<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dhn1ctlcq/image/upload/v1760512664/uw9rwenrh0e16p94pa1m.jpg" alt="solana-logo" title="solana-logo"><h1 id="ea51f194-496f-4b80-9339-bc29c17b2982" data-toc-id="ea51f194-496f-4b80-9339-bc29c17b2982"><strong>What is Staking?</strong></h1><p>Staking is how you can earn rewards by helping secure the Solana network. When you stake your SOL, you're contributing to the network's security while earning approximately 5-7% annual rewards. This chapter explains how staking works and how to get started.</p>

What is Staking?

<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dhn1ctlcq/image/upload/v1760512692/mudkvhgh60bqzmkh2hmy.jpg" alt="solana-logo" title="solana-logo"><h1 id="ad49b0b3-0f9d-446b-8034-63c9304c449f" data-toc-id="ad49b0b3-0f9d-446b-8034-63c9304c449f"><strong>What You'll Learn</strong></h1><p>By the end of this chapter, you'll understand:</p><ul><li><p>How staking helps secure the network</p></li><li><p>How to stake your SOL and earn rewards</p></li><li><p>How to choose validators</p></li><li><p>Different staking options available</p></li><li><p>Risks and considerations</p></li></ul><p></p>

What You'll Learn

Introduction

<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dhn1ctlcq/image/upload/v1760512715/l7as8ojamzj4eb6gpwl6.png"><h1 id="c59d5094-2537-4eb1-b895-e06d2f1c3710" data-toc-id="c59d5094-2537-4eb1-b895-e06d2f1c3710"><strong>How Staking Works</strong></h1><p>Staking on Solana uses a system called Proof of Stake:</p><ol><li><p><strong>You delegate SOL</strong> to a validator of your choice</p></li><li><p><strong>Validators process transactions</strong> and secure the network</p></li><li><p><strong>The network creates new SOL</strong> as rewards</p></li><li><p><strong>You earn a share</strong> of these rewards</p></li></ol><p>Your SOL never leaves your wallet - you're simply giving a validator permission to use it as part of their stake.</p>

How Staking Works

<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dhn1ctlcq/image/upload/v1760512761/t66mahdp6rrjjjnessns.jpg" alt="solana-logo" title="solana-logo"><h1 id="e9a722e7-980f-44e6-8eaa-933e5e337c3e" data-toc-id="e9a722e7-980f-44e6-8eaa-933e5e337c3e"><strong>Why Networks Need Staking</strong></h1><p>Staking serves important purposes:</p><h3 id="ec97507a-8862-4ab7-aa4a-7542b9bad0df" data-toc-id="ec97507a-8862-4ab7-aa4a-7542b9bad0df"><strong>Network Security</strong></h3><p>Validators must stake SOL as collateral. If they misbehave, they risk losing their stake. This economic incentive keeps validators honest.</p><h3 id="1d07c8f2-37c3-498f-884d-36bab304a9b0" data-toc-id="1d07c8f2-37c3-498f-884d-36bab304a9b0"><strong>Decentralization</strong></h3><p>Having many validators worldwide makes the network resilient. No single entity controls transaction processing.</p><h3 id="1a4c1469-8ca3-4d4a-9925-e2f1dd27f7c9" data-toc-id="1a4c1469-8ca3-4d4a-9925-e2f1dd27f7c9"><strong>Sustainable Rewards</strong></h3><p>Unlike mining, staking doesn't require expensive hardware or high energy consumption. Rewards come from network inflation designed to secure the network long-term.</p>

