rETH is Rocket Pool's liquid staking token that lets you earn Ethereum staking rewards with as little as 0.01 ETH. Unlike traditional staking, rETH grows in value over time and works seamlessly in DeFi.
rETH vs ETH: What’s the Difference and Which One Should You Use?
When you hold rETH, a tokenized version of staked Ethereum that earns yield automatically. Also known as liquid staking token, it lets you keep using your staked ETH while earning rewards—unlike regular ETH, which sits locked in the validator chain. ETH is the native currency of the Ethereum network. You use it to pay for transactions, interact with DeFi apps, or hold as a store of value. But if you stake it, you can’t move it—until rETH changes the game.
ETH, the original Ethereum token used for payments and smart contracts. Also known as native ETH, it’s what you buy on exchanges and store in wallets like MetaMask. When you stake ETH directly through the Ethereum beacon chain, your coins get locked for months. You earn rewards, but you can’t trade, lend, or use them in DeFi. That’s where rETH, a liquid staking derivative from Rocket Pool that represents your staked ETH plus accumulated rewards. Also known as rewards-bearing ETH, it’s designed to be traded, swapped, or used as collateral. Every rETH token is backed by real staked ETH, and its value grows over time as rewards are added—no manual claiming needed.
Think of ETH like cash in your wallet. rETH is like a savings bond that pays interest and still lets you spend it. You can swap rETH for other tokens on Uniswap, lend it on Aave, or use it as collateral on Lido or Curve. ETH? You can do all that too—but only if you haven’t staked it. If you’ve already staked your ETH, you’re stuck unless you convert it to rETH.
Why does this matter? Because rETH trades at a premium to ETH. Right now, 1 rETH equals about 1.04 ETH—because it includes staking rewards you’ve already earned. That’s not magic. It’s math. The longer you hold rETH, the more it grows. But you’re also taking on smart contract risk. Rocket Pool’s code has to work perfectly. If it fails, your rETH could lose value. ETH? No smart contract risk. Just market volatility.
If you’re a long-term holder who wants passive income without giving up DeFi access, rETH makes sense. If you’re trading, speculating, or just want to keep things simple, stick with ETH. You don’t need to choose one forever—you can swap between them. But knowing the difference stops you from accidentally locking up funds or missing out on yield.
Below, you’ll find real breakdowns of how rETH works in practice, what happens when Ethereum upgrades, how staking rewards compound, and which platforms actually deliver on their promises. No theory. No hype. Just what you need to decide whether rETH is right for your wallet.