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Staking is a core feature of blockchain, providing a mechanism for proof of stake (PoS) networks to be secured and transactions processed. It sits at the foundation of everything that blockchain supports: DeFi, collateralization, reputation-based applications, and much more.
Staking on a PoS network yields a number of benefits. For one thing, it gives you skin in the game: with the native asset locked into a staking contract, or delegated to a validator for the same purpose, you have a vested interest in seeing the network succeed. Then there’s the rewards to be earned from staking, coupled with the upside to holding an asset in which you have conviction.
There can be other benefits to staking too; stakers sometimes receive airdrops from projects launching on the network, while the mere act of participating in staking will provide a basic education in the blockchain’s characteristics: its speed, fees, and the ease with which tokens can be staked, unstaked, and rewards claimed.
Now we’ve made the case for staking, let’s examine how. On a popular PoS network such as Avalanche, there are many ways to stake. Exchanges, staking platforms, dedicated dapps, and wallets all provide AVAX staking solutions, both custodial and non-custodial.
In this guide we’ll use Core, since it’s the best general-purpose Avalanche wallet and its staking feature is well designed. This will give you an insight into how AVAX staking works and the ease with which you can participate. The following information describes staking with the Core web app but the process on Core mobile is very similar.
AVAX Staking With Core
Available for web and mobile, Core is a user-friendly Avalanche wallet that’s designed to simplify the most confusing aspect of crypto for beginners: getting started. Core uses a seedless design that does away with the need to note down a mnemonic phrase. Instead, users can sign in using social login, providing an experience that is akin to web2.
Core can be used to access all three Avalanche chains, X, P, and C. It can also be used to connect to Avalanche Subnets, bridge assets from other networks, and interact with Avalanche dapps. All of this is done non-custodially – Core never takes ownership of your assets – and the same applies to staking.
A couple of things to know before you start staking with Core:
- The minimum staking amount is 25 AVAX
- You’ll need a little extra AVAX in your wallet to cover gas
- Staking occurs on the Avalanche P-Chain
If your AVAX is on another Avalanche chain, you can move it to P-Chain by selecting Cross-Chain Transfer. When that’s done, head to the Stake section of Core and select Delegate. By delegating your tokens, you’ll be assigning them to an Avalanche validator to stake on your behalf. They’ll collect a fraction of your AVAX rewards but the majority will go to you.
As Core explains, “Core Stake enables you to delegate without the need to operate your own validator node. Instead, you can delegate your tokens to a validator and receive rewards for staking and locking your tokens, minus a fee retained by the validator called a Delegation Fee.”
Select Get Started and you’ll be prompted to select your desired staking amount (minimum 25 AVAX). Hit Next and you’ll be asked to select a node to delegate your stake to. You can pick any node ID from the list; just make sure you select one that collects a low fee – by default this is set to 2% but some validators charge more.
On the next screen you’ll be asked to select the staking duration. This can be as little as two weeks and as long as a year. Bear in mind that while your AVAX is staked, you will be unable to access these tokens until completion of the staking period, so choose an appropriate time frame. Naturally, the longer you stake, the more rewards you’ll earn.
You’ll now be taken to a summary page that details all of the selections you’ve made so far: staking amount, node ID, and staking duration. When you’re ready, click Submit Delegation and confirm the transaction in your wallet. And that’s it: you’re now staking AVAX using Core. You can visit Core Stake at any time to check the status of your staked AVAX and see your accrued rewards. When the staking period has ended, you can withdraw your AVAX or opt to restake it again.
How Much Can You Make When You Stake?
You’ll naturally want to know how much you can expect to make from staking before locking up your precious AVAX for an extended period. While the Core wallet displays your rewards in real-time, a third-party staking site can provide deeper information on AVAX staking. This will allow you to determine your expected ROI including expected earnings on a daily, monthly, and annual basis.
Staking is a powerful use case for crypto assets that strengthens network decentralization while allowing users to earn rewards. Thanks to wallets such as Core, it’s also very easy to participate in, with little technical knowledge required. If you’re intent on sticking around in the Avalanche ecosystem and everything it has to offer, it all starts with staking.