LDO is the governance token of Lido, the largest liquid staking protocol on Ethereum. Stakers deposit ETH and receive stETH, which keeps earning rewards, while LDO holders vote on how the protocol runs.

LDO doesn't have to stay inside the Lido ecosystem to be useful, and in 2026 you can put the token toward hotels, flights, gift cards and physical collectibles. On Polkastarter, you can purchase physical collectibles such as trading cards, sealed products and video games. New users can also claim a free mystery pack once they sign up.

CoinBooking allows LDO holders to book hotels and flights, with prices up to 30% lower than Booking.com. New users can also claim $25 off their first booking.

Here are six ways to use LDO in 2026.

Key Takeaways

• LDO holders can purchase verified trading cards, sealed products, and video games on Polkastarter, with ownership recorded on-chain. First-time users can also claim a free mystery pack.
• CoinBooking accepts LDO for hotel and flight reservations, at prices up to 30% lower than on Booking.com. First-time users can also claim $25 off their first booking.
• Within Lido, LDO is the governance token. Holders vote on protocol fees, node operators and treasury spending, and since July 2025 stETH holders can delay harmful proposals through Dual Governance.
• Supported crypto debit cards can bring LDO into daily spending. Mastercard-linked cards work at millions of merchants where the issuer supports both the card and LDO.
• LDO can also be spent on gift cards, prepaid products, and mobile top-ups from over 5,000 brands across 185+ countries through Coinsbee.

What Is Lido DAO (LDO)?

Lido is a liquid staking protocol that lets users stake ETH without locking it up or running validators. Introduced in October 2020 and launched that December, it is governed by Lido DAO.

Lido was founded by Konstantin Lomashuk, Vasiliy Shapovalov and Jordan Fish. Lomashuk also founded P2P Validator, a non-custodial staking service started in 2018.

LDO is Lido's governance token, used to vote on fees, node operators and treasury decisions. It has no published maximum supply, with a total supply of 1 billion and about 830 million in circulation. LDO ranks around #105 on CoinMarketCap at about $0.394, roughly 98% below its November 2021 all-time high of $18.62.

How Does Lido DAO (LDO) Work?

Lido is a liquid staking protocol. Users deposit ETH and receive stETH at a 1:1 ratio, while independent node operators run the validators. stETH stays transferable, so holders can earn staking rewards and still use the token across DeFi.

Lido takes a 10% fee on staking rewards, split between node operators and the DAO treasury. LDO holders vote on that fee, on which node operators join and on treasury spending.

Under Dual Governance, stETH holders can also escrow their tokens to delay a proposal and exit before it takes effect.

What stands out to me about Lido is that your ETH doesn't sit idle while it's staked. You get stETH 1:1, keep earning rewards and can still use it across DeFi. If you hold LDO, you vote on the fee and the node operators, and stETH holders get a way out before a change takes effect.

1. Buy Physical Collectibles With LDO on Polkastarter

Polkastarter offers LDO holders a way to spend their tokens on physical collectibles, such as trading cards, sealed products and video games. Ownership of each authenticated item is recorded on the blockchain, while the physical items remain in professional storage.

Depending on the item, owners can request delivery or relist it through the marketplace. LDO is not currently supported directly at checkout, so holders must first swap it for a supported cryptocurrency.

Once the account is funded, users can browse the available collectibles and Lootboxes, with details on contents, value and odds provided before purchase. New users can also claim a free mystery pack right after signing up.

Visit the Polkastarter marketplace to check current stock and supported payment methods.

This makes sense if you'd want something real to show for your LDO. Polkastarter lets you spend it on authenticated trading cards, sealed products and video games, with ownership kept on-chain. And if you change your mind down the line, you can simply list the item back on the marketplace.

2. Book Hotels and Flights With LDO on CoinBooking

If you're holding LDO and planning a trip, CoinBooking gives you a way to use the token for travel bookings. You can reserve hotels and flights with prices up to 30% lower than Booking.com. As a leading Dubai-licensed travel broker, CoinBooking gives LDO holders access to over 2 million hotels and flights in 190+ countries.

You can pay for bookings directly in LDO without converting it to fiat first, which helps you avoid the extra fees and markups often associated with crypto-focused travel platforms. If you prefer traditional payment methods, CoinBooking also accepts Visa, Mastercard, Google Pay, and Apple Pay.

First-time users can also claim $25 off their first booking.

CoinBooking is a good fit if you want your LDO to cover something you'd book anyway. You choose a flight or a hotel in one of 190+ countries, pay with crypto, and the price can come in up to 30% lower than on Booking.com.

3. Use LDO in Lido DAO Governance

The most direct use of LDO lives inside Lido DAO itself. Token holders create and vote on proposals covering protocol fees, the node operator set and how the treasury is spent.

