Why did the price of LDO go up?
Lido DAO (LDO) increased by 6.38% in the past 24 hours, outperforming the overall crypto market, which rose 3.03%. Over the past week, LDO has gained 19.28%. Here’s why:
- Technical Breakout – LDO surpassed important price levels, showing signs of upward momentum.
- Ethereum Strength – Rising Ethereum (ETH) prices (+2% in 24 hours) boosted demand for Lido’s staking services.
- Spot Market Activity – Retail investors bought more LDO, balancing out some profit-taking by large holders (whales), according to blockchain data.
Deep Dive
1. Technical Breakout (Positive Signal)
LDO’s price moved above its 30-day average price ($1.19) and a key technical level ($1.28), with momentum indicators like RSI and MACD showing strength.
What this means: When a coin breaks through resistance levels, it often attracts traders looking to buy, which can push the price higher. The next price target is $1.35, with support around $1.24.
What to watch: If LDO stays above $1.30, it could aim for $1.44.
2. Ethereum Ecosystem Support (Positive Signal)
Ethereum’s price stayed above $4,100, encouraging more activity in staking services like Lido. Lido’s Total Value Locked (TVL)—the amount of ETH staked through its platform—remained steady at about $38 billion, showing its strong position in ETH staking.
What this means: When ETH’s price rises, more people want to stake it through Lido, which increases the value and usefulness of LDO tokens.
3. Mixed Whale Activity (Neutral Signal)
Retail investors have been buying LDO, with a net inflow of $960,000 on September 18. However, large holders (whales) sold about 116,000 LDO near the $1.30 price point, according to WuBlockchain.
What this means: While retail buying helped push the price up, whale selling could limit how high LDO goes in the short term.
Conclusion
LDO’s recent price increase is driven by strong technical signals, Ethereum’s steady price, and positive retail investor interest. However, mixed signals from large holders and resistance near $1.35 suggest the price could be volatile soon.
Key to watch: Can LDO stay above $1.28 if Ethereum’s price drops back to $4,000? Keep an eye on exchange activity for signs of whale selling pressure.
What could affect the price of LDO?
LDO balances protocol improvements with changing market conditions.
- Governance Upgrades – Dual Governance starts in July 2025, aligning the interests of stakers and the DAO.
- Staking Competition – Lido’s share of Ethereum staking drops to 24.4% as competitors gain ground.
- Regulatory Developments – The SEC’s decision on Ethereum ETF staking integration is still pending.
Deep Dive
1. Protocol Upgrades (Positive Outlook)
Overview:
In July 2025, Lido launched Dual Governance, allowing stETH holders to veto proposals through dynamic time delays. For example, if someone holds 1% of the stake, they can delay proposals by 5 to 45 days; holding 10% allows them to exit the system entirely. This reduces the risk of governance being controlled by a few large players, which is especially important for institutional investors.
What this means:
This upgrade makes Lido more decentralized and appealing to long-term Ethereum holders looking for safer ways to earn rewards. Historically, big upgrades like this have led to price increases between 20% and 40% (Lido DAO).
2. Market Share Pressures (Negative Outlook)
Overview:
Lido’s share of Ethereum staking has fallen from 32.3% in 2023 to 24.4% as competitors like Rocket Pool and Figment grow. Additionally, BlackRock’s plan to launch an ETH staking ETF could split demand even more.
What this means:
More competition means less fee revenue for Lido, which is important for LDO’s value. If ETF providers choose to stake Ethereum themselves instead of using Lido, LDO could face selling pressure similar to the 22% price drop it experienced in May 2025 during a similar outflow (Cryptotimes).
3. Regulatory & Institutional Sentiment (Mixed Outlook)
Overview:
The SEC is reviewing changes related to Ethereum ETF staking, with a decision expected in late 2025. At the same time, a California court ruled that Lido DAO members could be held liable as general partners, introducing legal uncertainty.
What this means:
If the ETF is approved, it could bring billions into Ethereum staking, benefiting Lido if it’s included. However, legal risks might discourage participation in the DAO. This mixed sentiment is reflected in recent trading: Paradigm Capital sold $8.4 million worth of LDO in June, while Arthur Hayes bought $562,000 in August (WuBlockchain).
Conclusion
LDO’s price depends on balancing governance improvements with increasing competition in staking. In the short term, upgrades and potential ETF approval could push the price toward the $1.50 resistance level. Over the long term, maintaining market share will be key. Will Ethereum’s growing institutional adoption outweigh the challenges from competitors? Keep an eye on weekly total value locked (TVL) changes and SEC decisions on staking ETFs.
