What is Lido (LDO)?

Lido (LDO) is a decentralized staking protocol that allows users to stake their cryptocurrencies without locking them or running their own validator nodes. Lido makes staking more accessible by providing liquid staking solutions, enabling users to earn staking rewards while maintaining liquidity of their assets.
 

Key features of Lido:

• Liquid Staking
  Lido provides liquid staking tokens (such as stETH for Ethereum) when users stake their assets. These tokens can be used in DeFi applications while still earning staking rewards.
• Accessibility
  By removing the technical barriers of running validator nodes, Lido makes staking accessible to a wider audience.
• LDO Token
  LDO is the native governance token of the Lido protocol. Holders of LDO can vote on governance decisions, such as protocol upgrades and fee structures.
• Multi-Chain Support
  Lido supports staking across multiple blockchains, including Ethereum, Polygon, and Solana, providing flexibility and broad accessibility.

What is the difference between Lido and staking directly?
When staking directly, users typically need to lock up their assets and run validator nodes, which requires technical expertise and minimum staking amounts. With Lido, users can stake any amount and receive liquid staking tokens, giving them both staking rewards and the ability to use their tokens in DeFi.