Contract and approval risk
Lido publishes protocol audit references, but audits do not remove smart contract, approval, or wallet-signing risk.
Staking WETH
Live preview - APY is indicative; check the live rate in the official Lido app.
Ethereum mainnetWETH unwraps 1:1stETH receipt token
What is Staking WETH?
Lido is an Ethereum liquid staking protocol described in the Lido protocol documentation: WETH holders unwrap to native ETH, stake through the official app, and receive stETH as the liquid staking token. The Ethereum.org wrapped ETH overview describes WETH as an ERC-20 representation of ETH redeemable back to ETH.
Staking WETH at a glance
CategoryWrapped ETH to liquid staking
NetworkEthereum
TokenWETH
ReceivestETH
CustodySelf-custody wallet plus Lido contracts
Input stepUnwrap WETH to ETH first
Before signing, compare the wallet token against the canonical WETH contract record and check that the asset you expect to receive is stETH on Ethereum.
Staking WETH with Lido
Lido's standard Ethereum staking flow uses native ETH, not WETH as the direct staking asset; the Ethereum staking guide explains why ETH is the network's staking asset. For "staking WETH," the practical route is to unwrap WETH back to ETH, keep enough native ETH for gas, then stake ETH through the official Lido app to receive stETH. Ethereum.org describes WETH as an ERC-20 representation of ETH that can be redeemed back to ETH through the WETH smart contract. Read the wrapped ETH reference and verify stake.lido.fi before signing any transaction.
Can I stake WETH directly?
For Lido's normal app flow, the clean answer is no: stake ETH, not WETH. WETH is useful in ERC-20 DeFi contexts because it conforms to the ERC-20 token standard, but Ethereum validator staking uses native ETH. Some third-party routers may combine unwrap-and-stake actions, but that adds routing and approval risk described in Lido's public risk disclosure. A cautious user unwraps WETH through a trusted wallet or WETH contract route, confirms the ETH balance, then uses Lido's official staking interface to mint stETH.
WETH to stETH conversion
WETH to stETH is a two-step concept: WETH unwraps 1:1 into ETH, then ETH can be staked with Lido to mint stETH. The first step is handled by the WETH contract or a trusted wallet interface; the second step is handled by the Lido staking contract documentation. This distinction matters because WETH, ETH, and stETH have different token mechanics. WETH is wrapped ETH, ETH is the native gas and staking asset, and stETH is Lido's liquid staking token representing ETH staked through Lido, with mechanics covered in the stETH and wstETH integration notes.
WETH gas fees before staking
You need native ETH for gas even if most of your wallet balance is WETH. The Ethereum gas documentation explains that gas pays for computation on the network, so normal Ethereum transactions cannot be paid with WETH. Keep enough ETH available before unwrapping, approving, staking, or withdrawing. If your entire balance is WETH, the first problem is funding gas, not staking yield; users often see WETH in a wallet but cannot move or unwrap it until they have native ETH on the same network.
How to stake Staking WETH
- Prepare WETHUse Ethereum mainnet WETH and keep native ETH available for gas; contract addresses can be cross-checked against Lido's mainnet contract list before you interact.
- Unwrap firstConvert WETH back to ETH through a trusted wallet or WETH contract route, since Lido staking uses ETH as the input.
- Stake in LidoOpen stake.lido.fi, connect your wallet, enter the ETH amount, and review the transaction before signing.
- Receive stETHAfter the stake transaction settles, stETH appears in your wallet and can be held, used in DeFi, or withdrawn through Lido's withdrawal queue contract flow.
Ready to stake?
Open the official Lido app and verify the domain before you sign.
WETH vs ETH for Lido staking
| Dimension | WETH | ETH |
|---|---|---|
| Token type | ERC-20-compatible representation of ETH | Native Ethereum asset |
| Gas | Cannot normally pay Ethereum gas | Pays Ethereum gas |
| Staking input | Unwrap first | Direct Lido staking input |
| Lido output | After unwrap and stake, stETH | stETH |
Fees, custody, and staking risk
Rewards and validator risk
Staking rewards are variable, and validator penalties or slashing can affect outcomes; review the Lido risk disclosure details before relying on projected APY.
Liquidity and exit timing
stETH can be withdrawn through protocol flows or traded on markets, but exits may involve queues, spreads, or delays; data pages like DeFiLlama's Lido profile are useful for context, not guarantees.
On-chain actions are generally irreversible once confirmed, and this page is educational only - not financial advice.
Staking WETH FAQ
Why do I need to unwrap WETH before staking?
Ethereum staking uses native ETH, while WETH is an ERC-20 token wrapper around ETH. Lido's normal staking flow accepts ETH and mints stETH; the Lido token documentation explains the stETH output. Unwrapping converts WETH back to ETH so it can be used as the staking input and for gas where needed.
Is WETH always worth the same as ETH?
Canonical WETH on Ethereum is designed to be redeemable 1:1 for ETH through the WETH contract, but users still need to verify the exact token contract and network. Other wrapped variants can exist, so do not assume every token named WETH is the canonical Ethereum WETH.
What contract should I verify for WETH?
The canonical Ethereum WETH contract commonly referenced by Ethereum.org and Etherscan is 0xC02aaA39b223FE8D0A0e5C4F27eAD9083C756Cc2. Before unwrapping or using WETH in a staking route, compare the token address shown in your wallet or app with the Etherscan WETH listing.
Can I receive wstETH instead of stETH?
Lido's Ethereum staking flow is centered on stETH, and wstETH is the wrapped, non-rebasing version often used in DeFi. Users can wrap stETH into wstETH where supported. Some integrations may route directly to wstETH, but the user should verify the app, contract, and token behavior before signing.
Do I need native ETH if my wallet only has WETH?
Yes. Ethereum transaction fees are paid in native ETH, not WETH; the gas fee technical overview explains the role of gas in Ethereum transactions. If your wallet only has WETH, you may be unable to unwrap, approve, stake, or withdraw until you add a small amount of native ETH on the same network for gas.
What are the risks of staking WETH through a router?
A router that unwraps WETH and stakes ETH in one path can add contract, approval, routing, slippage, and domain risk. It may be convenient, but it is harder to inspect than separate unwrap and stake steps; the Public Risk Disclosure from Lido gives useful context for protocol, liquidity, market, and integration risks.