Understanding Staking
Staking is how Proof-of-Stake networks stay secure: token holders back validators with their stake and earn protocol rewards for it. Here is how it works, what it costs, and what the risks are — explained plainly.
What Is Proof-of-Stake?
A consensus mechanism where the right to validate transactions is earned by locking up tokens, not by spending energy.
Energy Efficient
Validators are chosen by the stake they lock up, not by burning electricity on computation. PoS networks run on a small fraction of the energy Proof-of-Work needs.
Economically Secured
Validators put their own stake — and their delegators' — at risk. Misbehavior is penalized by the protocol, so honest operation is the profitable strategy.
Open Participation
You don't need to run hardware to take part. Delegating your tokens to a validator secures the network and earns you a share of the protocol rewards.
Delegate in Minutes, Keep Your Keys
Pick one of the networks we operate. Each network page lists the current commission, reward rate, and how delegation works on that chain.
You delegate to our validator address directly from your wallet. We never take custody — your tokens stay under your control the entire time.
The network pays rewards automatically, every era or epoch. You can re-delegate, compound, or unstake whenever you choose, subject to the network's unbonding period.
Non-Custodial by Design
Delegation is a protocol-level instruction, not a transfer. Your tokens never leave your wallet, and we could not move them if we wanted to. The validator only earns the right to include your stake in its weight — you keep the keys, the rewards, and the exit.
What to Know Before You Stake
The facts that staking pages tend to leave out. Read these before you delegate — to us or to anyone else.
Commission
Validators charge a commission on rewards — ours is published per network, and it is all we take. No setup fees, no exit fees.
Unbonding Periods
Most networks lock tokens for a period after you unstake — from days to several weeks depending on the chain. Check the network page before you delegate.
Where Rewards Come From
Rewards are paid by the protocol, mostly from network inflation and transaction fees. Rates vary with network conditions — no one can guarantee an APR.
Slashing Risk
Some networks penalize validator misbehavior by slashing stake. Choosing a careful operator matters; we have had zero slashing incidents since 2018.
Why the Validator You Pick Matters
Staking through an exchange is convenient, but it hands over custody and concentrates network power. Delegating to an independent operator keeps both with you.
| Independent Validators | Exchange Staking | |
|---|---|---|
| Custody | You keep control of your tokens | The exchange holds your tokens |
| Decentralization | Spreads stake across independent operators | Concentrates stake with a few entities |
| Operator access | A direct line to the people running the nodes | Generic support tiers |
| Focus | Running validators is the whole business | Staking is a side product |
“Not your keys, not your coins” is not a slogan — exchange failures have repeatedly cost users their funds. Self-custodial staking removes that counterparty risk entirely.