Ethereum Staking 2026: Turn ETH into Passive Income

Deposit ETH → Earn 3-5% APY. Liquid staking (Lido = stETH) = best for beginners. No lock-up (can trade stETH). Safest passive crypto income.

💰 Staking Options

Lido (stETH) - BEST FOR YOU

APY: 3.5% | Lock-up: 14 days | Risk: Low | Fee: 10% of rewards

Deposit ETH → get stETH → earn APY. stETH is liquid (can trade, use in DeFi). Most popular ($35B TVL).

Coinbase Staking

APY: 2.5-3% | Lock-up: None | Fee: Included in APY

Simplest (staking in exchange). Less APY because Coinbase takes cut. Safe but less reward.

Solo Staking (Advanced)

APY: 3.7-4% | Lock-up: 6 months+ | Min: 32 ETH ($110K)

Run validator node. Best APY but technical + expensive. Only if you have $100K+.

❓ FAQ

Can I unstake anytime?
Lido: Yes (trade stETH anytime). Coinbase: Yes (instant). Solo: No (locked 6+ months). So Lido = most flexible.
What if ETH crashes while staking?
You still earn APY. If ETH = $1,500 (down from $3,450), staking still gives you APY on what you have. No additional loss.
Best strategy for passive income?
Lido 3.5% APY = $175 on $5K per year. More ETH = more income. DCA €200/month ETH + stake immediately = compound gains.

📚: Lido, Coinbase, Glassnode data, January 2026.