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Stride Review 2026: Cosmos Liquid Staking Protocol

Stride is a liquid staking protocol for the Cosmos ecosystem that lets holders stake tokens such as ATOM and OSMO and keep a tradable receipt token. It is a focused Cosmos-native option, but its TVL is modest and fee details are not published publicly.

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By the DappsAtlas editorial team · Updated Nov 4, 2026

DappsAtlas score

6.2/10

Mixed

Visit Stride

Our verdict on Stride

6.2/10

Stride suits Cosmos users who want to stake ATOM, OSMO and similar tokens while keeping a liquid receipt token for DeFi. Its main strength is a Cosmos-native focus with IBC integration and wide chain coverage on DefiLlama. The main caveat is size and clarity: TVL is around $4.0M and falling in the past week, and fees are not published publicly. Check the audits, fees and redemption terms before staking.

Score breakdown

How Stride scores

Security: 6.5/10
Ease of use: n/a
Fees: n/a
Features: 6.5/10

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 Stride?

Stride is a liquid staking protocol for the Cosmos ecosystem. According to its homepage metadata, users can stake ATOM, OSMO and other Cosmos tokens while earning DeFi rewards, and the protocol is built on Cosmos Hub with IBC integration.

DefiLlama lists Stride under Liquid Staking with about $4.0M in total value locked, down 9% over seven days. It is tracked across many chains, including Cosmos, Osmosis, Celestia, Injective, dYdX, Juno, Stargaze and Evmos, and has been listed since November 2022. Its native token is STRD.

Its homepage is minimal, so details on fees, supported assets and redemption terms are not confirmed here. Note that public reporting for the name mostly return unrelated fitness businesses, so readers should rely on the official site.

How Stride works

Liquid staking lets people stake proof-of-stake tokens without locking them up completely. A user sends a token such as ATOM to the protocol, which stakes it with validators. The user receives a liquid staked token that represents the staked position and its accruing rewards.

That receipt token can then be held, traded or used in other DeFi applications, while the underlying stake keeps earning. When the user wants out, they can redeem the receipt token for the original asset, subject to the unbonding rules of the underlying chain.

Stride is built for the Cosmos ecosystem and uses IBC, the inter-blockchain communication standard, to move assets between chains. The exact mechanism for validator selection and reward handling is not described publicly, so check the documentation.

6 features

Key features

Cosmos liquid staking

Stake Cosmos tokens such as ATOM and OSMO and receive a liquid staked version in return. This keeps capital usable while it earns staking rewards.

Multichain coverage

DefiLlama lists Stride across many Cosmos-connected chains, including Osmosis, Injective, Celestia, dYdX and Juno. This reflects a multichain approach rather than a single-asset product.

IBC integration

The homepage describes the protocol as built on Cosmos Hub with IBC integration, which is how assets move between Cosmos chains.

STRD token

Stride has its own token, STRD, listed on DefiLlama. The project does not detail its utility.

DeFi reward access

Homepage metadata says users can earn DeFi rewards while staking. Specific venues and rates are not given publicly.

Listed audits

DefiLlama shows two audits for the protocol, and it has been listed since November 2022.

Pros and cons

What we like

Focused on Cosmos, an ecosystem where liquid staking is a natural fit.
Listed across a wide range of Cosmos-connected chains on DefiLlama.
Two audits are listed on DefiLlama.
Has operated since at least November 2022 per its DefiLlama listing.
Lets stakers keep a liquid token while earning rewards.

Watch out for

TVL is small (about $4.0M) and fell 9% over the past seven days, which suggests limited liquidity depth for the liquid staking tokens.
Fee levels, including any commission on staking rewards, are not published, so users must check the app.
Only two audits are listed in DefiLlama, and their scope and dates are not stated here.
Exposure is concentrated in the Cosmos ecosystem, so outcomes depend on the health of the underlying chains and IBC connections.
Liquid staking tokens add smart-contract, chain and de-pegging risk on top of normal staking risk.
Homepage is minimal, so product details such as supported assets and unbonding terms are not confirmed.

Stride fees

Fees are not published. There is no stated commission on staking rewards, no stated redemption cost and no stated network fee estimate.

Users would normally see the current protocol fee and any unbonding terms in the Stride app or documentation before staking. Network transaction fees on the underlying Cosmos chains also apply and vary by chain.

Is Stride safe?

DefiLlama lists two audits for Stride, but the auditors, dates and findings are not given publicly, so readers should look at the published reports. Liquid staking carries layered risks: smart-contract or chain bugs, validator slashing, and the liquid token trading below the value of the staked asset during stress.

The project does not mention any hacks or incidents, and they give no regulatory details. TVL is modest, which can mean thinner liquidity for exiting positions. Only stake what you can afford to lose and verify the official site before connecting a wallet.

6 steps

How to get started with Stride

1
Confirm you are on the official Stride website and check the current list of supported tokens.
2
Set up a Cosmos-compatible wallet that supports the chain your tokens are on.
3
Review the fee, unbonding and redemption terms in the Stride documentation.
4
Start with a small amount of a supported token such as ATOM to see how the process works.
5
Stake and receive the liquid staked token in your wallet.
6
Decide whether to hold it or use it elsewhere in DeFi, keeping in mind the added risks.

Open Stride

Who Stride is for

Stride is for holders of Cosmos ecosystem tokens who want to earn staking rewards without giving up liquidity, and who are comfortable with wallets, IBC transfers and extra smart-contract risk. It is less suitable for beginners who want a simple, fully explained fee structure.

Stride FAQs

What is Stride?

Stride is a liquid staking protocol for the Cosmos ecosystem. It lets users stake tokens like ATOM and OSMO and receive liquid staked tokens that can be used in DeFi while the original stake keeps earning rewards.

Which tokens can I stake on Stride?

DefiLlama lists Stride as a Liquid Staking protocol, and the homepage meta description mentions staking ATOM, OSMO and other Cosmos tokens. The full list of supported assets is not given publicly, so check the app for current options.

Does Stride have a token?

Yes, DefiLlama lists a token called STRD. Public sources provided do not describe its tokenomics, supply or exact use, so review the project documentation before buying or holding it.

How big is Stride?

DefiLlama shows around $4.0M in TVL, down 9% over seven days. That is small compared with large liquid staking protocols, so liquidity and market depth can be thinner.

Is Stride safe?

No protocol is risk-free. Two audits are listed on DefiLlama, but audits do not remove risks such as smart-contract bugs, validator slashing, chain issues or the liquid token trading below the value of the staked asset.

What fees does Stride charge?

The project does not publish fees. Liquid staking protocols commonly take a share of staking rewards, so confirm the current rate and any unbonding or redemption terms in the app and documentation.

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