Best LRT Protocols in 2026

DeFi Intel Research Desk · Updated 2026-05-28 · ranked by TVL and track record

Liquid restaking tokens (LRTs) have become a cornerstone of DeFi in 2026. This list ranks the top LRT protocols by total value locked (TVL) and proven track record.

Leading the pack is ether.fi with $6B TVL, operating across 5 chains with 3 audits since 2023. Other notable protocols include Renzo ($1.2B TVL, 7 chains), Kelp DAO ($1B TVL, 3 chains), Puffer Finance ($0.5B TVL, 2 chains), and Bedrock (uniBTC) ($0.3B TVL, 6 chains). These rankings reflect both the scale and the verifiable security history of each protocol.

  1. #1 ether.fi $6B TVL 5 chains · 3 audits · since 2023

    Largest liquid restaking protocol. eETH/weETH are non-custodial restaked positions on EigenLayer. Adds Cash card, Liquid vaults, and a payments stack on top of restaking.

  2. #2 Renzo $1.2B TVL 7 chains · 2 audits · since 2024

    Liquid restaking protocol issuing ezETH. Manages operator selection and AVS allocations on behalf of users; integrates with Connext / Hyperlane for multi-chain ezETH.

  3. #3 Kelp DAO $1B TVL 3 chains · 2 audits · since 2024

    Liquid restaking protocol issuing rsETH backed by ETH and LSTs restaked on EigenLayer. Provides Kelp Gain auto-compounding vault on top of restaking points.

  4. #4 Puffer Finance $0.5B TVL 2 chains · 3 audits · since 2024

    Native restaking with anti-slashing tech (Secure-Signer). pufETH is the LRT; Puffer UniFi is a based rollup that returns sequencer revenue to the Ethereum community.

  5. #5 Bedrock (uniBTC) $0.3B TVL 6 chains · 2 audits · since 2023

    Multi-asset liquid restaking. uniBTC tokenizes restaked BTC; uniETH and uniIOTX cover ETH and IoTeX. Built with RockX; integrates with Babylon, EigenLayer, Symbiotic.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best LRT protocol?

Based on TVL and track record, the top LRT protocol is ether.fi, with $6B TVL, 5 chains, 3 audits, and has been operating since 2023.

How are LRT protocols ranked?

LRT protocols are ranked by total value locked (TVL) and track record, including number of chains, audits, and years since launch.

Which LRT protocol has the highest TVL?

ether.fi has the highest TVL at $6B.

How many chains does ether.fi support?

ether.fi supports 5 chains.

When was ether.fi launched?

ether.fi was launched in 2023.