Definition ∞ Ethereum LSTs, or Liquid Staking Tokens on Ethereum, are derivative assets that represent staked Ether (ETH) in a liquid form. These tokens allow users to maintain liquidity and participate in other decentralized finance (DeFi) activities while their underlying ETH remains locked in staking protocols. LSTs accrue staking rewards and can be traded or used as collateral across various DeFi platforms.
Context ∞ Ethereum LSTs are a prominent topic in crypto news, particularly with the rise of ETH staking following the network’s transition to Proof-of-Stake. Their proliferation introduces new dynamics to DeFi, including considerations for protocol stability, potential centralization risks among LST providers, and their growing influence on the broader Ethereum ecosystem’s economic structure.