In a recent proposal, Lido introduced an automated buyback mechanism. This mechanism would use LDO and wstETH liquidity to form a Uniswap v2-style liquidity pool, which will be managed by the Aragon Agent. If approved, the plan could launch as early as Q1 2026.
The goal is simple but powerful: remove LDO tokens from circulation through automated buybacks while improving on-chain liquidity. This would make LDO more useful across decentralized finance (DeFi) platforms, giving token holders more confidence and long-term value.
How the Buyback Mechanism Works
In traditional finance, companies buy back their own stock to reduce supply and increase value. Lido’s proposal brings a similar idea on-chain. Instead of purchasing shares, the DAO would buy its own LDO tokens using revenue generated from staking rewards. The tokens would then be paired with wrapped staked ETH (wstETH) in a liquidity pool, improving trading depth while gradually removing LDO from the open market.
The system activates only under certain conditions. For instance, buybacks would occur when ETH trades above $3,000 and Lido’s annual revenue exceeds $40 million. The program would use up to 50% of staking inflows above that threshold, with a limit of $10 million per year to prevent excessive spending.
A proposal to implement an automated LDO buyback mechanism is now live on the Lido DAO Forum.
Opinions regarding mechanism, proposed parameters and more are welcome. https://t.co/Hve7cS405J
— Lido (@LidoFinance) November 11, 2025
This setup is anti-cyclical, meaning it responds to market performance. When ETH prices and revenues rise, buybacks increase, supporting token value. In bear markets, the system slows down or pauses, preserving DAO funds. This approach mirrors treasury strategies seen in protocols like MakerDAO’s Smart Burn Engine, which also automates buybacks based on market conditions.
More About Lido
Lido DAO has unveiled stRATEGY, a new product that makes earning DeFi rewards easier and more automated. Built on Mellow Protocol’s Core Vaults, stRATEGY lets users deposit ETH, WETH, or wstETH just once and automatically distributes those funds across trusted platforms like Aave, Ethena, and Uniswap. The system continually rebalances to maximize rewards, simplifying what used to be a complex process.
Introducing stRATEGY
Curated DeFi rewards centered around stETH
Aave, Ethena, Uniswap & more
— Lido (@LidoFinance) November 6, 2025
In exchange, users receive strETH, a token that accrues both DeFi yields and Mellow points for added incentives. At any time, strETH can be swapped back into wstETH, giving users full flexibility. With stRATEGY, Lido DAO aims to make DeFi participation more accessible while focusing on reliable, battle-tested integrations that optimize returns.