Komainu Supports stETH Enabling Institutional Access to Ethereum Liquid Staking

Komainu, a premier regulated digital asset custodian supported by Laser Digital and Blockstream, has introduced custody support for staked ETH (stETH), the leading liquid staking token within the Ethereum ecosystem.

This development marks a significant milestone, offering institutional stakers a more secure, and efficient pathway to participate in Ethereum’s staking infrastructure - a sector experiencing rapid growth and increasing relevance in institutional finance.

The Role of Lido’s stETH in Ethereum’s Ecosystem

Staked ETH (stETH), issued through the Lido protocol, is a pivotal innovation in Ethereum’s proof-of-stake framework. Representing approximately 27% of all staked ETH, with a market capitalization surpassing $23 billion, stETH has emerged as the preeminent liquid staking token. 

Unlike conventional staking, which immobilizes assets for extended periods, stETH provides a dual benefit: it enables stakers to accrue staking rewards while retaining the flexibility to trade, collateralize, or deploy their tokens across third-party applications, including both centralized and decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols. 

This liquidity has positioned stETH as a vital instrument for optimizing rewards within the Ethereum network, which now secures over $100 billion in staked cryptoassets following its transition to proof-of-stake in 2022.

Komainu’s Robust Custodial Framework

Komainu distinguishes itself through a custody solution meticulously engineered to meet institutional demands. Client assets, including stETH, are safeguarded in segregated, on-chain verifiable wallets, underpinned by advanced security protocols that adhere to the highest industry standards. 

Importantly, Komainu maintains a strict policy against asset reuse or rehypothecation, ensuring client holdings remain fully allocated and protected. By abstaining from staking services or validator operations, Komainu provides a transparent and robust custody offering—attributes that resonate strongly with institutional stakers prioritizing safety operational integrity.

Sebastian Widmann, General Manager Komainu MEA, said: “

With institutions increasing their exposure to crypto-native primitives, it becomes ever more important to enable them to access the digital asset market without compromising on compliance, operational security and transparency. This integration is a significant step in supporting the institutionalization of digital assets by allowing our clients to gain exposure to staking rewards directly and through liquid staked tokens, like stETH.”

Kean Gilbert, Head of Institutional Relations at the Lido Ecosystem Foundation, commented:

“Komainu’s custody integration helps institutions incorporate stETH into their portfolios more easily. It directly addresses operational considerations we've consistently heard institutions raise around custody and staking tokens.”

Strategic Capabilities via Komainu Connect

Further enhancing its offering, Komainu Connect will soon enable clients to make use of stETH as collateral for off-exchange settlement or financing arrangements, all while preserving full custodial oversight. 

This functionality will equip treasury managers and trading desks with the tools to maximize efficiency, get staking rewards, and simultaneously integrate stETH into sophisticated institutional workflows. Such capabilities underscore Komainu’s commitment to bridging the gap between crypto-native opportunities and the operational frameworks of institutional finance.

About Komainu

Headquartered in Jersey, with additional offices in London, Dubai, and Singapore, Komainu is a regulated digital asset custodian renowned for its fusion of traditional financial expertise and state-of-the-art security practices. Supported by Laser Digital and Blockstream, Komainu delivers a comprehensive suite of services, including multi-asset custody, governance, and financing solutions. For more details, visit www.komainu.com.

• Komainu (Jersey) Limited is regulated by the Jersey Financial Services Commission.
• Komainu MEA FZE is regulated by the Dubai Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority.
• Komainu (UK) Limited is registered with the UK Financial Conduct Authority.
• Komainu Europe S.r.l. has an OAM registration in Italy.

About Lido Institutional

Lido Institutional champions the adoption of Lido protocol’s open-source liquid staking middleware among non-retail users. By facilitating connections between institutions and node operators, the Lido protocol streamlines the staking process, enabling reward generation without the operational complexities of managing validator hardware. Explore further at lido.fi/institutional.