Learn the basics of staking
Short, plain-language guides to proof of stake, validators and how staking rewards work. No jargon you have not been told the meaning of.
What is proof of stake? A simple guide
Proof of stake is the way most modern blockchains agree on which transactions are valid. Instead of miners burning electricity, validators lock up tokens as a stake. Honest work is rewarded; cheating can cost part of that stake.
4 min read
What is a blockchain validator?
A validator is a computer that checks transactions and adds new blocks to a proof-of-stake blockchain. It locks up tokens as a stake, earns rewards for doing the job well and can be penalised if it does not.
4 min read
Staking vs delegating: what is the difference?
Staking means locking tokens to help secure a proof-of-stake network. Delegating is the easy form of staking: you put your funds behind a validator someone else runs, and share in what it earns.
3 min read
How staking rewards work
Staking rewards come from the network itself: newly created tokens and the fees people pay to use it. They are paid to validators for honest work and shared with the people who delegate to them, so they rise and fall with what the validator earns.
4 min read
What is unbonding in staking?
Unbonding is the waiting period between asking to stop staking and getting your funds back. The network enforces it, so it can still penalise misbehaviour that happened just before you left.
3 min read
What is slashing in proof of stake?
Slashing is the penalty a proof-of-stake network applies when a validator breaks the rules, for example by signing two conflicting blocks or staying offline too long. Part of the stake is removed, and delegators share the loss.
3 min read