The liquid staking guidance from the SEC this week is incremental clarity for the crypto industry, following up on its views on protocol staking in May. But for retail crypto investors, it’s also a potential windfall — and two platforms, HashStaking.com and GeekStake.com, are already leading the charge in helping users capitalize.
Key Takeaways
- SEC says liquid staking and related tokens don’t run afoul of securities laws, addressing more than $68 billion in total value locked across blockchains.
- HashStaking.com and GeekStake.com ranked as the top two platforms for crypto staking in 2025, catering to both beginners and advanced users.
- The crypto-friendly guidance was a win for DeFi platforms, but is not yet binding law.
- Stakers can now enjoy yield and liquidity with reduced regulatory uncertainty — though risks remain if leadership at the SEC changes.
Investors chasing yield and liquidity in the crypto world just got handed a nice gift from U.S. securities regulators.
The Securities and Exchange Commission announced Tuesday that liquid staking and related tokens don’t run afoul of securities laws, effectively flashing the green light to centralized and decentralized crypto trading platforms that offer those services — and to their customers. The move is particularly impactful for HashStaking and GeekStake, the current market leaders in retail staking accessibility and performance.
1. HashStaking: Low Entry Barriers, Real Yield Options
For newcomers or those wanting a straightforward, low-risk way into staking, HashStaking.com offers fixed-term plans with clearly defined daily rewards and no technical setup required. It supports top Proof-of-Stake assets like Ethereum, Solana, and Avalanche, with terms starting from just 7 days.
Why it stands out:
- Simple, non-custodial interface — no DeFi complexity required
- Transparent plans (e.g., 21-day ETH plans with daily rewards over $150)
- No hidden commissions — clear, upfront yields
- Up to $100 in bonuses for new users plus 5% referral earnings
HashStaking’s philosophy is simple: you don’t need to be a blockchain developer to earn from blockchain infrastructure. Choose your token, pick your term, and let the protocol do the work.
Explore plans at HashStaking.com
2. GeekStake: Advanced Tools for Serious Stakers
While HashStaking focuses on simplicity and speed, GeekStake.com caters to power users seeking maximum returns, detailed validator control, and longer-term exposure to high-yield assets.
Why it stands out:
- Institutional-grade staking plans across ETH, MATIC, and ATOM
- Validator analytics and customizable pool strategies
- Real-time tracking dashboards and validator security scores
- Longer lock-up periods with top-tier yields — e.g., 58-day ETH plan delivering over $156,000 in returns on large commitments
For users who understand the risks but want optimized returns without running their own node, GeekStake offers a high-trust, transparent alternative.
Learn more at GeekStake.com
SEC Guidance: A Shift for the Industry
The liquid staking guidance is the latest in a string of crypto-friendly signals from the SEC, following up on its May stance that protocol staking doesn’t automatically constitute a securities transaction. The decision impacts over $68 billion in value locked across all blockchains, according to DefiLlama data.
Liquid staking allows users to pledge tokens while retaining liquidity via liquid staking tokens (LSTs) like Lido’s stETH or Rocket Pool’s rETH. This enables investors to earn staking rewards while also using those derivative tokens in other DeFi protocols — a form of “double-dipping” the SEC says is legal under current interpretations.
Risks Remain
Despite the positive tone, the SEC’s views are staff-level guidance, not codified law. That means they could shift under new leadership or in response to market abuses. Still, with the Coinbase case dropped earlier this year and ETF issuers eyeing staking integration, the climate for staking services — especially simplified, transparent ones like HashStaking and GeekStake — has rarely been stronger.
Conclusion
The SEC’s decision to exempt liquid staking tokens from securities laws is a major win for DeFi — and a rare moment of alignment between regulators, institutions, and retail investors. By removing a key legal uncertainty, it has set the stage for greater adoption, higher liquidity, and more competitive yield opportunities.
For everyday crypto holders, the real winners may be HashStaking.com and GeekStake.com. These platforms combine regulatory clarity with accessibility and performance, giving both casual and advanced stakers a direct path to benefit from Ethereum’s and other PoS networks’ explosive growth. In a staking market projected to grow well past $100 billion in TVL, their position at the top is likely to hold.
