Justin Sun’s on‑chain data reveals that he earns about $9.5 million each year from staking Ethereum on Lido, a liquid staking platform that lets users earn rewards while still having liquidity. At the current price of $1,734, that return translates to roughly a 6.5 % annual yield, which is attractive compared to traditional savings rates. For retail holders, this demonstrates that staking can be a viable way to generate passive income, especially when the network’s upgrade cycle is approaching and price uncertainty is high.
Ethereum’s price is down 2.7 % over the last 24 hours, and the market’s fear‑greed index sits at an extreme‑fear level. In this environment, the value of staking rewards can become more pronounced, as the opportunity cost of holding liquid versus staked ETH shifts. Meanwhile, the upcoming upgrade—expected in a few weeks—could bring improvements to network efficiency and potentially affect staking rewards. Retail investors should keep an eye on the upgrade timeline and any changes to Lido’s fee structure or reward rates.
Finally, the broader crypto landscape is seeing moves toward institutional products, such as the final‑stage discussions around an Ethereum ETF. If such a product materializes, it could increase demand for ETH and, by extension, for staking services like Lido. For those looking to diversify their crypto holdings, staking offers a way to earn while still maintaining exposure to the underlying asset. However, as always, the decision to stake should be balanced against liquidity needs and the risk of protocol vulnerabilities.