A comprehensive inventory of the seven major Decentralized Finance stake platforms in 2025: How to maximize returns?

This article explores some of the top platforms that may attract attention in 2025, including Lido Finance, Pendle Finance, EigenLayer, Ether.fi, Ethena, Jito, and Babylon. The article is sourced from an article by Siddhant Kejriwal, compiled and translated by PANews. (Previous summary: Should PoS stake rewards be taxed immediately? The lawsuit filed by an American couple against the IRS becomes the focus of discussion) (Background supplement: Ethereum vs Solana: Differences in staking stake business models from Lido and Solayer) The development of the cryptocurrency industry has made stake an indispensable cornerstone, playing an important role in network security and investor participation. By participating in stake, individuals can not only contribute to the stable operation of the blockchain network, but also unlock opportunities to earn passive income. Specifically, the benefits of participating in stake include: 1. Strengthening the economic security of encryption: Essentially, stake involves locking a certain amount of cryptocurrency to support the operation of the blockchain network. This process is particularly crucial for Proof of Stake (PoS) blockchains, where validators confirm transactions based on the amount of cryptocurrency they stake. This mechanism ensures network security and closely ties the interests of participants to the healthy development of the blockchain. 2. Earning passive income: In addition to enhancing network security, stake also provides attractive economic incentives. Through staking assets, investors can earn rewards, usually in the form of additional cryptocurrency tokens. This income generation method meets the needs of both newbies and seasoned investors seeking to maximize returns without actively trading. In some projects, stake may also involve Airdrop activities, providing additional opportunities for asset appreciation to stakers. 3. Launching new projects through restaking: A recent innovation in the stake field is 'restaking,' which allows stake assets to be reused across multiple protocols. This approach enables new projects to leverage the security and capital of existing networks, effectively guiding their development. For example, platforms like EigenLayer allow users to stake their ETH or LiquiditystakeToken and extend the economic security of encryption to other applications on the network, promoting restaking and further returns for investors. It should be noted that while restaking provides opportunities to increase returns and enhance network support for investors, it also comes with some significant complexity and risks. As 2025 approaches, the Decentralized Finance stake field will continue to flourish, providing investors with more choices. This article will introduce you to the top Decentralized Finance stake platforms worth following. What is Decentralized Finance stake? Decentralized Finance stake involves locking cryptocurrency assets in smart contracts to support the operation of blockchain networks, especially those using the Proof of Stake (PoS) consensus mechanism. In PoS networks, validators confirm transactions and create new blocks based on the amount of cryptocurrency they stake, and staking usually requires deploying a full node and meeting the network's minimum stake requirements, allowing participants to verify transactions and participate in network consensus to earn rewards. Key concepts in Decentralized Finance stake Smart contracts and stake contracts: Smart contracts are self-executing protocols encoded on the blockchain, ensuring that the staking process is automated, transparent, and secure. When you stake tokens, you effectively become a validator (or delegator) for the network, contributing to its security and stability. In return, you receive rewards in the form of new tokens or a share of transaction fees. Stake rewards: Stake rewards usually consist of newly minted tokens and a share of transaction fees, incentivizing participants to contribute to network security and operation. Punishment mechanism: To maintain network integrity, PoS networks implement a punishment mechanism called 'slashing,' which reduces a validator's stake if they engage in malicious activities or fail to fulfill their duties. This mechanism aims to curb improper behavior. Decentralized Finance stake vs. Centralized stake When comparing Decentralized Finance stake with centralized stake services, several key factors stand out: Ownership: Decentralized Finance stake allows users to retain actual ownership of their assets as they control their private keys. In contrast, centralized stake requires users to delegate their assets to a third party, relinquishing direct control. Transparency: Decentralized Finance platforms operate based on open-source smart contracts, providing transparent stake processes and reward distribution. Centralized platforms may lack this transparency, making it difficult for users to verify how rewards are calculated and distributed. Security and control: Decentralized Finance stake allows users to better control their assets, reducing reliance on intermediary institutions and mitigating counterparty risk. Centralized stake involves entrusting assets to platforms, which could pose security risks if the platform is attacked. Mechanism: In Decentralized Finance stake, users delegate their stake to permissionless validators networks, directly participating in network consensus mechanisms. Centralized stake platforms pool user funds and use platform-selected validators, often without disclosing the specific details of the process. Learning curve: Decentralized Finance stake can be complex, requiring users to navigate various platforms and manage private keys, which may be challenging for beginners. Centralized platforms offer a more user-friendly, Web2-like experience, simplifying the stake process at the expense of decentralization. Conclusion The choice between Decentralized Finance and centralized stake platforms depends on individual preferences, particularly regarding control, transparency, and ease of use. Next, this article will explore the top Decentralized Finance stake platforms expected to have an impact in 2025 and provide insights. Decentralized Finance stake platforms Here is a comprehensive overview of the Decentralized Finance stake protocols we are about to discuss, focusing on their main features, related tokens, and current Annual Percentage Rate (APR) or Annual Percentage Yield (APY). Lido Finance Lido Finance is a Decentralized Finance protocol focused on providing Liquiditystake services. It enables users to stake their digital assets on multiple blockchain networks while maintaining liquidity, effectively addressing traditional stake limitations such as asset locking and high entry barriers. By issuing Liquiditystake tokens (LSTs) such as stETH for Ethereum, Lido allows users to earn stake rewards and use their assets in a wider Decentralized Finance ecosystem. Key features of Lido Finance Liquiditystake: Lido's core service allows users to stake assets without locking them. It provides stake token derivatives (such as stETH) that can be freely transferred, traded, or used in other Decentralized Finance protocols. Decentralized governance: Managed by the Lido Decentralized Autonomous Organization (DAO), Lido ensures that decisions regarding protocol parameters, node operator selection, and fee structures are made collectively by LDO token holders. Security measures: Lido hires experienced node operators and conducts regular audits to maintain the integrity and security of the staking process, minimizing risks such as punishment slashing. Decentralized Finance integration: Lido's Liquiditystake tokens have been integrated into...