Why Networks Need Staking

<img src="https://solana.com/images/learn/getting_started_with_staking.webp" alt="Step-by-step staking guide: Choose method (Native or Liquid), Select validator, Delegate your SOL through wallet"><h1 id="efc66b13-9b46-4ab6-b54e-a8f280b9bb73" data-toc-id="efc66b13-9b46-4ab6-b54e-a8f280b9bb73"><strong>Getting Started with Staking</strong></h1><h3 id="ed34af15-0d5a-4109-b7b7-c90f7e011994" data-toc-id="ed34af15-0d5a-4109-b7b7-c90f7e011994"><strong>Step 1: Choose Your Method</strong></h3><p><strong>Native Staking</strong> (Recommended for beginners)</p><ul><li><p>Stake directly from your wallet</p></li><li><p>Full control over your SOL</p></li><li><p>2-3 day unstaking period</p></li><li><p>Earn 5-7% APY</p></li></ul><p><strong>Liquid Staking</strong></p><ul><li><p>Receive tokens representing your staked SOL</p></li><li><p>Use these tokens in other applications</p></li><li><p>Instant liquidity</p></li><li><p>Slightly lower rewards due to fees</p></li></ul><p></p>

Step 1: Choose Your Method

<img src="https://solana.com/images/learn/getting_started_with_staking.webp" alt="Step-by-step staking guide: Choose method (Native or Liquid), Select validator, Delegate your SOL through wallet"><h1 id="efc66b13-9b46-4ab6-b54e-a8f280b9bb73" data-toc-id="efc66b13-9b46-4ab6-b54e-a8f280b9bb73"><strong>Getting Started with Staking</strong></h1><h3 id="d15201ab-0402-476a-9d45-263ae777c583" data-toc-id="d15201ab-0402-476a-9d45-263ae777c583"><strong>Step 2: Select a Validator</strong></h3><p>Consider these factors when choosing:</p><ul><li><p><strong>Uptime</strong>: How reliably they stay online (aim for 95%+)</p></li><li><p><strong>Commission</strong>: Fee they charge (typically 5-10%)</p></li><li><p><strong>Size</strong>: Supporting smaller validators helps decentralization</p></li><li><p><strong>Performance</strong>: How many rewards they've earned historically</p></li></ul><p></p>

Step 2: Select a Validator

<img src="https://solana.com/images/learn/getting_started_with_staking.webp" alt="Step-by-step staking guide: Choose method (Native or Liquid), Select validator, Delegate your SOL through wallet"><h1 id="636027e0-1705-42fd-8fe4-0b39c228039b" data-toc-id="636027e0-1705-42fd-8fe4-0b39c228039b"><strong>Step 3: Delegate Your SOL</strong></h1><ol><li><p>Open your wallet's staking section</p></li><li><p>Choose your validator</p></li><li><p>Enter the amount to stake</p></li><li><p>Confirm the transaction</p></li></ol><p>Your SOL remains in your control throughout this process.</p>

Step 3: Delegate Your SOL

Getting Started with Staking

<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dhn1ctlcq/image/upload/v1760513033/pnk2mmdzpakjaccyorsf.jpg" alt="solana-logo" title="solana-logo"><h1 id="3a887093-f003-4795-a337-98328221c4c9" data-toc-id="3a887093-f003-4795-a337-98328221c4c9"><strong>Understanding Rewards</strong></h1><h3 id="e01cd947-5119-4251-82cc-a090beb25086" data-toc-id="e01cd947-5119-4251-82cc-a090beb25086"><strong>How Rewards Work</strong></h3><ul><li><p>Current rate: ~5-7% annually</p></li><li><p>Paid every epoch (~2-3 days)</p></li><li><p>Automatically compounded if left staked</p></li><li><p>Rewards come from network inflation</p></li></ul><h3 id="ab66aa8a-b4bb-4de7-86a7-2ee3c842cdb7" data-toc-id="ab66aa8a-b4bb-4de7-86a7-2ee3c842cdb7"><strong>Example Calculation</strong></h3><p>If you stake 1,000 SOL at 6% APY:</p><ul><li><p>Annual rewards: ~60 SOL</p></li><li><p>Monthly rewards: ~5 SOL</p></li><li><p>Per epoch: ~0.5 SOL</p></li></ul><p></p>

