Rocket Pool ETH (rETH) is a liquid staking token backed by ETH staked through Rocket Pool's permissionless, decentralised network of node operators, who must post their own collateral. It is the most decentralised of the major LSTs, with rewards accruing into the token's value. rETH scores 63/100 (Tier 3) on the RWTS Trust Score: its operator decentralisation is a genuine structural strength versus more concentrated competitors, balanced against a smaller market size, thinner liquidity than stETH, and the usual smart-contract and validator-slashing risk. The yield tracks Ethereum staking rewards across its node set.
- Issuer / protocol
- Rocket Pool
- Backing
- Staked ETH (Ethereum PoS via decentralized node operators)
- Redemption / lock-up
- None (liquid, deep secondary market)
- Audit & proof of reserves
- Independently audited
- Availability
- Global
- Chain
- Ethereum
- Tier
- Tier 3 — Secured DeFi
- Contract
- 0xae78…6393
Scored on the published RWTS methodology (v1.1), reviewed quarterly and on material events. Ratings are independent and never pay-influenced.
Calculations are indicative. Actual yields may vary.
Price data from CoinGecko. Not financial advice.
| Pool | DEX | Liquidity | 24h Vol |
|---|---|---|---|
| rETH / WETH | balancer | $3.3M | $6K |
| rETH / WETH | uniswap | $417K | $43K |
| rETH / WETH | curve | $160K | $614 |
| rETH / frxETH | curve | $120K | $24 |
| rETH / WETH | uniswap | $111K | $53 |
| rETH / ETH | uniswap | $93K | $182K |
Aggregated across public DEX pools holding more than $10K in liquidity. Daily snapshot, not a live feed. Source: DexScreener. Deep, distributed liquidity makes a token easier to enter and exit without slippage.
Current yield of 1.95% sits at -54% of the observed range. There may be room for rates to improve.
Projections assume constant APY of 1.95%. Actual returns may vary. Not financial advice.
Most decentralized ETH liquid staking protocol with 3000+ permissionless node operators. Token value appreciates against ETH as staking rewards accrue. Strong audit history and 3+ years of clean operation.
Methodology v1.0 · independent rating · published rubric · no issuer payments
Backed 1:1+yield by ETH staked on Ethereum PoS via 3000+ permissionless node operators. Token value appreciates as staking rewards accrue (non-rebase). Validator staking per rubric tier.
All staked ETH verifiable on Beacon Chain via Rocket Pool contract addresses; protocol metrics publicly published; on-chain transparency framework.
rETH-to-ETH redemption via deposit pool (instant when pool has liquidity) or burn-and-wait (queue-based, typically <7 days). Deep secondary market liquidity (Curve, Uniswap, Balancer) for instant near-par exit.
Most-audited ETH liquid staking protocol: Trail of Bits, ConsenSys Diligence, Sigma Prime, Code4rena competitive audits; active Immunefi bug bounty (top-tier pool); long-running security operations.
Rocket Pool DAO governance with Rocket Pool Foundation organisational structure; permissionless node operator framework with published terms; clear DAO + foundation legal posture.
Live since November 2021 (~3.5 years as of May 2026). No material incidents in operating history; survived multiple market cycles including 2022 contagion and 2024 volatility.
DECENTRALIZED_NODE_OPERATOR_SETRocket Pool maintains the most decentralized node operator set among ETH LSTs (>3000 operators with 8 ETH minimum stake), providing resilience against operator collusion or single points of failure.
WITHDRAWAL_QUEUE_VARIABLEDirect rETH-to-ETH redemption depends on deposit pool liquidity; burn-and-wait alternative available. Deep secondary market liquidity provides instant near-par exit.
Caveats document operational realities that don't change the dimensional score but shape practical use.
Beyond rETH's own score, two structural questions matter: what is it built on, and what has broken before in this part of the market. A high score in isolation can still carry hidden, shared exposure.
What this and similar assets are built on, and where contagion could spread.
The depegs, defaults, and exploits that inform the Track Record dimension.
Liquidity read: TVL of $3.14B indicates deep on-chain liquidity. Lock-up: None (liquid, deep secondary market).
Is rETH safe?
rETH (Rocket Pool ETH) scores 63/100 on the independent RWTS Trust Score, which places it in Secured DeFi (Tier 3). Tier 3 carries real DeFi exposure: the backing is sound but smart-contract and collateral risk are live, so size positions accordingly. Backing: Staked ETH (Ethereum PoS via decentralized node operators). It is independently audited. The score reflects backing, verification, redeemability, audit, regulatory standing, and track record, not headline yield. We rate. You decide.
Compare rETH
Head to head on the Trust Score with similar assets.