ETH vs WSTETH
ETH earns about 25.42% at the top end right now; WSTETH caps around 11.57%. The bigger choice is what each token is for — same family or same use case?
Ethereum's native coin — the base asset for most DeFi. Liquid staking token for ETH — earns staking rewards while staying liquid.
Side-by-side
ETH and WSTETH — what each is and what they earn
| ETH | WSTETH | |
|---|---|---|
| Symbol | Eth | Wsteth |
| Family | Eth | Eth |
| Type | Native | Lst |
| Native staking APR | 3.10% | — |
| Market cap | $280 B | $9.7 B |
| Live pools | 788 | 311 |
| Best yield | 25.42% | 11.57% |
| Chains supported | 28 | 22 |
Top yield options
Top live pools — ETH vs WSTETH
ETH
Frequently asked
ETH vs WSTETH — common questions
Is ETH or WSTETH safer to hold yield on? +
Volatility differs first: stablecoins move ~0%, native coins move 30–80% a year, LSTs and wrapped tokens add small de-peg risk on top. For yield specifically, look at where each token earns — the chain and protocol matter more than the token itself.
Does ETH or WSTETH earn more? +
Right now ETH hits about 25.42% on its best live pool — but headline rate isn't the same as expected return. A 12% LP rate with 30% volatility is not better than 5% on a stablecoin.
Should I swap ETH for WSTETH to chase yield? +
Probably not just for yield — slippage, gas, and tax on the swap usually eat several months of the rate gap. Swapping makes sense when you're moving between different categories (e.g. native to LST) or you want a token you'll use for other things.
How do I choose between ETH and WSTETH? +
Start with what you already hold and what you understand. If both are unfamiliar, pick the one with a clearer use case to you — a coin you'll spend or stake long-term beats a higher rate on a token you can't explain.