Rocket Pool
score
Fees: ~14% commission (node operator + protocol)
Rocket Pool fits users who value decentralization and censorship resistance for staked ETH over maximum liquidity. Expect thinner secondary markets than the market leader; nothing here is financial advice.
What Rocket Pool Is
Rocket Pool is a liquid-staking protocol for Ethereum that launched in 2021 with decentralization as its guiding principle. Stakers deposit ETH and receive rETH, a non-rebasing token whose value grows as staking rewards accrue. What sets it apart is the operator layer: anyone can run a node by posting ETH and RPL collateral, rather than being invited into a curated set, making it one of the most permissionless ways to get exposure to staked ETH.
How It Performs Where It Counts
Our 8.1 score reflects a protocol that leads on the values it optimizes for. Decentralization earns a 9, the highest in this category, because bonded, permissionless node operation spreads validator risk across a wide and independent base. Security sits at a strong 8.5 on the back of extensive audits and a clean track record. Peg and liquidity score 8; rETH is well integrated across DeFi, though its secondary markets are thinner than the market leader's.
Fees and Costs
Effective commission runs around 14%, combining the node operator's cut with the protocol's share. That is higher than some rivals, and together with reward-smoothing mechanics it is the main reason net yield scores a modest 6.5. You are essentially paying a premium for censorship resistance and a broadly distributed validator set rather than for maximum returns.
The Main Caveat
Rocket Pool's smaller TVL is the trade-off for its decentralization. Liquidity for rETH is respectable but shallower than Lido's stETH, so large exits can incur more slippage on secondary markets. On the operator side, the requirement to bond meaningful ETH and RPL collateral limits how many people can actually run nodes, which is a natural tension in an otherwise permissionless design.
Who It's For
Rocket Pool is a strong fit if you value decentralization and censorship resistance for your staked ETH and are willing to accept thinner liquidity and slightly lower net yield to get them. If your priority is the deepest possible secondary market, a larger LST may serve you better. None of this is financial advice.
Overall 8.1 / 10 — the weighted average of the criteria above. How we score →
- + Permissionless node operation with a bonded RPL model makes it one of the most decentralized ETH LSTs
- + Long-running, heavily audited protocol with a strong security track record
- + rETH is a non-rebasing, value-accruing token that is widely integrated across DeFi
- + Smaller per-operator footprint spreads validator risk broadly
- − Lower liquidity and smaller TVL than Lido, so large exits can face more slippage
- − Net yield can lag due to commission and reward-smoothing mechanics
- − Running a node requires meaningful ETH and RPL collateral, limiting the operator base
Is Rocket Pool decentralized?
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Yes, notably so. Its permissionless, bonded node model lets anyone run a validator, spreading stake across a wide independent operator base. We score its decentralization a 9, the highest among the liquid-staking options we rate.
What is rETH?
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rETH is Rocket Pool's liquid-staking token. It does not rebase; instead its value rises over time as staking rewards accumulate, and it is widely supported across DeFi lending and trading venues.
What are Rocket Pool's fees?
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Effective commission is roughly 14%, combining the node operator's share and the protocol's cut. This, along with reward-smoothing, is why net yield tends to trail some larger liquid-staking options.
Is Rocket Pool safe?
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It has a strong security record, backed by extensive audits and years of live operation, earning an 8.5 from us. As with any smart-contract protocol, technical risk remains, and lower liquidity can matter during large or urgent exits.
How do you run a Rocket Pool node?
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You operate a node by posting a bond in ETH plus RPL collateral and running validator software. The collateral requirement is meaningful, which limits the operator base but underpins the protocol's security and decentralization.