Rocket Pool
score
Fees: ~14% commission to node operators; no protocol custody fee
Best suited to Ethereum holders who prioritize self-custody and decentralization over asset breadth. The main caveat is that it is ETH-only and carries the usual smart-contract and liquid-token peg risks; this is not financial advice.
What Rocket Pool Is
Rocket Pool is a decentralized, non-custodial liquid staking protocol for Ethereum. Live since 2021, it lets you stake ETH through audited smart contracts and receive rETH, a liquid token that accrues rewards while remaining usable across DeFi. Crucially, you hold rETH yourself rather than an IOU from a company, and the network of node operators that does the actual validating is permissionless.
Decentralization and Security
This is where Rocket Pool shines and why security and custody earns a 9 in our rating. There is no central custodian, the smart contracts are audited, and the permissionless node operator set reduces single-point-of-failure risk that plagues custodial platforms. Transparency and track record score 8.5, reflecting clean on-chain operations since mainnet. Rewards sit at a solid 7.5.
Costs
Fees score 7.5. Rocket Pool takes no protocol custody fee; instead, node operators receive roughly 14% commission on the rewards generated from staked ETH. That structure is reasonable for the decentralization it buys, and because everything settles on-chain you can verify how rewards flow rather than trusting a disclosure.
The Limits and Risks
Asset coverage is the obvious weak spot at 4: Rocket Pool is Ethereum-only, so there is no diversification into other PoS chains. Beyond that, the usual liquid staking risks apply — smart-contract vulnerabilities and the chance that rETH trades below its underlying value on secondary markets during stress. The node collateral mechanics built around the RPL token also add a layer of complexity that newcomers should understand.
Best Fit
Rocket Pool is aimed squarely at Ethereum holders who value self-custody and decentralization above breadth of assets. If you want to keep control of a liquid staking token and are comfortable with smart-contract and peg risk, it is one of the cleanest options out there. If you want to stake many different coins in one place, look elsewhere. None of this is financial advice.
Overall 7.6 / 10 — the weighted average of the criteria above. How we score →
- + Fully non-custodial liquid staking via audited smart contracts; you hold rETH, not a company IOU
- + Permissionless, decentralized node operator set reduces single-point-of-failure risk
- + Strong on-chain transparency and a clean track record since mainnet launch
- + rETH stays liquid and usable across DeFi while it accrues rewards
- − Ethereum-only, so no diversification across other proof-of-stake networks
- − Smart-contract and rETH secondary-market/peg risk still exist
- − Node collateral (RPL) mechanics and validator dependence add complexity
Is Rocket Pool safe?
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Rocket Pool is fully non-custodial and runs on audited smart contracts with a permissionless node operator set, which is why we give security and custody a 9. The residual risks are smart-contract vulnerabilities and the possibility that rETH trades below peg on secondary markets during market stress.
What is rETH?
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rETH is the liquid staking token you receive when you stake ETH through Rocket Pool. It accrues staking rewards over time and can be used across DeFi while you hold it, meaning your stake stays liquid rather than being locked away.
What does Rocket Pool cost?
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There is no protocol custody fee. Node operators earn roughly 14% commission on the rewards produced by staked ETH. We score fees a 7.5, reflecting a reasonable cost for the decentralization the protocol provides.
Can I stake coins other than ETH on Rocket Pool?
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No. Rocket Pool is Ethereum-only, which is its main limitation and the reason asset coverage scores just 4. If you want exposure to other proof-of-stake networks you will need a different provider.
Is Rocket Pool good for staking Ethereum?
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For self-custody-minded ETH holders it is one of the strongest choices, earning an overall 7.6 on the back of top-tier decentralization and transparency. The trade-off is that it is single-asset and carries smart-contract and rETH peg risk.