Understanding Rewards

<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dhn1ctlcq/image/upload/v1760513059/ca1ca53iciv1pcctpd6n.jpg" alt="solana-logo" title="solana-logo"><h1 id="73d4584d-6a5d-4973-8933-bcd85471a971" data-toc-id="73d4584d-6a5d-4973-8933-bcd85471a971"><strong>Managing Your Stake</strong></h1><h3 id="032d08b2-3525-47b1-9963-38e3ecde8cec" data-toc-id="032d08b2-3525-47b1-9963-38e3ecde8cec"><strong>Adding More SOL</strong></h3><p>You can add to your stake anytime. New SOL starts earning immediately.</p><h3 id="7e28fca5-a0cd-4e48-ae3f-e1ec9d1c7c57" data-toc-id="7e28fca5-a0cd-4e48-ae3f-e1ec9d1c7c57"><strong>Unstaking Process</strong></h3><ol><li><p>Request unstaking in your wallet</p></li><li><p>Wait 2-3 days (cooldown period)</p></li><li><p>Withdraw your SOL</p></li></ol><p>This delay protects network stability but means you can't access funds immediately.</p><h3 id="fd61629f-a803-40d9-bf63-b888bb490d5d" data-toc-id="fd61629f-a803-40d9-bf63-b888bb490d5d"><strong>Switching Validators</strong></h3><p>You can redelegate to a different validator without unstaking. This helps if your validator's performance declines.</p>

Managing Your Stake

<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dhn1ctlcq/image/upload/v1760513091/qdeipn9nl6oyrzvc1oob.png"><h1 id="7cf2c6d1-5588-4b6b-b39d-de183a5b8a73" data-toc-id="7cf2c6d1-5588-4b6b-b39d-de183a5b8a73"><strong>Liquid Staking Options</strong></h1><p>Liquid staking protocols offer flexibility:</p><h3 id="2dcf16c0-4b17-4e30-94a5-5d945d2cd2d3" data-toc-id="2dcf16c0-4b17-4e30-94a5-5d945d2cd2d3"><strong>How It Works</strong></h3><ol><li><p>Deposit SOL into the protocol</p></li><li><p>Receive liquid staking tokens (like mSOL or stSOL)</p></li><li><p>Use these tokens while still earning staking rewards</p></li><li><p>Exchange back for SOL plus rewards anytime</p></li></ol><h3 id="4080b7f2-76fd-420b-b1bc-256caea92a5f" data-toc-id="4080b7f2-76fd-420b-b1bc-256caea92a5f"><strong>Trade-offs</strong></h3><p><strong>Pros:</strong></p><ul><li><p>Immediate liquidity</p></li><li><p>Use staked value in DeFi</p></li><li><p>No unstaking period</p></li></ul><p><strong>Cons:</strong></p><ul><li><p>Small protocol fees</p></li><li><p>Additional smart contract risk</p></li><li><p>Slightly lower yields</p></li></ul><p></p>

Liquid Staking Options

Liquid Staking

<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dhn1ctlcq/image/upload/v1760513157/lrdrwsnosw25eybfq5yr.jpg" alt="solana-logo" title="solana-logo"><h1 id="05450d66-c9a9-4b6f-812d-47c4e3e5cbca" data-toc-id="05450d66-c9a9-4b6f-812d-47c4e3e5cbca"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" class="peer" href="https://solana.com/learn/what-is-staking#important-considerations"><strong>I</strong></a><strong>mportant Considerations</strong></h1><h3 id="bf78a1ee-8eca-4df0-ba8e-110f9089d46d" data-toc-id="bf78a1ee-8eca-4df0-ba8e-110f9089d46d"><strong>Risks</strong></h3><ul><li><p><strong>Validator performance</strong>: Poor validators mean fewer rewards</p></li><li><p><strong>Opportunity cost</strong>: Your SOL is locked during unstaking</p></li><li><p><strong>No slashing currently</strong>: Unlike some networks, Solana doesn't currently penalize validators by taking their stake</p></li></ul><h3 id="a3cbdffc-f498-4534-b548-f2a878eec586" data-toc-id="a3cbdffc-f498-4534-b548-f2a878eec586"><strong>Tax Implications</strong></h3><p>Staking rewards may be taxable income in your jurisdiction. Keep records and consult tax professionals.</p><h3 id="d9a957d3-98f0-4875-935d-b21c512267c9" data-toc-id="d9a957d3-98f0-4875-935d-b21c512267c9"><strong>Best Practices</strong></h3><ul><li><p>Start with a small amount to learn</p></li><li><p>Diversify across multiple validators</p></li><li><p>Monitor validator performance periodically</p></li><li><p>Consider liquid staking for flexibility</p></li></ul><p></p>

