What is ETH staking and how do rewards work?

Since The Merge, Ethereum's security is maintained by validators - participants who lock up a minimum of 32 ETH to run a validator node and earn protocol rewards for honestly attesting to new blocks. Currently, staking yields hover around 3–5% annually, paid in ETH. For those without 32 ETH, liquid staking protocols offer a more accessible path. Platforms like Lido allow you to stake any amount and receive stETH (staked ETH) in return - a token that accrues rewards daily and can still be used in DeFi. Rocket Pool offers a more decentralized version of the same idea. Staking is one of the few ways in crypto to earn a yield on an asset you are already committed to holding long-term.