Marinade vs Rocket Pool: Solana vs Ethereum Staking
Marinade and Rocket Pool provide non-custodial staking on different layer-1 networks. Built for Solana, Marinade lets users stake SOL for liquid mSOL tokens or allocate to validators via automated native delegation without smart contract custody. Rocket Pool operates on Ethereum, where users pool ETH for liquid rETH or run independent validator nodes with a 4 ETH bond.
The two protocols diverge on target networks, underlying yields, and validator structures. Marinade offers reward rates between 5.04% and 7.6% across hundreds of Solana node operators selected through an onchain stake auction marketplace. Rocket Pool delivers staking rates of 2.0% to 2.2% on Ethereum, charging a 14% protocol fee while routing delegations through more than 1,400 permissionless node operators. Neither protocol requires identity checks.
Quick verdict
The core distinction comes down to the underlying blockchain and the staking architecture you require. Marinade focuses purely on Solana, offering both native validator delegation that avoids smart contract custody and liquid mSOL backed by stake auctions. Rocket Pool centers on Ethereum, pairing pooled deposits starting at 0.01 ETH with independent node operators under a permissionless bond model.
Choose Marinade if you hold SOL and want yields between 5.04% and 7.6%, need native staking without pool contract risk, or plan to borrow USDC against your stake positions via Marinade Borrow.
Choose Rocket Pool if you hold ETH and prioritize Ethereum network decentralization, want liquid rETH backed by over 1,400 permissionless node operators, or intend to run your own validator hardware with a reduced 4 ETH bond.
| Feature | ||
|---|---|---|
| Ratings | ||
| Our score | 4.3/5 | 4.2/5 |
| User rating | No reviews yet | No reviews yet |
| Yield | 4.5 | 3.5 |
| Security | 4.5 | 4.5 |
| Liquidity | 4.0 | 4.0 |
| Decentralization | 4.5 | 5.0 |
| Ease of use | 4.0 | 4.0 |
| Specs | ||
| KYC required | No | No |
| Type | Liquid staking, Native staking | Liquid staking |
| Stakeable assets | SOL | ETH |
| Receipt token | mSOL | rETH |
| Protocol fee | Not disclosed | 14% |
| Minimum stake | Not disclosed | 0.01 ETH |
| Withdrawal time | Not disclosed | Instant via deposit pool buffer |
| Chains | Solana | Ethereum |
| Node operators | Automated delegation across hundreds of Solana validators via Stake Auction Marketplace | Permissionless |
| Audited | Yes | Yes |
| Restaking | No | No |
| Slashing cover | Not disclosed | Yes |
| Typical reward rate | 5.04% - 7.6% | 2.0-2.2% |
| Company | ||
| Founded | 2021 | 2016 |
| Headquarters | United States | — |
| Investors | Not disclosed | Coinbase Ventures, Consensys, 1kx |
| Strengths and weaknesses | ||
| Pros |
|
|
| Cons |
|
|
| Best for | Solana DeFi liquidity providers, Users avoiding smart contract risk, Institutions using qualified custodians | Decentralization-focused Ethereum stakers, Home node operators with under 32 ETH, DeFi users needing yield-bearing collateral |
Highlighted cells show the stronger value in each row. Data comes from each provider's site and public sources; check details before you sign up.
FAQ
Which blockchain does each protocol support?
Marinade operates exclusively on Solana for SOL staking. Rocket Pool operates exclusively on Ethereum for ETH staking.
Can you stake without smart contract risk on either platform?
Yes, Marinade offers automated native staking that delegates SOL directly through native Solana stake accounts without smart contract custody. Rocket Pool requires depositing ETH into protocol smart contracts to mint rETH.
What are the minimum deposit requirements?
Rocket Pool requires a minimum deposit of 0.01 ETH for liquid staking, or 4 ETH to run a bonded node. Marinade has no protocol minimum deposit threshold for staking SOL.
How do reward rates compare between Marinade and Rocket Pool?
Marinade yields 5.04% to 7.6% on SOL staking, boosted by its stake auction marketplace. Rocket Pool delivers yields of 2.0% to 2.2% on ETH after accounting for its 14% protocol fee.