How Lido DAO’s LDO token supply works
LDO's maximum supply was fixed at launch, and staking rewards do not mint new LDO. Check the official Ethereum contract and a market tracker.
Vahe HakobyanEditor-in-chief
Updated Oct 6, 20262 min readFact-checked
On this page
- LDO is a governance token; stETH is a staking receipt.
- Total supply and circulating supply are different numbers.
- Governance votes can change how LDO is distributed.
Lido DAO runs a liquid staking protocol on Ethereum, and the DAO records votes on chain.
What is LDO token supply?
LDO is Lido DAO's governance token, not stETH. stETH is a receipt token for ether staked through Lido. Holding stETH gives you no LDO or vote. Lido DAO launched LDO on Ethereum in December 2020 with a fixed maximum supply. Staking rewards do not mint new LDO.
How to check LDO supply step by step
You need the official LDO contract address and an Ethereum block explorer. The contract shows total supply, while a market tracker estimates circulating supply. Review the launch allocation and any vesting locks.
- 1Find official contractCopy the LDO contract address from Lido DAO's official documentation, not from an ad or social post.
- 2Open Ethereum explorerPaste the address into an Ethereum block explorer. Confirm the name and symbol match LDO.
- 3Read total supplyFind total supply on the contract page. This is the fixed maximum.
- 4Check circulating supplyLook up circulating supply on a market tracker. It estimates freely trading tokens, not the total.
- 5Review launch allocationReview the official allocation for the DAO treasury, backers, and contributors. Look for vesting locks.
How to track LDO supply changes safely
Supply changes usually come from governance decisions about the treasury or distribution. Track official Lido DAO votes and check whether a passed proposal was executed on chain.
Frequently asked questions
LDO is native to Ethereum. Versions on other networks are usually bridges, not the official token. Verify the contract before trusting their data.
There is no regular burn in LDO's supply. A burn would need a governance proposal and an on-chain transaction.
Trackers update on their own schedule, often daily or hourly. For total supply, check an Ethereum block explorer.
