Rocket Pool

Rocket Pool has launched its annual nomination process for the Incentives Management Committee (IMC). The IMC plays a crucial role in the protocol by managing rETH liquidity and overseeing Layer 2 strategy. **Key Details:** - Node operators with voting power can participate in selecting seven committee members - The IMC is responsible for maintaining deep liquidity for rETH - This is part of the protocol's DAO governance structure The nomination and voting process allows community members to shape the protocol's incentive management for the coming year.

The Rocket Pool development team has released **Smart Node v1.20.5**, marking a new update for the decentralized Ethereum staking protocol. **Priority Levels:** - **High priority** for Lighthouse users - **Medium priority** for Nimbus users - **Low priority** for all other node operators Node operators should assess their client configuration and upgrade accordingly. Full changelog and technical details are available on GitHub.

**New Lending Market Launch** Rocket Pool's rETH token can now be used as collateral on Morpho's lending protocol. Users can supply rETH and borrow ETH through KPK ETH Prime, a low-risk lending vault curated by KPK. **Key Details** - rETH/ETH market now live on Morpho - Enables borrowing ETH against rETH collateral - Deployed via KPK ETH Prime vault - Adds to growing DeFi integrations for Ethereum's decentralized liquid staking token This follows the recent launch of an rETH/USDC market in April, expanding lending options for rETH holders across multiple asset pairs.

Rocket Pool's Saturn 2 upgrade has attracted over $135 million worth of ETH in staked assets, supporting more than 1,500 trustless Ethereum node operators. **Key Highlights:** - Users minting rETH directly contribute to Ethereum's decentralization by supporting independent node operators - The protocol maintains its position as a leader in decentralized liquid staking - This represents significant growth from the $30M deposit pool reported in February 2026 Rocket Pool's approach allows users to stake ETH while maintaining liquidity through rETH tokens, all while supporting Ethereum's core principle of decentralization through a distributed network of node operators.

Rocket Pool is researching a trustless onchain mechanism to automatically exit validators that consistently underperform. The initiative aims to protect rETH yield for token holders. **Key Points:** - Mechanism would operate trustlessly onchain without manual intervention - Targets persistently underperforming validators - Designed to safeguard rETH staking rewards The proposal is currently in the research phase, with community discussion open on the DAO governance forum.

**Smart Node v1.20.2 Released** A new Smart Node version is now available with updates across multiple clients: - **Client updates**: Besu, Nethermind, Commit-boost, Lodestar, and Reth - **Additional improvements**: Various other changes and enhancements included - **Priority level**: Low-priority upgrade for node operators **Action Required** Node operators should review the full changelog on GitHub before installing the update to understand all changes and improvements.

A new rETH/USDC lending market has launched within KPK USDC Prime, a low-risk vault on the Morpho protocol curated by kpk_io. **Key Details:** - rETH can now be used as collateral in this Morpho lending vault - The integration adds to the growing ecosystem of DeFi protocols accepting Ethereum's decentralized liquid staking token - KPK USDC Prime focuses on low-risk lending strategies This expansion provides rETH holders with additional options for capital efficiency while maintaining exposure to Ethereum staking rewards.

Rocket Pool has been natively integrated into White Wallet, providing users with another avenue to earn staking rewards through rETH. **Key Points:** - rETH is Ethereum's most decentralised liquid staking token - Rocket Pool operates as a fully permissionless protocol - The platform is backed by over 1,500 independent node operators worldwide - rETH remains overcollateralised, distinguishing it from other liquid staking tokens This integration expands accessibility to Rocket Pool's decentralised staking infrastructure.

Smart Node version 1.19.3 now integrates **Commit-Boost**, an open-source alternative to MEV-Boost that maintains full protocol compatibility while introducing advanced features. **Key Features:** - Fully compatible with existing MEV-Boost protocol - Enables node operators to opt into commitment systems - Supports preconfirmations for enhanced transaction guarantees This update gives Ethereum stakers more flexibility in how they participate in MEV extraction while maintaining the option to engage with newer commitment-based systems. Node operators can now choose between traditional MEV-Boost or the enhanced Commit-Boost framework.

**Smart Node v1.19.1** has been released with multiple improvements and automatically updates the delegate contract per RPIP-77. **Key Updates:** - Automatic delegate contract updates following RPIP-77 - Multiple system improvements included **Nimbus v26.2.0** is now available as a recommended manual update, released in response to the recent mainnet outage. **Action Required:** Node operators should review the changes on GitHub before installing either update.