Rocket Pool is a decentralized, trustless, permissionless, community-owned Ethereum 2.0 staking protocol, letting users stake less than 32 ETH and participate in the Ethereum Proof of Stake (PoS) consensus mechanism. It also supports staking more than 32 ETH to run a validator node on the Ethereum 2.0 blockchain.

The Rocket Pool protocol was devised to ensure true democratization and make ETH2 staking more accessible by lowering the entry barrier. The decentralized staking protocol is aligned with the basic principles of Ethereum and ETH2 to prevent the network from being too dependent on any single party.

The non-custodial and trustless nature of the Rocket Pool protocol encourages self-sovereignty within the decentralized finance (DeFi) market. The platform aims to create a base protocol layer for ETH2 staking, letting Ether holders who lack technical skills or the financial means to own 32 ETH also benefit from Ethereum 2.0s staking services.

RPL is the overall utility token of Rocket Pool and serves as the backbone of the protocol. Node operators within Rocket Pool need to provide RPL as collateral or insurance promise. They also receive rewards in the token based on the amount of collateral they provide.

Rocket Pool is the base protocol layer for decentralized and trustless ETH 2.0 staking, letting users stake as little as 0.01 ETH through its protocol. With a low entry barrier into the world of Ethereum 2.0 staking, Rocket Pool aims to offer a more decentralized network of node operators and full autonomy to stakers who provide RPL as collateral to become node operators via the protocol.

The platform was designed to support Staking as a Service (SaaS) providers, allowing them to stake through Rocket Pool and maximize their returns. Service providers who stake ETH to run a node through Rocket Pool can earn rewards in both ETH and RPL, making the activity even more profitable.

In addition, the protocol can also be used by teams to run their own infrastructure and stake ETH in batches of 16 ETH tokens. This is an incredibly beneficial strategy for DeFi power users who want to generate higher returns from participating in staking activities on the Ethereum network.

Rocket Pool offers rETH - staked ETH wrapper, with which users can participate in additional activities without compromising liquidity on the network. These wrapped tokens serve as building blocks for the Ethereum 2.0 network, functioning as the most trust-minimized form of staked ETH.

The Rocket Pool Ethereum 2.0 staking pool was founded in 2016 by Ethereum developer David Rugendyke after he realized the need for Ethereum to transition from a Proof of Work (PoW) consensus to PoS. The project aimed to lower the barrier to entry for ETH holders, a move that could increase the networks decentralization and ensure better distribution of nodes participating in the consensus mechanism.

The Rocket Pool v.2.5 Medalla Rolling Beta launch took place in October 2020. The Testnet Beta launch followed this in March 2021.

In August 2021, the developers launched the Prater Testnet of the liquid staking protocol. The mainnet launch of Rocket Pool happened in October-November 2021.

As of February 2023, future upgrades include the launch of The Rocketeers NFT, staking and node operator dashboard, Rocket Pool Tool, and RocketScan. The platform also expects more integrations of its services with partners products.

The Rocket Pool cryptocurrency can be a worthwhile investment, particularly if you have faith in Ethereum staking and the overall DeFi market. The RPL price has the potential to rise as more users stake their ETH tokens using the Rocket Pool liquid staking protocol.

This increased on-chain activity could drive up demand for RPL, leading to an upward trend in the Rocket Pool price. Additionally, growing interest in DeFi activities may also contribute to positive RPL price statistics.

Positive market sentiment in the cryptocurrency industry could further support upward movements in the RPL price, as a risk-on attitude tends to stimulate buying activity. Conversely, a bearish or risk-averse sentiment could result in sell-offs that could exert downward pressure on the Rocket Pool price.

Although it is impossible to offer an accurate prediction of the RPL price over any duration, there are several fundamental factors that can influence how the Rocket Pool token price fluctuates. These factors include:

Level of Liquid Staking Activity

The RPL price could increase as more users sign up to stake ETH on the Rocket Pool protocol. Higher Rocket Pool staking could increase the demand for the RPL token and make it a more valuable investment.

Future Partnerships and Developments

The staking activity on Rocket Pool could also increase as more partners integrate with the protocol's staking services. When the team of developers announces more upgrades and adds more features that enhance the attractiveness of staking on Rocket Pool, the RPL token price could strengthen further in the market.

Market Outlook

A positive outlook among investors towards cryptocurrencies in general and the DeFi market specifically plays a vital role in supporting the price of Rocket Pool crypto. However, bear market conditions or a risk-off sentiment in global financial markets could exert downward pressure on the price of RPL crypto.

RPL is the native utility token of Rocket Pool. It serves the following functions:

Collateral

Users wishing to stake ETH on Rocket Pool must deposit a minimum amount of RPL as collateral. The RPL deposit serves to offset any potential penalties they may incur in the future while staking ETH.

Incentive Token

Users who stake ETH on Rocket Pool receive rewards in ETH and RPL. The RPL rewards are generated from the tokens inflation and are proportional to the amount of RPL they deposit as collateral initially.

Crypto Asset to Trade and HODL

Trace Rocket Pool tokens against other crypto assets to profit from market conditions and changes in volatility. You can buy or sell RPL against other cryptocurrencies or hold it long-term if you believe in the future potential of Rocket Pool. Review the live price of Rocket Pool cryptocurrency, RPL market cap, circulating supply, 24-hour trading volume, and the latest crypto news before trading RPL in the market.

You can stake ETH on Rocket Pool in two ways - staking less than 32 ETH or staking 32 ETH and higher to run a validator node on the Ethereum blockchain. Let's take a look at how to perform liquid staking on ETH (less than 16 ETH without operating a Rocket node):

1. Open the Rocket Pool dApp and scroll down to the Stake ETH section. Click on Stake.

2. This will open up a new window leading to the staking interface.

3. Connect your wallet here. Ensure your wallet is sufficiently funded with ETH by buying Ethereum on BYDFi or other supported platforms and withdrawing the tokens to your wallet.

4. Enter the number of ETH tokens you wish to stake and check the number of rETH-wrapped tokens you will receive, the APR, and gas fees.

5. After reviewing all details, proceed with the transaction by clicking on Stake. Confirm the transaction from your wallet.

6. Sit back, earn staking rewards, and grow your crypto holdings by liquid staking ETH on Rocket Pool.

Rocket Pool and Lido are two leading liquid staking protocols for Ethereum 2.0. Here is a comparison between the two:

rETH vs. stETH

Both platforms allow users to stake ETH without locking up liquidity. They offer wrapped tokens that can be used in other DeFi applications. Rocket Pool offers rETH to stakers, while Lido offers stETH tokens.

Market Share

Lido enjoys an extremely high market share and is the dominant liquid staking protocol, accounting for over 80% of ETH staking pools and a TVL of over $8 billion. On the other hand, Rocket Pool accounts for around 5% of the market share and a TVL of just under $1 billion as of February 2023.

Centralized vs. Decentralized

While Rocket Pool is entirely decentralized and aims to reduce the entry barrier and make ETH staking more accessible, Lido operates in a more centralized manner. This has caused the Lido protocol to face criticism over concerns about the concentration of staking power.