contract risk (10.0)	audited protocol with published methodology
Stader	9.5	Counterparty & contract risk (10.0)	audited protocol with published methodology
StakeWise V2	9.4	Counterparty & contract risk (10.0)	audited protocol with published methodology
Liquid Collective	9.2	Counterparty & contract risk (10.0)	audited protocol with published methodology
Lista Liquid Staking	9.2	Counterparty & contract risk (10.0)	audited protocol with published methodology
Rocket Pool	8.5	Transparency & track record (10.0)	audited protocol with published methodology
Jito Liquid Staking	8.2	Transparency & track record (10.0)	audited protocol with published methodology
Binance staked ETH	8.1	Market quality (10.0)	independently tracked protocol
Sanctum Validator LSTs	7.5	Cost transparency (9.0)	independently tracked protocol
Binance Staked SOL	7.5	Counterparty & contract risk (8.0)	independently tracked protocol
Jupiter Staked SOL	7.2	Cost transparency (9.0)	independently tracked protocol
mETH Protocol	5.5	Cost transparency (7.0)	independently tracked protocol
Kinetiq kHYPE	5.4	Cost transparency (7.0)	independently tracked protocol
Coinbase Wrapped Staked ETH	4.5	Market quality (6.0)	independently tracked protocol
Drift Staked SOL	3.6	Market quality (6.0)	independently tracked protocol