# Lido approves the V3 design and implementation proposal

> The DAO authorized contributors to finalize audits and testing and prepare an on-chain mainnet execution vote for a major new staking-vault architecture.

- URL: https://riadefi.com/on-chain/2025-09-29-lido-v3-design-implementation-approval/
- Type: Upgrade or migration
- Stage: Approved, not executed
- Evidence: confirmed
- Materiality: material
- Event date: 2025-09-29
- Version: 1, published 2026-08-22 (first published 2026-08-22)
- Follow-up: 2025-10-15
- Advisor-relevant: no
- Affects: Lido (protocol)

## What happened

Lido tokenholders approved advancing the V3 architecture, including stVaults, phased minting caps, reserve requirements, rate limits, and pause controls.

## What changed

The DAO authorized contributors to finalize audits and testing and prepare an on-chain mainnet execution vote for a major new staking-vault architecture.

## What did not change

V3 was not executed on mainnet by this vote; the existing Core Pool path remained unchanged and available.

## Confirmed

- The Snapshot vote closed on September 29, 2025 with support and no recorded opposing voting power.
- The approved design introduces opt-in stVaults while retaining the existing Core Pool path.
- The design proposed phased stVault minting caps and additional reserve, rate-limit, and pause controls.
- A separate on-chain vote remained necessary for mainnet execution.

## Still open

- Final audit findings and audit-driven code changes were not yet known.
- The final deployment payload, execution date, and live vault parameters remained pending.
- The practical cross-impact of stVault slashing or bad debt on stETH holders required further diligence.

## What it means for an advisor

- Review the Lido memo's control, slashing, reserve, pause, and withdrawal analysis before any mainnet execution.
- Track the eventual on-chain payload and confirm whether Core Pool users inherit any stVault loss or liquidity path.
- Do not treat design approval or completed audits as evidence that V3 is safe or operative.

## Sources

1. [Lido V3 — Design & Implementation Proposal](https://snapshot.org/#/lido-snapshot.eth/proposal/0x01cd474645cc7c3ddf68314d475d421ef833499297f508fee5f7411fafff3954) · Lido DAO via Snapshot · 2025-09-22


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Published by Ketju Research on RIADeFi (https://riadefi.com). Educational research for financial professionals; not investment, legal, tax, or compliance advice.