Staking ETH: How to Earn Rewards on Ethereum and What You Need to Know

When you stake ETH, Ethereum’s native cryptocurrency used to validate transactions and secure the network after its shift to proof-of-stake. Also known as Ethereum 2.0 staking, it lets you earn passive income just by holding and locking up your ETH. Unlike mining, which needed powerful hardware, staking only needs a computer and a wallet. It’s how Ethereum runs now—no more energy-hungry rigs, just people putting their ETH to work.

Staking ETH isn’t just about earning interest. It’s part of the bigger DeFi, a system of financial tools built on blockchains that remove banks and middlemen. Also known as decentralized finance, it lets you lend, borrow, and earn without asking anyone’s permission. When you stake ETH, you’re helping keep the network honest. In return, you get more ETH—usually between 3% and 7% a year, depending on how much is staked overall. You don’t need to be a tech expert. Platforms like Coinbase, Lido, and Rocket Pool make it simple: you deposit your ETH, they handle the rest, and you get paid.

But it’s not risk-free. If you stake directly on Ethereum, you lock up your ETH for months—you can’t pull it out fast if the price drops. Some platforms let you trade your staked ETH for a token (like stETH or rETH), which you can use in other DeFi apps. That’s handy, but those tokens can lose their peg or get hacked. And if you pick a shady service, you could lose your coins entirely. Stick to well-known platforms with audits and clear terms. Never give away your private keys.

Staking ETH also ties into Ethereum 2.0, the upgrade that switched Ethereum from proof-of-work to proof-of-stake, cutting energy use by 99.95%. Also known as the Merge, it changed how the whole network operates. Before 2022, miners controlled Ethereum. Now, stakers do. That shift made ETH more sustainable and more attractive to institutions. It also made staking the main way regular users participate in the network’s future.

You’ll find posts here about platforms that make staking easy, scams to avoid, and how staking rewards compare to other crypto earnings. Some cover ETH staking on exchanges, others dig into solo staking with 32 ETH. You’ll see real numbers—not guesses. No hype. Just what works, what doesn’t, and what’s changed in 2025. Whether you’ve got 0.1 ETH or 100, there’s a way to earn from it. Just don’t skip the research.