Since July 2025, Dual Governance has added a check on those votes. If stETH equal to 1% of Lido's staked ETH is placed in escrow against a proposal, it is delayed by five days.

Lido V3 went live on Ethereum mainnet in January 2026, introducing stVaults, modular staking vaults that institutions and DeFi protocols can build on with optional stETH liquidity.

Holders also approved an automated LDO buyback via Snapshot in 2026, designed to activate only when ETH trades above $3,000 and annualised revenue exceeds $40 million. A first batch of the LDO Accumulation programme turned 471 stETH into LDO.

What I like about LDO is that it gives you a real vote on how Lido runs. You can weigh in on fees, node operators and treasury spending, including the automated buyback. If you already stake through Lido, it's how you help shape the rules your ETH runs under.

4. Spend LDO With a Crypto Card

LDO holders can spend their tokens through crypto payment cards. Depending on the provider, you can use a card to pay online, shop in stores wherever Visa or Mastercard is accepted, or make mobile payments with Apple Pay and Google Pay.

The options vary by region. RedotPay is available throughout Europe, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East, but not to US residents. KAST offers both virtual and physical cards built on Solana, while Ether.fi pairs self-custody with cashback on eligible purchases.

To get started, pick a provider that supports your location, fund the account with LDO, and order your card. Check each provider's fees, features, and availability before signing up.

A crypto card is a good fit if you'd like to spend LDO without a second thought. You pay online or in a shop the way you normally do, and Ether.fi even adds cashback on eligible purchases. It's worth checking the fees first, because they vary from provider to provider.

5. Buy Gift Cards and Everyday Products With LDO on Coinsbee

Shopping, gaming, travel and food delivery are some of the categories where LDO can be spent through Coinsbee. The platform provides gift cards, prepaid products and mobile top-ups from over 5,000 brands across 185+ countries.

The available categories cover shopping, groceries, gaming, travel, food delivery, and entertainment. To buy, pick a supported brand and denomination, choose LDO as the payment method, and confirm. After the payment is confirmed, your digital code is delivered according to the platform's standard process.

The catalogue varies between countries, so check what's available in your region before buying.

Coinsbee is the option on this list for the small, day-to-day purchases. Gift cards, prepaid products and mobile top-ups are all in one place, and you can pay with LDO right at checkout. The brands change with where you live, so it's worth a quick look at the catalogue before you buy.

6. Access Early-Stage Token Sales Through CoinTerminal

If you'd like to use LDO in early-stage token sales, CoinTerminal lets you swap it for the assets needed to join launches. Projects can be available before they reach exchanges, with contributions starting from $100 and no staking requirement. Each sale also has its own refund window.

LDO isn't accepted directly, so you'll need to convert it into the asset required for the sale, usually USDT.

Visit CoinTerminal to see which token sales are currently open.

What I like about CoinTerminal is that you can begin small. You don't need to stake anything to qualify, $100 is enough to get involved, and every sale comes with its own refund window. If you've been curious about early-stage launches, it's a simple place to start.

Sources

• Lido DAO, Official website and overview of the Lido and LDO ecosystem
• Revolut, Polkastarter (POLS) Price Today
• CoinMarketCap, Polkastarter trade volume and market listings
• Binance Academy, What Is Polkastarter (POLS)?
• CoinMarketCap, Lido DAO (LDO) price, market cap and live token data

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is Lido DAO (LDO) used for?

LDO is the governance token of Lido DAO. Holders vote on protocol fees, the node operator set and treasury spending, including the automated LDO buyback approved in 2026. Lido itself lets users stake ETH and receive stETH, which keeps earning rewards while staying usable across DeFi.

2. Can I book hotels and flights with LDO?

Yes. CoinBooking, a Dubai-licensed crypto travel platform, lets LDO holders book across more than 2 million hotels and flights in over 190 countries at prices up to 30% below Booking.com. You can pay with crypto, Visa, Mastercard, Google Pay or Apple Pay, and first-time users can claim $25 off their first booking.

3. What are the latest news on Lido coin?

Lido V3 went live on Ethereum mainnet in January 2026, bringing stVaults to institutions and DeFi protocols. In May 2026, holders approved an automated LDO buyback via Snapshot, and a first batch of the LDO Accumulation programme turned 471 stETH into LDO.

4. Is Lido crypto a good investment?

Token prices cannot be forecast with any certainty, and none of this is investment advice. LDO's purpose is to govern Lido, covering votes on fees, node operators, the treasury and the automated buyback. It trades about 98% below its November 2021 all-time high of $18.62. Whether it fits your aims is yours alone to judge.

5. Will Lido DAO go up?

No one can reliably forecast token prices, and this is not investment advice. What LDO is designed to do is govern Lido DAO, giving holders a vote on fees, node operators and treasury decisions. About 830 million of its 1 billion total supply are in circulation. Whether this fits your own goals is a decision only you can make.