The cryptocurrency market is continuously evolving, and few tokens have drawn as much attention in 2025 as LDO, the native token of Lido DAO. As one of the leading liquid staking protocols, Lido has maintained a strong presence in the decentralized finance (DeFi) ecosystem. However, recent developments — including institutional movements, market sentiment shifts, and changes in major index inclusions — have significantly influenced LDO coin’s price, market performance, and investor outlook.
This article provides a comprehensive analysis of the latest LDO coin news, price trends, on-chain activity, and market dynamics shaping its trajectory in 2025.
Recent Market Movements: Institutional Activity Impacts LDO Price
One of the most notable trends affecting LDO in mid-2025 has been the strategic divestment by major institutional holders, particularly Paradigm Capital. Over several days in June, Paradigm executed multiple large-scale transfers of LDO tokens, signaling a potential exit from its long-term position.
On June 10, Paradigm transferred 10 million LDO tokens (valued at approximately $8.41 million) to an intermediary wallet (0xC4Db), which is commonly used before depositing assets into centralized exchanges (CEXs) for sale. This move followed a broader trend: over the past month, wallets associated with various institutions had already sent **48.48 million LDO** (worth $45.6 million) to exchanges.
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Further sales were confirmed on June 11, when 3.5 million LDO tokens ($3.42 million) were deposited into major platforms including Binance, OKX, and Bybit. These actions strongly suggest that Paradigm is systematically unwinding its remaining stake after previously selling **50 million LDO** in November 2024 at an average price of $1.31 per token.
Profit Analysis: A Lucrative Investment Exit
Paradigm originally acquired 70 million LDO tokens four years ago via an over-the-counter (OTC) deal with the Lido treasury at just $0.76 per token. Their subsequent sales have yielded substantial returns:
- November 2024: Sold 50 million LDO @ $1.31 → Profit: ~$27.5 million
- June 2025 (partial): Sold 20 million LDO @ ~$0.79 → Lower margin due to price drop
- Overall average sale price: ~$1.16
- Total estimated profit: Over $28 million
Despite the lower exit price in 2025, the investment remains highly profitable. However, such sustained selling pressure has contributed to a 22% decline in LDO’s price over the past month, reflecting market sensitivity to whale movements.
Bullish Counter-Movements: Whale Accumulation Amid Downturn
While institutional sell-offs dominate headlines, not all large investors are exiting. On May 29, on-chain data from OnchainLens revealed that a new whale accumulated 2.27 million LDO tokens for 2.2 million DAI, translating to an average purchase price of $0.96 per LDO.
This contrarian buy-in during a period of downward pressure suggests confidence in Lido’s long-term fundamentals. The buyer may be anticipating recovery driven by protocol upgrades, increased ETH staking demand, or broader market rebound.
Such accumulation events often serve as contrarian indicators — when smart money buys while retail sentiment is weak, it can precede future price appreciation.
Index Rebalancing: Grayscale Removes LDO from Top 20 List
In a significant development on June 27, Grayscale Research updated its Q3 2025 Top 20 Digital Asset List. Notably, Lido DAO (LDO) was removed from the index and replaced by Avalanche (AVAX) and Morpho (MORPHO).
Why Was LDO Removed?
According to Grayscale’s official statement, the decision was based on two key factors:
- Rising competition from centralized staking services — Platforms like Coinbase Staking and Binance Liquid Staking are capturing market share traditionally dominated by decentralized protocols like Lido.
- Uncertainty around tokenomics and revenue distribution — Questions remain about how staking rewards and protocol fees are allocated to LDO holders, creating investor hesitation.
Meanwhile, AVAX was added due to increasing on-chain transaction volume and ecosystem growth, while MORPHO gained inclusion thanks to strong traction in decentralized lending markets.
This exclusion could lead to passive fund outflows from index-tracking products, adding further downward pressure on LDO’s price in the short term.
Core Keywords Driving Search Interest
To align with current search intent and optimize visibility, here are the primary keywords naturally integrated throughout this analysis:
- LDO coin price
- LDO coin news
- LDO market analysis
- Lido DAO token
- Paradigm Capital LDO sale
- Grayscale Top 20 crypto list
- Whale accumulation crypto
- On-chain analysis LDO
These terms reflect what active traders and investors are searching for when evaluating LDO’s potential in 2025.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is causing the recent drop in LDO price?
The decline in LDO’s value is primarily due to sustained selling by institutional holders, especially Paradigm Capital, which has been transferring millions of tokens to exchange addresses. Additionally, Grayscale’s removal of LDO from its Top 20 list reduced investor confidence and triggered passive fund rebalancing.
Is Lido DAO still a major player in liquid staking?
Yes. Despite challenges, Lido remains one of the largest liquid staking protocols, particularly for Ethereum. It continues to hold a dominant share of staked ETH, offering users seamless access to yield without locking up assets.
Why did Grayscale remove LDO from its index?
Grayscale cited increasing competition from centralized staking platforms and uncertainty in LDO’s revenue model as reasons for removal. Assets included in their index must demonstrate sustainable growth and clear economic value for holders.
Who is buying LDO while others are selling?
A new whale purchased 2.27 million LDO tokens in late May at $0.96 each — a sign of strong conviction during a bearish phase. This type of counter-trend buying often indicates belief in future recovery or upcoming catalysts.
Could LDO rebound later in 2025?
While short-term pressure remains, a rebound is possible if:
- Staking yields improve
- Ethereum network activity increases
- Governance proposals enhance token utility
- Broader crypto markets enter a bull cycle
How does Paradigm’s profit affect market perception?
Paradigm’s successful exit — earning over $28 million — highlights the profitability of early-stage crypto investments. However, repeated disclosures of their sell-offs can create negative sentiment, even if rational from a portfolio management perspective.
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Final Outlook: Navigating Volatility with Informed Strategy
LDO coin is navigating a complex landscape in 2025. Institutional profit-taking, index exclusions, and competitive pressures have weighed on its performance. Yet, underlying demand from new whales and Lido’s entrenched position in DeFi suggest resilience.
For investors, monitoring on-chain flows, governance developments, and macroeconomic trends will be crucial. While volatility is expected, those who understand the interplay between supply shocks and long-term utility may find strategic entry points.
As always in crypto, information is power — and timely insights can make the difference between reaction and anticipation.
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