What is staking in crypto?
Every crypto reward comes from somewhere. If you can't say where, you're probably the source.
Staking means locking up coins to help run a proof-of-stake network in return for rewards. Lending and “earn” programs pay you because someone else borrows or trades with your coins. Liquidity pools pay you a share of trading fees. All of them can lose money, and a high advertised rate usually means high risk, not a better deal.
Staking, with an example
Most people don't run a validator themselves. They delegate coins to one through their wallet, or let an exchange or a liquid-staking service do it, and share the rewards.
Example: you stake 10 SOL through your wallet with a validator, at an advertised reward rate of 7% a year (an example figure; rates change). After a year you'd have about 10.7 SOL, minus the validator's commission. But the reward is paid in SOL: if SOL's price fell 30% over the year, your 10.7 SOL would be worth about 25% less in dollars than your original 10. Staking increases how many coins you have, not their price.
- Lock-ups: some networks make you wait to unstake, from a few days to several weeks.
- Exchange staking is simpler but adds the exchange's risk, and it takes a cut.
- Liquid staking gives you a token (like stETH) representing your staked coins, which adds smart-contract risk; in April 2026 a hack of one such token, rsETH, caused big losses for a lending app. See liquid staking and restaking explained.
- Staking ETH specifically: the four ways, exit queues and slashing are covered in how to stake Ethereum.
- Taxes: in the US, staking rewards are generally income when you receive them. See crypto taxes.
Four ways crypto “pays” you
| Activity | Where the reward comes from | Main risks |
|---|---|---|
| Mining | New coins and fees for securing a proof-of-work network | Hardware and electricity costs; falling prices |
| Staking | New coins and fees for helping run a proof-of-stake network | Price drops, lock-up periods, penalties (“slashing”), provider failure |
| Lending / “earn” | Interest paid by borrowers, or the platform's own trading | The platform or borrower fails; withdrawals freeze |
| Liquidity pools | A share of trading fees on a DEX | Smart-contract bugs; “impermanent loss” when prices move |
How staking works
In proof of stake, validators put up coins as a security deposit. Do the job honestly and you earn rewards; cheat or go badly offline and part of the deposit can be destroyed. Running your own Ethereum validator takes 32 ETH and an always-on computer, so most people stake through an exchange, a staking pool or a “liquid staking” token instead, each of which adds a company or a smart contract you must trust.
Staking rewards are paid in the same coin. If you earn 3% a year but the coin falls 40%, you're well down in dollars.
Where does the yield come from?
Ask this about any crypto return. Healthy answers are specific: “network rewards” or “fees paid by traders.” Worrying answers are vague: “our trading strategies” or “the protocol.” History:
- Anchor / Terra (2022): paid close to 20% on the UST stablecoin. The returns were subsidised and the whole system collapsed in May 2022.
- Celsius (2022): advertised high yields while taking big risks with customer deposits, then froze withdrawals and went bankrupt.
- Ponzi schemes dressed as “staking” or “mining pools” pay early users with later users' money until they vanish.
A high advertised rate is not proof that a return is safe or will last. If a crypto product beats what banks pay by a wide margin, someone is taking a big risk, and it might be you.
Questions to ask before you lock anything up
- Where exactly does the reward come from?
- Who holds my coins while they're earning?
- How long until I can withdraw, and can that change?
- What happens to my coins if the platform goes bankrupt?
- Is the reward paid in a coin that could fall in value?
- Is it taxed as income where I live? (Often, yes: see crypto taxes.)
Frequently asked questions
Is crypto staking safe?
It's not risk-free. You can lose money if the coin's price falls, your coins can be locked, penalties can apply, and the exchange or pool you stake through can fail.
Is staking the same as a savings account?
No. There's no deposit insurance, the rate isn't guaranteed, and the value of what you earn moves with the coin's price.
Are staking rewards taxed?
In many countries, yes, often as income when you receive them. Check with your tax authority.
Where to next
Sources
Written for beginners and checked against the sources listed. Last reviewed November 5, 2026. This page is educational and is not financial, tax or legal advice. How we write and check pages.