# How Lido Works > How the Lido liquid staking protocol works — staking, stVaults, node operators, governance and security. ## Lido Essentials - [Staking Basics](https://lido.fi/how-lido-works/staking-basics): Lido is open-source software on Ethereum that makes it easier for people and organizations to stake ETH, earn rewards, and support the security of the network. Liquid staking connects individuals a... - [Lido Staking Protocol](https://lido.fi/how-lido-works/lido-staking-protocol): The Lido Staking Protocol ("Lido") is staking middleware that lets users participate in decentralized Ethereum staking without locking up their tokens. By staking through Lido, users receive a liqu... - [Lido Core Staking User Flow](https://lido.fi/how-lido-works/lido-core-staking-user-flow): The Lido protocol has two different staking flows: Lido Core, the established and widely recognized staking flow, and stVaults, a cutting-edge staking primitive that will be introduced in the upcom... - [Rewards and penalties](https://lido.fi/how-lido-works/rewards-and-penalties): The Lido oracle mechanisms are responsible for maintaining the connection between the Execution Layer and Consensus Layer portions of the Lido protocol. As a part of this set of activities, oracles... - [Protocol Fee](https://lido.fi/how-lido-works/protocol-fee): Compensates node operators for managing validators and maintaining network reliability. - [APR and Rewards Calculator](https://lido.fi/how-lido-works/apr-and-rewards-calculator): Protocol APR means Annual Percentage Rate (APR) — the overall Consensus Layer (CL) and Execution Layer (EL) rewards received by Lido validators relative to total ETH in the protocol. APR may be cal... - [Withdrawals](https://lido.fi/how-lido-works/withdrawals): To redeem stETH for ETH, users can utilize the Lido protocol's native withdrawal process. By placing stETH in the Withdrawal Queue, users join a First-In-First-Out (FIFO) line. The maximum withdraw... - [stVaults Basics](https://lido.fi/how-lido-works/stvaults-basics): Ethereum staking comes with a trade-off between control and liquidity. With native staking, the staker keeps full control and can choose their operator, fees, and software, but staked ETH stays loc... - [Economy](https://lido.fi/how-lido-works/economy): The economics align incentives across stakers, operators, and the protocol to support sustainable, long-term value creation in the Ethereum staking ecosystem. - [Enablers](https://lido.fi/how-lido-works/enablers): A web interface for managing vaults without direct contract interaction. Vault owners can create and configure vaults, deposit and withdraw ETH, mint and repay stETH, and monitor vault health and p... - [DeFi Wrapper](https://lido.fi/how-lido-works/defi-wrapper): The DeFi Wrapper is a toolkit that enables builders, operators, and platforms to launch user-facing staking products powered by stVaults with optional automated rewards-boosting strategies. - [Risk Framework](https://lido.fi/how-lido-works/risk-framework): Staking through stVaults involves several risk categories. Each has corresponding mitigations built into the protocol design: - [Lido Node Operators Set Overview](https://lido.fi/how-lido-works/lido-node-operators-set-overview): They operate under a non-custodial model, which means they hold validator private keys, allowing them to perform validator duties, but cannot access or move user funds. The withdrawal credentials f... - [How the Lido DAO works](https://lido.fi/how-lido-works/how-the-lido-dao-works): The Lido Protocol operates under the oversight of the Lido DAO, a decentralized autonomous organization governed by LDO token holders. The DAO manages key aspects of the protocol, including operato... - [Governance Stack](https://lido.fi/how-lido-works/governance-stack): Lido DAO’s on-chain voting uses a two‑phase process to prevent last‑minute governance actions. The first phase allows votes for and against, while the second phase accepts only against votes, addin... - [Known Risks and Mitigations](https://lido.fi/how-lido-works/known-risks-and-mitigations): The Lido Protocol operates in a dynamic ecosystem where various risks must be actively managed. Below is an outline of key known risks affecting stakers, node operators, and the Lido protocol, alon... - [Security Practices and Processes](https://lido.fi/how-lido-works/security-practices-and-processes): Over time, Contributors to the Lido protocol have developed best practices for delivering technical releases. Basically, it’s a structured process with checkpoints, timelines, and governance steps ... ## Run on Lido - [stETH and wstETH](https://lido.fi/how-lido-works/steth-and-wsteth): The Lido protocol offers two tokenized forms of the same staked ETH: stETH and wstETH. Both tokens represent staked ETH and allow users to participate in the Ethereum ecosystem while earning stakin... - [Lido in DeFi](https://lido.fi/how-lido-works/lido-in-defi): One of the core benefits of liquid staking is the ability to use staked tokens while still earning staking rewards. Both stETH and wstETH are integrated into a wide range of DeFi protocols across E... - [Lido Institutional](https://lido.fi/how-lido-works/lido-institutional): In practical terms, this means organizations can integrate stETH into their existing custody, treasury, and trading workflows while staking rewards accumulate automatically on-chain. Institutions b... - [Lido Multichain](https://lido.fi/how-lido-works/lido-multichain): Each network may have specific requirements and supported token formats. Details on which tokens are supported on which chain can be found here.