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Liquid Restaking · Review

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King Protocol Review 2026: A Restaking Rewards Vault

King Protocol, formerly LRT², is an Ethereum vault that pools restaking rewards from liquid restaking projects into a single share token. It is a niche, small-TVL product with limited public detail.

By the DappsAtlas editorial team · Updated

DappsAtlas score

5.5/10

Mixed

Our verdict on King Protocol

5.5/10

King Protocol suits users and LRT projects that want to pool restaking rewards into one tradable vault share and cut claiming costs. Its main strength is a clear, narrow purpose with two audits listed. The main caveat is size and opacity: TVL is about $1.13 million, fees are not published in the sources reviewed, and the layered smart-contract risk is real. Treat it as a niche tool and research it carefully.

Score breakdown

How King Protocol scores

Security
5.5/10
Ease of use
n/a
Fees
n/a
Features
5.5/10

Scores run from 0 to 10 and are based only on facts we could verify. Where information was missing we mark the score n/a rather than guess.

What is King Protocol?

King Protocol, formerly known as LRT², is a restaking rewards protocol on Ethereum. DefiLlama files it under liquid restaking. It works as a vault that holds reward tokens as underlying assets, and its homepage describes it as consolidating DeFi rewards into a single liquid token.

The main users are liquid restaking token projects. They can pool rewards from restaking networks into one vault and issue vault share tokens to their stakers or a distributor contract.

It is a small protocol. DefiLlama shows about $1.13 million in TVL, a 7-day change of -8.4%, no native token, two listed audits and a listing date of February 2025. Public detail beyond that is thin in the sources reviewed.

How King Protocol works

Restaking protocols and liquid restaking token (LRT) projects generate reward tokens for their stakers. Claiming and managing these rewards one by one can be costly, especially for small holders.

King Protocol offers a vault where LRT projects can pool those rewards. The vault holds the reward tokens as its underlying assets and issues vault share tokens to stakers or to a distributor contract. Holders own a proportional claim on the pool.

Because the shares are a single liquid token, they can be held or traded instead of managing many separate reward claims. The project says this cuts transaction costs and improves liquidity.

6 features

Key features

01

Pooled rewards vault

Reward tokens from restaking networks are held in a single vault as underlying assets.

02

Vault share tokens

The vault issues share tokens to stakers or a distributor contract, representing a claim on the pooled rewards.

03

Lower transaction costs

Pooling rewards is meant to cut per-user transaction costs and simplify the rewards process.

04

Tradable share token

A single liquid token can be held or traded, which the project says improves liquidity for rewards.

05

LRT project integration

Designed for LRT projects to integrate, so their stakers receive rewards through one structure.

06

Audits listed

DefiLlama lists two audits for the protocol.

Pros and cons

What we like

  • Addresses a real pain point: managing many small restaking reward claims.
  • Pooling rewards into one share token can lower transaction costs, per the project.
  • Two audits are listed on DefiLlama.
  • No native token means no added token-price exposure for users.
  • Designed to integrate with existing LRT projects rather than replace them.

Watch out for

  • TVL is small at about $1.13 million, and it fell 8.4% over seven days, so liquidity depth is limited.
  • No governance or native token is listed, so the incentive and governance model is unclear.
  • Fee details are not published publicly, so users cannot judge the cost of using the vault.
  • Its homepage available is minimal, so documentation quality and team information could not be checked here.
  • Adds a smart-contract layer on top of restaking and LRT protocols, which stacks risk on risk.

King Protocol fees

Fees are not published. DefiLlama does not list fee or revenue figures for King Protocol, and its homepage provided does not describe a fee schedule.

Users should check the official site and documentation, and the vault or partner LRT interface, for any performance, management or withdrawal fees. Ethereum gas costs also apply to any on-chain interaction.

Is King Protocol safe?

DefiLlama lists two audits, but the auditors and findings are not given publicly, so readers should find and read the reports. The vault is a smart contract holding reward tokens, so contract bugs, integration errors with partner LRTs and underlying restaking protocol risk all apply.

Custody and governance details such as admin keys, upgradeability and multisig setup are not stated publicly. No incidents are mentioned in the data reviewed.

6 steps

How to get started with King Protocol

  1. 1

    Read the official site and documentation to understand how the vault and share tokens work.

  2. 2

    Check which LRT projects integrate King Protocol, since access may come through them.

  3. 3

    Review the two listed audits and confirm the contract addresses before connecting a wallet.

  4. 4

    Use an Ethereum wallet and keep ETH for gas.

  5. 5

    Start with a small amount to understand how rewards accrue and how share tokens can be redeemed or traded.

  6. 6

    Monitor the vault's TVL and any announcements from the project.

Who King Protocol is for

King Protocol is for LRT project teams that want to simplify reward distribution, and for restaking participants comfortable with layered DeFi risk. It is less suited to beginners or anyone who wants a large, well-documented, long-established protocol.

King Protocol FAQs

What is King Protocol?

King Protocol, formerly called LRT², is a restaking rewards protocol on Ethereum. It acts as a vault that holds reward tokens as underlying assets and issues vault share tokens in return.

How does King Protocol work?

LRT projects can pool restaking network rewards into a single vault. They then issue vault share tokens to their stakers or to a distributor contract, so rewards are managed collectively rather than claimed individually.

Does King Protocol have a token?

No. DefiLlama lists no token for King Protocol. Users receive vault share tokens that represent a claim on the pooled rewards.

Which blockchain does King Protocol use?

DefiLlama lists Ethereum as the only chain. It shows about $1.13 million in total value locked.

Is King Protocol audited?

DefiLlama lists two audits, but the project does not name the auditors or findings. No audit removes smart-contract risk, so read the reports and size positions carefully.

Who can use King Protocol?

The protocol is aimed mainly at LRT projects and their stakers, with a pitch for holders of smaller stakes. Individual users typically access it through a partner LRT rather than directly, though the project does not confirm this.

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How we checked

Sources

  1. 1.defillama.com/protocol/king-protocol

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