Lido

What Lido is (in plain English)

Lido is a liquid staking protocol. Liquid staking means you can stake an asset (most commonly ETH) and receive a token that represents your staked position. That token can often be used elsewhere in DeFi while your underlying stake continues to earn staking rewards.

In points farming, liquid staking shows up in two ways:

• Some programs reward holding or using staking-related tokens.
• Liquid staking tokens are often used as inputs to other strategies (including, sometimes, restaking).

The important caveat is that liquid staking is not “risk-free staking.” It adds smart contract, protocol, and market/liquidity risks on top of base chain risk.

What we track for Lido on DeFi Farmer

This page is a structured view of:

• programs we track and their timelines;
• official source links for safer verification;
• editorial notes and verification timestamps.

If you want a general points education path, use the blog posts. This page is for “what is it, what can change, and what to verify.”

The main risks to understand with liquid staking

Smart contract and protocol risk

You are relying on Lido’s contracts and operational setup. Reputable protocols reduce risk but do not remove it.

Liquidity and depeg risk

Liquid staking tokens can trade at a premium or discount to the underlying asset. Market conditions and liquidity matter, especially when everyone tries to exit at once.

Integration risk

When you use a liquid staking token in another protocol, you stack risks:

• the liquid staking protocol;
• the integration protocol;
• and any bridges or wrappers in between.

If a points program pushes you to stack many integrations, treat it as a risk signal.

What to verify in staking-related points programs

Staking-related campaigns often look “simple,” but eligibility can still have constraints:

• Which token counts (base staking token vs wrapper vs vault share).
• Which chain counts (Ethereum vs L2 wrappers can matter).
• Timing rules (snapshots, season boundaries, and minimum holding periods).
• Custody assumptions (some programs require self-custody; some don’t).

If these details aren’t in official sources, treat them as unknown.

Common failure modes with liquid staking tokens

Liquid staking tokens are widely used, but points campaigns can push users into unnecessary risk. The common ways things go wrong:

• Assuming the token is always “1:1” with the underlying asset. Market conditions and liquidity matter.
• Using the token as collateral or in LP positions without understanding the liquidation or IL path.
• Stacking too many integrations (staking token → wrapper → vault → bridge) and losing track of what you actually hold.
• Getting phished because staking brands are heavily impersonated.

Treat “simplicity” as a feature. If a campaign requires many layers, treat it as risk-on.

A safer workflow for staking-related points programs

1. Verify the official site via sources on this page. Liquid staking brands are heavily impersonated.
2. Identify what token you will hold and what it represents. Tickers are not identities.
3. Keep approvals tight and avoid unnecessary spend limits. See: Token approvals and Permit2.
4. Track snapshots and timelines. See: Points program timelines and snapshots.
5. Have an exit plan before you add additional layers. See: Points farming exit plan.

FAQ (Lido + points)

Does holding a liquid staking token guarantee points?

No. Eligibility and scoring can change, and points are not the same as a token distribution.

Is liquid staking safer than restaking?

They are different categories with different risks. Restaking usually adds additional risk surfaces beyond liquid staking. If you want the restaking overview: Restaking points programs: common mechanics + risks.

What’s the biggest mistake farmers make with staking tokens?

They treat staking tokens as “cash equivalents” and ignore liquidity and integration risk. A token can be widely used and still trade away from its peg.

How do I verify a staking-related campaign is real?

Use: How to verify a points program is real. Look for official UI evidence and dated announcements, not just social hype or aggregator lists.

Do staking programs count activity on L2s?

Sometimes, but not always. Some campaigns only count Ethereum-native positions, while others count wrapped or bridged representations. This is why you should verify chain and token requirements before you assume anything “counts.”

Should I move staking tokens between wallets to “show activity”?

Usually no. It increases operational risk and can make eligibility harder to prove. Many programs also have anti-sybil rules. If you want to stay organized, keep one main wallet per campaign and keep clear records instead of adding extra transfers.

Official references (primary sources)

• Website: lido.fi
• Staking app: stake.lido.fi
• Docs: docs.lido.fi
• X / Twitter: @LidoFinance

Next steps

• Browse liquid staking programs: Liquid staking category
• Browse all programs: Points directory
• Review wallet hygiene before you touch multiple protocols: Wallet hygiene for points farming