As of July 4, 2025, the Lido DAO (LDO) price stands at $0.751739**, with a market capitalization of **$674.10 million, ranking it #125 among all cryptocurrencies. Over the past 24 hours, LDO has seen a slight decline of -4.25%, trading within a range of $0.743856 (low)** and **$0.787958 (high). Despite the short-term dip, investor interest remains strong, particularly due to Lido’s pivotal role in the Ethereum staking ecosystem.
With a circulating supply of 896.92 million LDO tokens and a maximum cap of 1 billion, LDO continues to be a key player in decentralized finance (DeFi). Its innovative liquid staking model has positioned it as one of the most influential protocols in the blockchain space.
What Is Lido DAO?
Lido DAO is a decentralized autonomous organization that enables users to stake Ethereum (ETH) without locking up their assets. Unlike traditional staking, which requires users to immobilize their ETH for extended periods, Lido provides stETH (staked ETH) — a liquid token that represents staked ETH and can be freely used across DeFi platforms for lending, trading, or yield farming.
This flexibility makes Lido an attractive option for both retail and institutional investors seeking to earn staking rewards while maintaining liquidity. Governed by its community of LDO token holders, Lido operates transparently and autonomously across Ethereum and other blockchain networks.
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LDO Price History & Market Performance
LDO was launched in December 2020, coinciding with Ethereum’s Phase 0 upgrade — the initial step toward transitioning from Proof-of-Work (PoW) to Proof-of-Stake (PoS). The token quickly gained traction, surpassing $1 by January 7, 2021.
However, early volatility was evident:
- Dropped to $0.58 on January 22, 2021
- Surged to $3.28 by February 2
- Retraced to $0.51 on March 23, 2021
A major catalyst came in April 2021 with the launch of the Lido Ecosystem Grants Organization (LEGO), fueling renewed growth. By August 22, 2021, LDO hit $6.36, nearing its all-time high.
All-Time High and Low
- ATH: $7.30 – recorded on August 20, 2021
- ATL: $0.40615 – reached on June 19, 2022, during the broader crypto market downturn
Subsequent rallies were driven by strategic expansions:
- $5.47 on November 14, 2021 – following the introduction of liquid staking on Solana
- $4.93 on April 5, 2022 – after adding support for Polygon Network
After bottoming out in mid-2022, LDO showed signs of recovery with a rebound to $2.93 on August 14, 2022**, followed by a higher low of **$0.90, indicating strengthening market sentiment.
In early February 2023, a pivotal governance vote regarding the management of $30 million in Ether** sparked bullish momentum. The price jumped from **$2.20 to over $3**, peaking at **$3.30 on February 19, 2023, partly fueled by regulatory news involving Kraken’s staking services being shut down in the U.S.
What Is LDO Used For?
The LDO token serves as the governance backbone of the Lido DAO. Token holders participate in key decision-making processes such as:
- Adjusting staking fees
- Approving protocol upgrades
- Allocating treasury funds
- Onboarding new validators
Voting power is proportional to the amount of LDO held, ensuring decentralized control over the protocol’s future.
Additionally, Lido charges a 10% fee on staking rewards, which is distributed between node operators and the DAO treasury — incentivizing both technical operation and long-term development.
Lido DAO (LDO) Tokenomics
Understanding LDO's distribution provides insight into its decentralization and long-term sustainability:
- 36% – Lido DAO Treasury (funds governed by community proposals)
- 22% – Investors
- 20% – Initial developers
- 6.5% – Validators and signature holders
- 15% – Founders and future employees
Founders’ tokens were subject to a one-year lock-up period, followed by a one-year vesting schedule, aligning incentives with long-term success.
The maximum supply is capped at 1 billion LDO, with approximately 896.92 million currently in circulation, leaving room for future emissions tied to ecosystem growth.
Who Founded Lido DAO?
Lido DAO was co-founded by Mary Tung, a former analyst at Blackstone Inc., who played a crucial role in shaping the protocol’s early vision and financial framework. While development is now community-driven, her initial contributions laid the foundation for one of DeFi’s most widely adopted liquid staking solutions.
How to Store LDO Safely
Security is paramount when holding any cryptocurrency. The safest way to store LDO tokens is through a hardware wallet, such as Ledger or Trezor, which keeps private keys offline and immune to online threats.
For active traders, keeping a portion in a secure software wallet like MetaMask is acceptable — but long-term holders should prioritize cold storage solutions.
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Where to Buy LDO
LDO is available on major cryptocurrency exchanges worldwide. You can trade it as:
- A spot pair: LDO/USDT
- A perpetual futures contract: LDOUSDT
Platforms like OKX offer deep liquidity, low fees, and robust security features — making them ideal for both beginners and experienced traders.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the current price of LDO?
As of July 4, 2025, one Lido DAO (LDO) token is priced at **$0.751739**. The 24-hour trading range spans from **$0.743856 to $0.787958**, with a market cap of $674.10 million.
What factors influence LDO’s price?
Key drivers include Ethereum network upgrades, staking reward rates, regulatory developments around crypto staking, expansion to new blockchains (e.g., Solana, Polygon), and overall market sentiment in DeFi.
Is there a maximum supply for LDO?
Yes, the maximum supply of LDO is capped at 1 billion tokens. With about 896.92 million currently in circulation, emission will gradually slow as the cap approaches.
How does liquid staking work with Lido?
When you stake ETH through Lido, you receive stETH in return — an ERC-20 token representing your staked ETH plus accrued rewards. This stETH can be used across DeFi platforms for lending, swapping, or providing liquidity — offering flexibility unmatched by native staking.
Can I earn yield with LDO tokens?
While holding LDO doesn’t directly generate staking rewards (like stETH does), it grants governance rights and potential value appreciation based on protocol performance. Yield comes indirectly through price growth and participation in ecosystem decisions.
Why is Lido important in DeFi?
Lido solves a critical problem: illiquidity in staked assets. By enabling users to stake ETH while retaining liquidity via stETH, it enhances capital efficiency across decentralized finance — powering lending markets, derivatives, and automated market makers.
Final Thoughts
Lido DAO has emerged as a cornerstone of Ethereum’s transition to Proof-of-Stake and a leader in the liquid staking revolution. With strong fundamentals, transparent governance, and growing adoption across multiple chains, LDO remains a compelling asset for those bullish on DeFi’s future.
While past performance doesn’t guarantee future results, its resilience through market cycles and continuous innovation suggest long-term potential.
Whether you're interested in governance participation, yield optimization, or strategic investment, understanding Lido’s mechanics and market dynamics is essential in today’s evolving crypto landscape.
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