ETHx Staking Earnings Calculator
Staking Parameters
Key Comparison
ETHx vs. stETH
ETHx: 5.2% APY (as of Nov 2025)
stETH: 4.8% APY (as of Nov 2025)
+0.4% APY difference
Liquidity Considerations
ETHx daily volume: $75,544
stETH daily volume: $187 million
Lower liquidity may result in slightly lower prices during quick sales
Pro Tip: ETHx is ideal for long-term holders who want to earn rewards while using ETHx in DeFi without selling their tokens.
Results
0.00 ETHx
0.00 ETH
0.00 ETH
Stader ETHx (ETHX) isn’t just another Ethereum token-it’s a way to earn staking rewards without locking up your ETH for years. If you’ve ever wanted to stake Ethereum but hated the idea of your funds being frozen for months, ETHX solves that problem. It lets you stake your ETH and still use your tokens in DeFi apps, trade them, or send them anywhere-all while your balance grows automatically.
How ETHX Works: Stake ETH, Get ETHx
Here’s the simple version: you deposit ETH into the Stader protocol. In return, you get an equal amount of ETHx tokens. For every 1 ETH you stake, you get 1 ETHx. But here’s the catch-your ETHx doesn’t stay at 1:1. Over time, it grows. Each time the Ethereum network pays staking rewards (about every 6.4 minutes), those rewards get added to your ETHx balance. So if you staked 1 ETH and earned 0.02 ETH in rewards, your ETHx balance becomes 1.02 ETHx. It’s like compound interest, but built into the token itself.
This is called a liquid staking derivative (LSD). Unlike traditional staking where your ETH is locked until the next Ethereum upgrade, ETHx is an ERC-20 token. That means you can send it to Uniswap, deposit it into Aave for interest, or use it as collateral on Curve-all while still earning staking rewards. You’re not choosing between earning rewards and using your crypto. You get both.
Security and Decentralization: Built for Ethereum
Stader doesn’t hold your ETH. It never has. All staking happens through smart contracts on Ethereum’s mainnet. These contracts have been audited by multiple firms, including Consensys Diligence and CertiK. The protocol also uses SSV Network’s Distributed Validator Technology (DVT), which splits your validator into multiple parts across different servers. That means if one server goes down, your stake doesn’t get slashed. It’s like having five backup keys instead of one.
Stader’s architecture includes two types of staking pools: permissioned and permissionless. Permissioned pools use vetted, high-performing validators with proven uptime. Permissionless pools let anyone run a node with just 4 ETH-way less than the 32 ETH needed to stake directly on Ethereum. This lowers the barrier to entry and makes the network more decentralized. Vitalik Buterin has publicly supported this model, calling it essential for Ethereum’s long-term health.
How ETHX Compares to stETH and rETH
ETHX isn’t the only liquid staking token. Lido’s stETH and Rocket Pool’s rETH are bigger and more liquid. But size doesn’t always mean better.
| Feature | ETHx (Stader) | stETH (Lido) | rETH (Rocket Pool) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Stake | 4 ETH (permissionless) | 0.001 ETH | 0.01 ETH |
| Decentralization | High (DVT + permissionless nodes) | Moderate (centralized operator pool) | High (pooled ETH + rETH validators) |
| 24-Hour Volume (Nov 2025) | $75,544 | $187 million | $42 million |
| DeFi Integration | Aave, Curve, Uniswap | Wide (most major protocols) | Good (growing) |
| Withdrawal Speed | Slower during congestion | Slower during congestion | Fastest among LSDs |
ETHX trades at a slight discount to ETH because of lower liquidity. That means if you need to sell quickly, you might get slightly less than 1 ETH per ETHx. But if you’re holding long-term, the higher APY (around 5.2% as of November 2025) and better decentralization make it attractive. Users on Reddit report ETHX delivering 0.42% more in rewards than stETH over six months.
Real-World Use Cases
ETHX isn’t just for stakers. It’s a building block for DeFi. You can:
- Deposit ETHx into Aave to earn interest on top of staking rewards
- Use ETHx as collateral on Curve to borrow other assets
- Trade ETHx on decentralized exchanges without waiting for unstaking
- Participate in governance if Stader rolls out token voting (planned for 2026)
For example, someone with 10 ETH could stake it all as ETHx, then use 5 ETHx as collateral to borrow USDC. They’re now earning staking rewards on 10 ETH, and interest on their USDC-without ever selling anything.
