[Crypto projects](https://revain.org/projects/) › Rocket Pool

# Rocket Pool (RPL): how it works, supply and reviews

## In short

- **Type**: Liquid staking protocol of smart contracts on Ethereum, with a permissionless network of node operators
- **Issuance**: RPL is inflationary: most new RPL rewards node operators who stake RPL, and smaller shares fund the pDAO and oDAO
- **Risks and caveats**: Redeeming rETH directly for ETH depends on available liquidity in the protocol
- **Checked**: 31 October 2026

## Key facts

- **Ticker**: RPL
- **Official site**: [rocketpool.net](https://rocketpool.net/)

Key facts checked on 31 October 2026 against official sources.

## What is Rocket Pool

Rocket Pool is a decentralised liquid staking protocol for Ethereum, live on mainnet since October 2021. Users can stake from 0.01 ETH and receive rETH, a token that grows in value with staking rewards, while independent node operators run validators with a smaller ETH bond. RPL is the protocol's governance token, which can be staked for a share of protocol revenue.

## Network and consensus

| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Type | Liquid staking protocol of smart contracts on Ethereum, with a permissionless network of node operators |
| Minimum stake | Stakers can deposit from 0.01 ETH and receive rETH; there is no minimum lock-up |
| Node operators | Since Saturn 1, a node operator bonds 4 ETH and is paired with 28 ETH from the rETH pool per 32 ETH validator in a megapool; RPL collateral is no longer required |
| Fees | Total commission of 14% on rewards from borrowed ETH: 5% base to node operators, 9% to RPL-staking operators; adjustable by pDAO vote |
| Scale | 536,544 ETH staked across 16,767 validators in 102+ regions, as shown on the website |

## Supply and issuance

| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Issuance | RPL is inflationary: most new RPL rewards node operators who stake RPL, and smaller shares fund the pDAO and oDAO |
| Staking rewards | rETH accrues staking rewards from the whole node operator network, so its value in ETH rises over time |

## What RPL is used for

- RPL: governance voting power when staked
- RPL: staked on a megapool for a share of protocol ETH revenue and RPL rewards
- rETH: liquid staked ETH that can be traded, used in DeFi or redeemed for ETH when liquidity is available

## Who develops and governs Rocket Pool

- **Founders**: Started in late 2016 by developer David Rugendyke
- **Governance**: A Protocol DAO (pDAO) of RPL stakers and an Oracle DAO (oDAO); protocol parameters such as commission are set by pDAO vote
- **Company**: The website is published by Rocket Pool Pty Ltd
- **Open source**: Smart contracts are open source in the rocket-pool GitHub organisation

## History

| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 2016 | David Rugendyke started Rocket Pool |
| May 2017 | Alpha version released, followed by five public betas on testnets |
| October 2021 | Official launch on Ethereum mainnet |
| 18 February 2026 | Saturn 1 upgrade launched: megapools, 4 ETH validators and protocol revenue share for staked RPL |

## Security and audits

- Saturn 1 audits: Bailsec (January 2026), Cantina (February 2026), Sigma Prime (February 2026) and Hashlock (March 2026)
- Earlier audits: Sigma Prime, Consensys Diligence and Trail of Bits before mainnet (May 2021), and further Sigma Prime, Consensys Diligence and ChainSafe audits for the Redstone, Atlas and Houston releases (2022-2024)
- Immunefi bug bounty: up to $150,000 for critical issues (reduced in February 2026)
- No exploit post-mortem was found on the Rocket Pool pages reviewed

## Security incidents

Incidents are reported by third parties (press, incident databases) but are not confirmed in the company’s own channels, so none is listed here.

## Official RPL contracts

| Network | Contract address |
|---|---|
| Ethereum (RPL) | [0xD33526068D116cE69F19A9ee46F0bd304F21A51f](https://etherscan.io/token/0xD33526068D116cE69F19A9ee46F0bd304F21A51f) |
| Ethereum (rETH) | [0xae78736Cd615f374D3085123A210448E74Fc6393](https://etherscan.io/token/0xae78736Cd615f374D3085123A210448E74Fc6393) |
| Arbitrum (rETH) | 0xec70dcb4a1efa46b8f2d97c310c9c4790ba5ffa8 |
| Base (rETH) | 0xB6fe221Fe9EeF5aBa221c348bA20A1Bf5e73624c |

Official RPL and rETH token contracts as listed in the Rocket Pool docs; the docs also list Optimism, zkSync Era and Polygon deployments.

## Risks and caveats

- Redeeming rETH directly for ETH depends on available liquidity in the protocol
- Validator penalties not covered by a node operator's bond are spread across the whole network
- Smart contract risk: contracts hold user funds, although they have been audited many times

## Official links

- Website: [rocketpool.net](https://rocketpool.net/)
- Docs: [docs.rocketpool.net](https://docs.rocketpool.net/)
- Source code: [github.com/rocket-pool](https://github.com/rocket-pool)
- Blog: [medium.com/rocket-pool](https://medium.com/rocket-pool)
- Governance forum: [dao.rocketpool.net](https://dao.rocketpool.net/)
- Audits: [rocketpool.net/protocol/security](https://rocketpool.net/protocol/security)

## Questions and answers

**What is Rocket Pool?**

A decentralised liquid staking protocol for Ethereum, live since October 2021, where users stake from 0.01 ETH for rETH and node operators run validators.

**Who created Rocket Pool?**

David Rugendyke started Rocket Pool in late 2016.

**What is rETH?**

Rocket Pool's liquid staking token; it accrues staking rewards, so its value in ETH rises over time, and it can be traded or redeemed when liquidity is available.

**How much ETH do I need to run a Rocket Pool node?**

Since Saturn 1 (February 2026), 4 ETH per validator, paired with 28 ETH from the rETH pool.

**Is Rocket Pool audited?**

Yes. Audits include Sigma Prime, Consensys Diligence and Trail of Bits before mainnet (2021) and Cantina, Bailsec, Sigma Prime and Hashlock for Saturn 1 (2026).

## Sources

- [Rocket Pool - Homepage](https://rocketpool.net/)
- [Rocket Pool - Security](https://rocketpool.net/protocol/security)
- [Rocket Pool docs - Protocol overview](https://docs.rocketpool.net/protocol/)
- [Rocket Pool docs - FAQ](https://docs.rocketpool.net/protocol/faq)
- [Rocket Pool docs - Contracts and integrations](https://docs.rocketpool.net/protocol/contracts-integrations)
- [Rocket Pool DAO forum - Roadmap update Nov-Apr (Saturn 1 launch)](https://dao.rocketpool.net/t/3937)
- [Rocket Pool DAO forum - Bug bounty program update](https://dao.rocketpool.net/t/3893)

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Page updated: 2026-10-31

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Source: https://revain.org/projects/rocket-pool/