Important Considerations

<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dhn1ctlcq/image/upload/v1760513184/qpwaalsottzm5wbhwnwl.jpg" alt="solana-logo" title="solana-logo"><h1 id="b2f45aff-926d-4edc-b110-4335ee4c4235" data-toc-id="b2f45aff-926d-4edc-b110-4335ee4c4235"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" class="peer" href="https://solana.com/learn/what-is-staking#common-questions"><strong>Co</strong></a><strong>mmon Questions</strong></h1><h3 id="04b8067f-9887-4ec6-afec-29a32bb4ab90" data-toc-id="04b8067f-9887-4ec6-afec-29a32bb4ab90"><strong>Is staking safe?</strong></h3><p>Your SOL never leaves your wallet. The main risk is choosing a poor-performing validator, which affects rewards but not your principal.</p><h3 id="280d2732-a0e8-43d5-a987-35e414b27817" data-toc-id="280d2732-a0e8-43d5-a987-35e414b27817"><strong>Can I lose my staked SOL?</strong></h3><p>Currently, Solana doesn't have slashing (penalty for validator misbehavior). Your main risk is missing rewards from poor validator performance.</p><h3 id="a000307f-112f-4dc5-af6b-5b3ea82e966a" data-toc-id="a000307f-112f-4dc5-af6b-5b3ea82e966a"><strong>How often are rewards paid?</strong></h3><p>Rewards accumulate every epoch (approximately 2-3 days) and are automatically compounded.</p><h3 id="d379601d-3871-4b51-8fd9-e73929253148" data-toc-id="d379601d-3871-4b51-8fd9-e73929253148"><strong>What's the minimum to stake?</strong></h3><p>There's no network minimum, but some wallets may have small minimums (often 1 SOL or less).</p>

Common Questions

<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dhn1ctlcq/image/upload/v1760513224/ccjr8hoftw82exdqwjyg.jpg" alt="solana-logo" title="solana-logo"><h1 id="ef1b8b0f-f3c4-49f8-b67b-514fba627d4d" data-toc-id="ef1b8b0f-f3c4-49f8-b67b-514fba627d4d"><strong>What's Next</strong></h1><p>Now that you understand staking, you're ready to learn about tokens on Solana. The next chapter explores how different types of tokens work and what you can do with them.</p><p>Remember: staking is a long-term strategy for earning rewards while supporting network security. Start small, choose validators carefully, and let compound interest work for you.</p>

What's Next

Conclusion

<p><span style="font-family: Diatype, Helvetica, Arial, system-ui, -apple-system, &quot;Segoe UI&quot;, Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, &quot;Noto Sans&quot;, sans-serif, BlinkMacSystemFont, &quot;Segoe UI&quot;, sans-serif, &quot;Apple Color Emoji&quot;, &quot;Segoe UI Emoji&quot;, &quot;Segoe UI Symbol&quot;; font-size: 20px; color: rgb(255, 255, 255); background-color: rgb(18, 18, 18);">Learn how staking works on Solana, how to earn rewards by helping secure the network, and what to consider when choosing validators.</span></p>

Learn how staking works on Solana, how to earn rewards by helping secure the network, and what to consider when choosing validators.

Chapter 5: What is Staking?

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