What are people saying about LDO?
Talk around Lido DAO (LDO) swings between excitement over potential price gains and concerns about big investors selling off. Here’s what’s trending:
- $19.59 price target if Ethereum (ETH) rallies
- Paradigm Capital’s $8.4 million LDO sale raises exit worries
- Breakout price targets between $1.55 and $2.55
- New dual governance system changes how stakers influence decisions
Deep Dive
1. @mkbijaksana: "$LDO to $19.59 if ETH surges" bullish
"LDO reclaimed the 1.374 level. If ETH is bullish, then we may see LDO going to 19.59 soon"
– @mkbijaksana (X followers · Aug 24, 2025, 5:44 PM UTC)
View original post
What this means: This optimistic view links LDO’s price to Ethereum’s performance, since Lido is the leading liquid staking provider for ETH. While it’s speculative, it shows confidence that LDO’s price could rise if ETH gains momentum.
2. @WuBlockchain: "Paradigm offloads $8.4M LDO" bearish
Paradigm moved 10 million LDO tokens to exchanges. They originally bought these tokens in 2020 at $0.76 each and sold 50 million LDO in 2023 for a $27.5 million profit.
– @WuBlockchain (Jun 10, 2025, 1:49 AM UTC)
View original post
What this means: When big investors like Paradigm sell large amounts, it can create short-term selling pressure. Paradigm still holds about 20 million LDO tokens, so traders are watching for more sales that could impact the price.
3. @johnmorganFL: "$2.55 target on profitability" bullish
Analysts highlight Lido’s first profitable month (earning $1 million) and a total value locked (TVL) of $38 billion as reasons for a potential price breakout.
– @johnmorganFL (Aug 12, 2025, 2:10 PM UTC)
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What this means: Strong financial results and growing assets under management could support a price increase. If LDO’s price closes above $1.50, it might gain momentum toward the $2.55 target.
4. @LidoFinance: "Dual Governance live" neutral
StETH holders now have the power to delay or veto proposals through dynamic timelocks, reducing the risk of governance being controlled by a few.
– @LidoFinance (Jun 30, 2025, 5:48 PM UTC)
View original post
What this means: This update improves decentralization and security of the protocol’s decision-making. However, it hasn’t yet caused noticeable changes in LDO’s price. Traders are waiting to see if this strengthens the platform over time.
Conclusion
Opinions on LDO are mixed. On one hand, strong fundamentals like record TVL ($38 billion) and profitability support a bullish outlook. On the other, large sales by Paradigm and resistance around the $1.00 price level make some investors cautious. Keep an eye on the 0xC4Db wallet for signs of big investor activity and watch Ethereum’s price to see if it can push LDO toward the $19.59 “moonshot” target.
What is the latest news about LDO?
Lido DAO is making important changes as the demand for staking shifts. Here’s a quick summary:
- V3 Upgrade Approved (September 29, 2025) – New features like Triggerable Withdrawals and an improved Community Staking Module (CSM v2) were approved.
- Staff Reduction for Sustainability (August 4, 2025) – The team was cut by 15% to focus on long-term stability.
- Dual Governance Introduced (July 4, 2025) – Holders of stETH tokens now have the power to delay or block governance decisions, balancing control with LDO token holders.
In-Depth Look
1. V3 Upgrade Approved (September 29, 2025)
What happened: Lido DAO voted to launch its V3 upgrade. This includes Triggerable Withdrawals, which let anyone use smart contracts to exit validators, and an expanded Community Staking Module (CSM v2) that allows community validators to hold up to 10% of all staked ETH.
Why it matters: These changes help make the network more decentralized by reducing dependence on professional operators and giving users more control over their stakes. However, having more validators could make coordination a bit more challenging.
(Lido Finance)
2. Staff Reduction for Sustainability (August 4, 2025)
What happened: Lido cut 15% of its workforce across various teams. Co-founder Vasiliy Shapovalov explained this was to manage costs and focus on the protocol’s long-term health, even as the total value locked (TVL) in Lido reached $38.8 billion by October 2025.
Why it matters: This move aims to make operations leaner amid growing competition in liquid staking. While it may help efficiency, some community members worry it could slow down new developments.
(CoinMarketCap)
3. Dual Governance Introduced (July 4, 2025)
What happened: Lido launched Dual Governance, giving stETH token holders the ability to delay or block governance proposals by locking their tokens. Locking 1% of stETH triggers a delay of 5 to 45 days, while locking 10% can pause governance until dissenting members leave.
Why it matters: This system reduces the control of LDO token holders and adds a check-and-balance. However, it also adds complexity and could slow down important decisions during disagreements.
