Plain English
Rocket Pool is the leading decentralized alternative to Lido for ETH liquid staking. Users stake ETH and receive rETH; node operators run validators by posting 8 ETH + RPL collateral instead of the standard 32 ETH. RPL is the governance and collateral token.
How it actually works
Node operators must hold at least 10% of the matched stake in RPL as insurance collateral. They earn an additional commission on the matched ETH. The protocol enables permissionless node operation, in contrast to Lido’s curated operator set. rETH appreciates against ETH rather than rebasing.
What it means for you
RPL is a decentralization-thesis play within the ETH staking ecosystem. For HNW positioning, holding rETH is the cleaner exposure to ETH staking yield; RPL itself only makes sense if you operate or invest in node operations directly. The Houston upgrade reduced minimum collateral and broadened access.
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Educational content only. Not investment, tax, or legal advice.