Institutional Ethereum staking just got a new on-ramp. Cactus Custody, the digital asset custodian operating under Matrixport, has integrated Lido V3 stVaults into its platform, letting institutional clients create and manage customized staking vaults through the Cactus Link browser extension.

The integration connects clients directly to the stVaults Web UI at stvaults.lido.fi. Smart contract whitelisting is required for each interaction, a security layer that fits the compliance-heavy environments these institutions operate in.

What stVaults actually do, and why institutions care

Instead of a one-size-fits-all approach to Ethereum staking, vault owners can select their own node operators, customize validator setups, and retain custody of their assets throughout the process.

Lido V3 was introduced in February 2025, expanding the protocol’s liquid staking capabilities well beyond the original model. The stVaults mainnet rollout followed in January 2026, making these customizable vaults fully operational on Ethereum’s main network.

One of the more compelling features is optional minting of stETH, Lido’s liquid staking token. Vault owners can choose to mint stETH against their staked positions, which means they don’t have to lock up capital entirely. They can stake and still maintain liquidity for trading or collateral purposes.

Cactus Custody’s institutional footprint

Cactus Custody serves over 300 institutions globally and holds SOC 1 and SOC 2 Type II certifications. The firm is also licensed in Hong Kong and joins Lido’s roster of qualified custodians alongside names like Fireblocks and Copper.

The custodian previously enabled staking through Chorus One for ETH Vaults in 2025, signaling a deliberate strategy to build out staking infrastructure for its client base over time.

What this means for investors

The integration matters because it addresses two of the biggest friction points for institutional Ethereum staking: custody and customization. StVaults let vault owners maintain custody while still participating in Ethereum’s proof-of-stake consensus rewards. Adding a qualified custodian like Cactus Custody to that equation layers on the compliance and security guarantees that institutional risk committees need.

The optional stETH minting feature enables institutions to deploy stETH across DeFi or use it as collateral, effectively creating derivative trading opportunities around staked positions.