Staking is one of the easiest ways for beginners to earn passive income in crypto. But today, investors face a key choice:
Should you use traditional staking, or liquid staking?
At first glance, both sound similar. You lock tokens. You earn rewards. But under the hood, these two models behave very differently — especially when it comes to liquidity, flexibility, risk, and yield opportunities.
This guide breaks everything down in plain language, so you can confidently choose the staking method that fits your goals.
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What Is Crypto Staking? (Quick Refresher)
Staking is the process of locking cryptocurrency to help secure a blockchain network and earn rewards in return.
It’s commonly used on Proof-of-Stake (PoS) blockchains like:
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Ethereum
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Solana
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Cosmos
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Avalanche
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Polkadot
When you stake:
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Your tokens help validate transactions
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The network rewards you with yield (APR/APY)
Now let’s explore the two main ways to do it.
What Is Traditional Staking?
Traditional staking means locking your tokens directly with a validator or protocol for a fixed or semi-fixed period.
How Traditional Staking Works
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You stake tokens (e.g., ETH, SOL, ATOM)
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Tokens become locked
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You earn staking rewards over time
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To exit, you must unstake and wait
Key Characteristics
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Tokens are illiquid while staked
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Rewards are predictable
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Often includes an unbonding period
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Simpler and more conservative
Example
Staking ETH directly on Ethereum:
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ETH is locked
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Cannot be traded or used elsewhere
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Withdrawal delay applies
What Is Liquid Staking?
Liquid staking allows you to stake tokens while receiving a liquid token that represents your staked position.
This liquid token can then be:
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Traded
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Used in DeFi
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Supplied to yield vaults
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Used as collateral
How Liquid Staking Works
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You stake tokens through a liquid staking protocol
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You receive a liquid staking token (LST)
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LST earns staking rewards automatically
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You can use or sell the LST anytime
Common Liquid Staking Tokens
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stETH (Lido)
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rETH (Rocket Pool)
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cbETH (Coinbase)
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mSOL (Marinade)
Liquid Staking vs Traditional Staking: Core Differences
| Feature | Traditional Staking | Liquid Staking |
|---|---|---|
| Liquidity | Locked | Liquid |
| Flexibility | Low | High |
| DeFi Use | No | Yes |
| Complexity | Simple | Moderate |
| Yield Potential | Base staking yield | Staking + DeFi yield |
| Exit Speed | Slow | Fast (via markets) |
Advantages of Traditional Staking
1. Lower Complexity
Traditional staking is straightforward:
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Stake
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Earn
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Unstake
This simplicity appeals to beginners who want minimal moving parts.
2. Lower Smart Contract Risk
You interact directly with:
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The blockchain
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A validator
There are fewer smart contracts involved compared to liquid staking protocols.
3. More Predictable Returns
Rewards come only from:
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Network inflation
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Validator performance
There’s no exposure to:
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DeFi volatility
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Secondary market pricing
4. Often Preferred for Long-Term Holders
If you plan to:
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Hold tokens long-term
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Avoid active management
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Ignore short-term price movements
Traditional staking can be ideal.
Disadvantages of Traditional Staking
1. Locked Capital
Your tokens cannot be:
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Sold
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Traded
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Used as collateral
This can be painful during market volatility.
2. Unbonding Periods
Many chains require:
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Days or weeks to unstake
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No rewards during unbonding
If markets move fast, you may miss opportunities.
3. Opportunity Cost
While locked:
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You can’t use tokens in DeFi
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You miss higher-yield strategies
Advantages of Liquid Staking
1. Liquidity Without Giving Up Rewards
Liquid staking solves the biggest problem of staking:
illiquidity
You keep:
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Staking rewards
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Access to your capital
2. Higher Yield Potential
Liquid staking unlocks:
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Staking yield
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PLUS DeFi yield
Examples:
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Supply stETH to lending markets
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Deposit LSTs into yield vaults
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Use as collateral for leveraged strategies
3. Faster Exit Options
Instead of waiting days to unstake:
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You can sell the liquid token instantly
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Exit via DEXs or aggregators
4. Capital Efficiency
Liquid staking makes your capital:
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More productive
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More flexible
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Easier to rebalance
This is why liquid staking dominates modern DeFi strategies.
Disadvantages of Liquid Staking
1. Smart Contract Risk
Liquid staking relies on:
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Complex smart contracts
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Third-party protocols
This introduces:
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Exploit risk
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Protocol risk
2. Peg Risk
Liquid staking tokens can:
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Trade at a discount
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De-peg during stress events
This happened historically during:
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Market crashes
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Liquidity shortages
3. Higher Complexity
Beginners must understand:
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Token mechanics
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DeFi integrations
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Yield sources
Mistakes can be costly.
Yield Comparison: Which Pays More?
| Strategy | Typical Yield |
|---|---|
| Traditional ETH staking | ~3–5% |
| Liquid ETH staking (stETH) | ~3–5% |
| Liquid staking + DeFi vaults | 6–15%+ |
Liquid staking doesn’t automatically pay more — it gives you more ways to earn.
Risk Comparison: Which Is Safer?
| Risk Type | Traditional | Liquid |
|---|---|---|
| Validator risk | Yes | Yes |
| Smart contract risk | Low | Higher |
| Liquidity risk | High | Low |
| Market volatility exposure | Medium | Medium–High |
Safety depends on how actively you manage your position.
Which Is Better for Beginners?
Traditional Staking Is Better If You:
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Want simplicity
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Plan to hold long-term
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Avoid DeFi complexity
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Prioritize safety over yield
Liquid Staking Is Better If You:
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Want flexibility
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Use DeFi vaults or aggregators
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Actively manage risk
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Seek higher capital efficiency
A Beginner Hybrid Strategy (Best of Both Worlds)
Many investors use both.
Example allocation:
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60% traditional staking (core, low risk)
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40% liquid staking (flexible, higher yield)
This balances:
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Stability
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Liquidity
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Yield optimization
Common Beginner Mistakes to Avoid
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Chasing APY without understanding risks
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Putting 100% into liquid staking vaults
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Ignoring peg risk
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Forgetting smart contract exposure
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Over-leveraging liquid staking tokens
Final Takeaways
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Traditional staking is simple and conservative
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Liquid staking is flexible and capital-efficient
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Liquid staking enables advanced yield strategies
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Higher yield comes with higher complexity and risk
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Beginners should prioritize understanding before optimizing
Final Thoughts
Liquid staking represents the next evolution of staking, but traditional staking remains a strong foundation for beginners.
The smartest approach is not choosing one — it’s using each where it makes sense.
In crypto, flexibility and risk management matter more than raw yield.
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About the Author: Alex Assoune
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