(CoinMarketCap)
Conclusion
Lido DAO is working to balance decentralization efforts (through the V3 upgrade and Dual Governance) with practical steps to stay sustainable (like staff cuts). As Ethereum staking rewards shrink, it will be important to watch how Lido holds onto its 32% market share against competitors like Rocket Pool. Keep an eye on the protocol’s revenue in the last quarter of 2025.
What is expected in the development of LDO?
Lido DAO’s upcoming plans focus on improving governance and making the protocol more decentralized.
- Dual Governance Activation (July 2025) – A new system that lets stETH holders delay or block proposals to protect the network.
- Tokenholder Update Call (August 2025) – A meeting to discuss key priorities and financial plans.
- CSM v2 Rollout (July 2025) – Expanding participation limits for community stakers.
Deep Dive
1. Dual Governance Activation (July 2025)
Overview:
Approved in June 2025, Dual Governance introduces a dynamic timelock system. This lets stETH holders—those who have staked Ethereum through Lido—delay or block proposals if between 1% and 10% of the stETH supply objects. The goal is to prevent attacks on governance and align the interests of LDO token holders and stakers.
What this means:
This is positive for LDO because it reduces risks related to central control and makes the protocol stronger. However, the added complexity might slow down decision-making, which could cause some short-term challenges.
2. Tokenholder Update Call (August 2025)
Overview:
On August 14, 2025, Lido Labs held its first Tokenholder Update Call. The discussion covered long-term goals for LDO, how the treasury is managed, and Ethereum’s roadmap after its Merge upgrade.
What this means:
This update is neutral to positive depending on the details shared. Clear financial plans could increase confidence, but without concrete actions, the impact might be limited.
3. CSM v2 Rollout (July 2025)
Overview:
The Community Staking Module v2 (CSM v2) was approved in July 2025. It raises the limit on how much an individual can stake to 10% of Lido’s total stake and adds a system to identify stakers.
What this means:
This is good news for decentralization, as it encourages more small validators to participate. However, since adoption will be gradual, the immediate effects on the network might be limited.
Conclusion
Lido DAO is focusing on protecting governance and encouraging wider community involvement. The Dual Governance system and CSM v2 are important steps toward decentralization aligned with Ethereum’s goals. The Tokenholder Update Call shows a move toward greater transparency but will need follow-up actions. The key question remains: how will Lido balance fast innovation with the need for stability in managing its $38 billion total value locked (TVL)?
What updates are there in the LDO code base?
Lido DAO’s software is getting important upgrades to improve governance and security.
- Triggerable Withdrawals (July 23, 2025) – Anyone can now initiate validator exits through Lido’s smart contracts without needing permission.
- Scorecard Completion (July 15, 2025) – Lido fully meets Ethereum’s decentralization standards by adding on-chain protections.
- Oracle Security Patch (May 11, 2025) – Emergency fix after a private key leak involved rotating a key oracle node.
Deep Dive
1. Triggerable Withdrawals (July 23, 2025)
What it is: This update lets anyone trigger validator exits using Lido’s withdrawal contract. It reduces dependence on centralized parties and is based on Ethereum’s EIP-7002 standard. This makes exiting simpler while keeping the system secure.
Why it matters: This is a positive step for LDO because it increases decentralization, which is very important for Ethereum-related projects. It gives users more control over unstaking and could attract big investors who want permissionless processes. (Source)
2. Scorecard Completion (July 15, 2025)
What it is: Lido completed all items on its decentralization Scorecard, including adding Dual Governance. This means stETH holders can now delay or block proposals by locking their tokens through a dynamic timelock system.
Why it matters: This change adds some complexity to governance, so it’s neutral for LDO in the short term. However, it’s positive long-term because it lowers the risk of governance being controlled by a few and better aligns the interests of stakers and token holders, making the protocol stronger. (Source)
3. Oracle Security Patch (May 11, 2025)
What it is: After a private key leak, an emergency vote replaced a compromised Chorus One oracle node. Thanks to the protocol’s 5-of-9 multisignature security setup, the issue was contained without affecting stakers.
Why it matters: This is good news for LDO because it shows Lido has strong security measures. The quick response to the problem helps maintain trust in Lido’s ecosystem, which manages over $38 billion in total value locked (TVL). (Source)
Conclusion
Lido’s recent updates focus on making the protocol more decentralized, secure, and user-friendly. While the new governance rules add some complexity, they strengthen Lido’s position as a leader in Ethereum-based infrastructure. The big question now is how these improvements will affect stETH’s role in the $114 billion liquid staking market.