TL;DR
- Mainnet Launch: Lido activated stVaults on Ethereum, enabling customizable staking environments that let institutions, protocols, and L2s build tailored setups while using Lido’s liquidity.
- Early Integrations: Linea, Nansen, and multiple institutional validators adopted stVaults to deploy features like Native Yield, analytics‑enhanced staking products, and dedicated validator configurations.
- Customization Focus: stVaults support adjustable fees, compliance controls, and isolated security boundaries, offering institution‑grade staking while remaining connected to stETH and Lido’s broader DeFi integrations.
Lido has pushed its long‑anticipated stVaults system to the Ethereum mainnet, marking a pivotal shift in how staking products are built and deployed. After nearly a year of testing with institutional validators, data firms, and Layer 2 networks, the upgrade opens the protocol’s infrastructure to external builders seeking customizable staking environments. The launch reflects a broader move in Ethereum staking toward modular, specialized setups that preserve liquidity while offering tailored configurations for different users.
Lido V3 is live on Ethereum mainnet, introducing stVaults:
Modular staking infrastructure for builders, powered by stETH.https://t.co/A6vpfysrXp
— Lido (@LidoFinance) January 30, 2026
A New Modular Staking Framework
stVaults were introduced in Lido’s V3 upgrade as non‑custodial smart contracts that let institutions, protocols, and rollups design purpose‑built staking setups. Instead of relying on a single uniform product, users can create isolated vaults that stake ETH through selected node operators while retaining access to stETH. Lido said the release represents a structural shift, reducing the need for teams to bootstrap validators, integrations, and liquidity from scratch when launching new staking products.
The mainnet rollout includes several day 1 partners such as P2P.org, Chorus One, Pier Two, and Sentora with Kiln, alongside institutional stakers like Solstice, Twinstake, Northstake, and Everstake. Many participated in Lido’s early adopter program. Over the past year, firms have already used the stack to launch new products. Linea deployed a Native Yield feature that stakes bridged ETH in a protocol‑controlled vault, while Nansen combined stVaults with stETH‑based DeFi strategies.
Customization, Compliance, and Institutional Demand
Lido emphasized that stVaults can be configured for varied needs, including fee structures, risk profiles, and compliance requirements. Teams can adjust validator setups, deposit and withdrawal checks, and operational controls. P2P.org uses the system for institution‑ready validator configurations, while Solstice highlighted the importance of segregation and traceability as institutional participation grows. The firm is testing a proof‑of‑concept with AMINA Bank, demonstrating how stVaults support dedicated, onchain staking environments.
stVaults operate alongside Lido’s core protocol and remain opt‑in and isolated, limiting security risks for other users. Lido, launched in 2020, aims to democratize staking by allowing participation without the full 32 ETH required to run a node. Its liquid staking token stETH, which accrues Ethereum rewards, has become widely used across DeFi. stETH holds a market cap of nearly $27 billion, representing roughly a quarter of all liquid staking tokens in circulation.