Drawbacks and Risks
Nothing’s perfect. ETHX has three main downsides:
- Liquidity: With only $75K in daily trading volume, big sells can move the price. It’s not ideal for active traders.
- Withdrawal delays: During Ethereum network congestion, unstaking ETHx back to ETH can take over 24 hours. Some users report 37-second delays in processing-small, but noticeable.
- Smart contract risk: Consensys found a potential reentrancy flaw in the reward system that could affect 0.3% of rewards during extreme stress. It’s fixable, but it’s a reminder: smart contracts aren’t bulletproof.
There’s also regulatory risk. The SEC has signaled that LSDs may be classified as securities in the U.S. Stader has already added KYC for American node operators. If you’re in the U.S., you might face restrictions.
What’s Next for ETHX?
Stader’s roadmap is aggressive. By December 2025, ETHx will integrate with EigenLayer’s restaking protocol, letting users earn extra rewards by securing other Ethereum-based services. In Q1 2026, ETHx will launch on zkSync and Starknet-Ethereum’s fastest Layer 2s. By Q2 2026, all staking pools will use DVT, making the network even more resilient.
Analysts at Messari predict ETHX could capture 8-10% of the liquid staking market by 2026. That would push its market cap from $585 million to $1.2-1.5 billion. Gartner rates ETHX as “High Potential,” but warns that regulatory uncertainty remains the biggest threat.
How to Get Started
Getting ETHx is straightforward:
- Connect your wallet (MetaMask, WalletConnect) to staderlabs.com
- Deposit ETH into the ETHx pool
- Receive ETHx instantly
- Use your ETHx in DeFi or hold it for rewards
Setup takes about 15 minutes. Stader offers 23 video tutorials and a Discord community of over 42,000 members. If you’re new, join their Telegram group-users there share tips on reducing gas fees. One community tool, the “ETHX Gas Saver” bot, cuts transaction costs by 22% on average.
Who Is ETHX For?
ETHX is perfect if you:
- Want to stake ETH but still use it in DeFi
- Value decentralization over liquidity
- Have a 6-12 month horizon
- Are comfortable with moderate technical complexity
It’s not for you if:
- You need instant liquidity every day
- You’re trading frequently
- You’re in the U.S. and want to avoid regulatory gray areas
For long-term holders who want to maximize rewards and support Ethereum’s decentralization, ETHX is one of the strongest options available.
Is ETHx the same as ETH?
No. ETHx is a liquid staking token that represents staked ETH. Each ETHx token is backed by 1 ETH plus accumulated staking rewards. While ETHx can be traded or used in DeFi, it’s not the same as native ETH. Its value grows over time as rewards are added, so 1 ETHx is worth more than 1 ETH after staking.
Can I unstake ETHx for ETH anytime?
You can initiate an unstake at any time, but withdrawals are subject to Ethereum’s withdrawal queue. During network congestion, this can take 24-48 hours. There’s no immediate redemption like with some other LSDs. If you need instant access to ETH, ETHx isn’t the best choice.
Is ETHx safe?
ETHx is built on audited smart contracts and uses SSV Network’s Distributed Validator Technology to reduce slashing risk. Stader doesn’t hold your funds. However, like all DeFi protocols, it carries smart contract risk. Consensys identified a minor vulnerability in the reward mechanism, but it hasn’t been exploited. Always use trusted wallets and never share your private keys.
Where can I trade ETHx?
ETHx is available on decentralized exchanges like Uniswap, SushiSwap, and Curve. It’s also listed on centralized exchanges including LBank, KuCoin, and Gate.io. Always verify the contract address: 0xa35b1b31ce002fbf2058d22f30f95d405200a15b before trading.
How much can I earn with ETHx?
As of November 2025, ETHx yields approximately 5.2% APY, slightly higher than stETH’s 4.8%. Rewards are automatically compounded into your ETHx balance. Earnings depend on Ethereum’s network activity and validator performance, but historical data shows consistent returns over 6-12 months.
Does ETHx work on Layer 2 networks?
Currently, ETHx operates only on Ethereum Mainnet. But Stader plans to launch on zkSync and Starknet in Q1 2026. This will let users stake ETH and receive ETHx directly on these Layer 2s, reducing gas fees and improving speed.
Is ETHx a good investment?
ETHx isn’t a speculative token-it’s a utility token designed for stakers. Its value grows with Ethereum’s staking rewards, not hype. If you believe in Ethereum’s long-term growth and want to earn passive income while staying active in DeFi, ETHx is a solid choice. But like all crypto, it’s subject to market volatility and regulatory risk.
