How to participate in Lido governance

Lido governance allows LDO token holders to shape the protocol’s future by voting on upgrades, parameter changes, and integrations.

Jul 22, 2025 at 05:49 pm

What is Lido Governance?

Lido Finance is a decentralized finance (DFI) protocol that allows users to stake their Ethereum (ETH) without locking up assets or maintaining infrastructure. In return, users receive staked ETH tokens (stETH), which represent their share of the staked ETH and accrued rewards. Lido governance is the decentralized mechanism through which token holders influence the protocol’s future development, including upgrades, parameter changes, and integration decisions.

Participating in Lido governance means actively contributing to decision-making by proposing changes or voting on existing proposals. Governance is open to all holders of LDO tokens, which are the native governance tokens of the Lido ecosystem. LDO token holders can submit proposals or vote on proposals that impact the protocol.

How to Connect Your Wallet to Lido Governance

To participate in Lido governance, you must first connect a compatible Ethereum wallet. MetaMask is the most commonly used wallet for interacting with decentralized applications (dApps), including Lido. Ensure that your wallet contains LDO tokens, as these are required to propose or vote on governance decisions.

• Open your MetaMask wallet and switch to the Ethereum mainnet.
• Visit the Lido governance page at https://vote.lido.fi/.
• Click the “Connect Wallet” button located in the top right corner of the page.
• Select your wallet provider (e.g., MetaMask).
• Confirm the connection in your wallet.

Once connected, your LDO balance will be displayed, and you will be able to interact with ongoing governance proposals.

How to Vote on Lido Governance Proposals

After connecting your wallet and confirming your LDO token balance, you can proceed to vote on active governance proposals. Each proposal will have a voting period, typically lasting several days. Voting power is determined by the number of LDO tokens you hold and have delegated.

• Navigate to the “Proposals” section on the Lido governance page.
• Review the list of active proposals to understand their implications.
• Click on a proposal to view detailed information, including the proposer, summary, and discussion threads.
• Scroll down to the voting section and select either “For,” “Against,” or “Abstain.”
• Confirm your vote in your wallet.

It is crucial to review each proposal thoroughly before casting your vote. Voting is non-refundable in terms of gas fees, so ensure you are comfortable with your decision before proceeding.

How to Create a Lido Governance Proposal

If you wish to propose a change to the Lido protocol, you must meet the minimum LDO token requirement to create a proposal. This threshold ensures that only serious and committed participants can initiate governance discussions.

• Ensure you have the required number of LDO tokens delegated to your wallet.
• Go to the Lido governance page and click on the “Create Proposal” button.
• Fill in the proposal details, including title, content, and any supporting documentation or links.
• Confirm the transaction in your wallet to submit the proposal.

Once submitted, your proposal will enter a cooling-off period, after which it will be listed for community voting. During this time, other LDO holders can review and discuss your proposal.

How Delegation Works in Lido Governance

If you hold LDO tokens but do not wish to actively participate in governance, you can delegate your voting power to another address. Delegation allows token holders to assign their voting rights to a trusted delegate without transferring ownership of their tokens.

• Visit the Lido governance page and click on your profile or wallet address.
• Locate the delegation section and enter the address of the delegate you wish to support.
• Confirm the delegation in your wallet.

You can change or revoke your delegation at any time. Delegated votes are counted toward the delegate’s total voting power during proposal votes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I participate in Lido governance without LDO tokens?

A: No, LDO tokens are required to participate in Lido governance. You must hold or delegate LDO to vote on or create proposals.

Q: Is there a minimum amount of LDO needed to create a proposal?

A: Yes, there is a minimum threshold of LDO tokens required to create a governance proposal. This threshold helps prevent spam and ensures proposers have a vested interest in the protocol.

Q: How long do Lido governance votes last?

A: The voting period for Lido governance proposals typically lasts around 4 days, though this may vary depending on the proposal type and urgency.

Q: Can I change my vote after submitting it?

A: No, once a vote is submitted on-chain, it cannot be changed. Ensure you carefully consider your decision before casting your vote.