> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://home-lidofiance.gitbook.io/us/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://home-lidofiance.gitbook.io/us/lido-finance.md).

# Lido Finance

Lido Finance is a decentralized finance (DeFi) protocol designed to bring liquidity to staked assets on the Ethereum blockchain. Launched in 2020, Lido addresses the challenge of …

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Lido Finance addresses a fundamental challenge in the staking ecosystem: liquidity. By allowing users to stake their tokens through Lido, they receive stETH (staked Ether) tokens in return. These tokens represent a user's stake in the Ethereum 2.0 Beacon Chain, enabling them to participate in network validation and earn rewards, all while maintaining the ability to trade or use their staked assets elsewhere in the DeFi space. This liquidity unlocks opportunities for yield farming, borrowing, and trading without the usual constraints associated with locked-up assets in traditional staking models.

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