What Are Cross-Chain Liquid Staking Tokens?

Cross-chain liquid staking tokens (LSTs) offer a significant advancement in the cryptocurrency ecosystem by allowing assets staked on one blockchain to be represented and utilized on another, thereby unlocking cross-chain liquidity for liquid staking tokens. As liquid staking grows in popularity, with more than 25 million ETH staked by September 2023, cross-chain LSTs expand opportunities for liquidity and yield across multiple blockchains, enhancing utility beyond single-network constraints. This innovation enables users to earn rewards and use their assets in various DeFi protocols, while also increasing liquidity and composability. However, cross-chain LSTs share similar risks with single-chain LSTs, such as smart contract vulnerabilities and token volatility, with additional risks arising from the reliance on cross-chain infrastructure. Chainlink's robust Web3 services, including the Cross-Chain Interoperability Protocol (CCIP), play a crucial role in enabling secure and efficient cross-chain liquid staking, providing reliable data feeds, automation, and security features to support the seamless creation and operation of cross-chain LSTs, thus enhancing capital efficiency and connectivity in DeFi.