Lido DAO Launches Community Staking ModuleLido DAO ( MIL:LDO ) has introduced its highly anticipated Community Staking Module (CSM), a transformative step towards decentralizing and democratizing access to Ethereum staking. Lido Finance, a leading provider in the liquid staking space, sees this initiative as a way to remove the substantial technical and financial barriers to solo staking and has positioned CSM as an accessible entry point for the broader Ethereum community.
A Shift Towards Permissionless Staking
The new module, approved by the Lido DAO community through a majority vote, marks the beginning of a more permissionless Ethereum staking protocol. CSM will become Lido’s first staking module that is fully open to the community, an aim supported by LidoDAO's tech lead, Dmitriy Gusakov, who confirmed that CSM will support Ethereum and Gnosis solo stakers, along with other early adopters.
During this introductory phase, CSM participation is restricted to those within Lido’s “early adoption” period, including credentialed Obol Techne holders and other community-aligned node operators. As CSM progresses, anyone holding 1.5 ETH (approximately $3,800 at today’s rates) can become a node operator and earn validator rewards by staking their ETH, with future updates planning to lower the bond requirement further to 1.3 ETH. This contrasts starkly with Ethereum’s standard 32 ETH ($81,000) bond, greatly enhancing accessibility to solo staking.
Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin and other advocates have highlighted solo staking as a method of decentralizing Ethereum’s validator set, reducing reliance on large staking pools. Decentralized solo stakers contribute to Ethereum’s censorship resistance, avoiding the risk of centralization posed by large, professional staking services. Lido’s CSM aims to address this by providing a low-entry staking solution.
With a streamlined, user-friendly design, CSM removes secondary collateral requirements, opening Ethereum staking to a much broader audience without compromising on security or complexity. Gusakov noted that Lido is actively moving towards decentralization, responding to criticism that its significant market share—currently below 30%, according to Dune Analytics—could create excessive power concentration.
Market Metrics and Technical Signals
Despite a recent 4.45% dip, MIL:LDO remains a strong performer within the liquidity, staking, and lending arenas. DefiLlama data indicates that Lido Finance ranks as the leading protocol for liquid staking, with a total value locked (TVL) of $24.561 billion. Over a 24-hour period, Lido generated fees of $2.21 million and revenue of $220,828, showing the robust demand and profitability of its staking services. Lido's dominance within the liquid staking space demonstrates a solid foundation for growth, making MIL:LDO a highly undervalued asset compared to its market cap of only $945.32 million, as it has yet to surpass $1 billion.
Technical Analysis
With the Relative Strength Index (RSI) at a low 44, MIL:LDO is signaling a potential trend reversal. For traders, this dip represents a strategic entry point, given Lido’s strong fundamental positioning and the high utility provided by CSM. As CSM gains adoption and Ethereum staking opens to more individual investors, demand for MIL:LDO is expected to rise, potentially driving up its price.
A New Era for Ethereum Staking
The release of Lido's Community Staking Module brings Ethereum closer to the vision of a decentralized staking ecosystem, free from the control of large entities. With a growing ecosystem, robust revenue streams, and a commitment to decentralization, MIL:LDO offers both traders and long-term holders a unique opportunity to capitalize on Ethereum’s continued growth while contributing to a more resilient, decentralized network.
