Guide
Staking 101: What It Is and How to Get Started
Imagine a world where every one of your tokens isn’t just a number on a screen, but a tiny cyber-worker toiling day and night in a digital hive—creating blocks, strengthening the network, and generating income. Yes, this is crypto, and it can work for you while you sleep! In this world, money doesn’t just sit idly—it works for you: securing the network, validating transactions, and delivering steady returns.
Let’s dive into one of the most accessible and promising ways to earn passive income in the crypto world — staking. It’s not only a way to grow your assets but also a meaningful contribution to maintaining a decentralized ecosystem. Ready? Let’s go!
Author:
Noders.team
Apr 21, 2025
📜 TL;DR
What’s It All About? Staking means putting your tokens to work for the network—and getting rewarded in return. Your money earns money while you sleep!
How Does It Work? Tokens get locked → the network picks validators → they confirm transactions → you earn token rewards.
Why Bother? Passive income, blockchain support, no hardware needed, and it’s green (yep, eco-friendly).
Watch Out For: Funds can be locked up, token prices may drop, and picking the wrong validator? Big trouble. Choose wisely!
How to Start: Pick a coin and validator (check out noders.team/networks), delegate your tokens, and start collecting rewards. That’s it!
Introduction: What Is Staking?
Crypto staking is essentially the ability to earn income just by keeping your tokens in your wallet. You “lock up” a certain amount of cryptocurrency for a period of time, allowing the blockchain network to use it to validate transactions and create new blocks. In return, the network rewards you with additional coins.
It’s somewhat like a bank deposit: you hand over your assets, the bank uses them, and you earn interest. But in crypto, there are no banks—only decentralized protocols. And the yield can often be much higher than in traditional finance.
It’s important to understand that staking isn’t just an investment—it’s active participation in securing the network, and earning a fair share for your coins’ honest labor.
How Staking Works
At the heart of staking lies the Proof of Stake (PoS) consensus mechanism. Unlike energy-hungry Proof of Work systems, where miners and massive computing power rule, PoS relies on validators who stake their coins to secure the network.
Here’s how it works:
Locking Funds: You lock up a portion of your tokens in a special smart contract. This is your stake.
Validator Selection: The network selects validators to create new blocks. The more tokens they have staked, the higher their chances of being chosen. Some networks also consider participation duration or add randomization elements.
Transaction Validation: Validators confirm transactions and add them to the blockchain. It’s like a notary’s job—but in a world of blocks and hashes.
Rewards: Honest validators earn rewards in the form of new tokens. If you delegated your tokens to a validator, you receive a portion of these rewards.
Slashing: If a validator acts dishonestly or remains inactive, a portion of their staked coins may be slashed. This helps protect the network from bad actors.
If you don’t want to run your own node (which requires technical skills), you can delegate your tokens to trusted validators. Think of it as handing your deposit over to a reliable fund manager: you still earn, but without needing to understand all the network mechanics.
Types of Staking
There are several ways to stake, depending on your preferences and experience:
Direct Staking – you participate in the network directly as a validator.
Staking Pools – participants pool their tokens together to increase their chances of earning rewards.
Exchange Staking – you stake through centralized platforms like Binance or Coinbase.
Staking: Benefits and Risks
Why Try Staking?
Passive Income: You earn rewards simply by holding and staking your cryptocurrency.
Participation in Blockchain Governance: By staking, you help secure the network and support decentralization.
Eco-Friendliness: Proof of Stake (PoS) consumes significantly less energy than Proof of Work (PoW).
Accessibility: No need for expensive mining hardware.
User-Friendliness: Many wallets and platforms offer intuitive interfaces for staking.
Inflation Hedge Potential: Staking rewards can help offset inflation and preserve purchasing power.
Governance Rights: In some protocols, staked tokens grant you the right to vote on network proposals.
Airdrops: Some networks reward stakers and delegators with free tokens from new or partnered projects.
Risks to Keep in Mind
Asset Lock-Up: Your tokens may be locked for weeks or months, limiting liquidity.
Market Volatility: The value of your staked token may drop more than the rewards you earn.
Slashing: If a validator misbehaves or underperforms, part of your stake can be slashed.
Technical Risks: Bugs, hacks, and code vulnerabilities are inherent risks in the blockchain space.
Platform Risks: Centralized exchanges may freeze access to your funds.
Regulatory Uncertainty: In some countries, staking is still a legal gray area.
As with any investment, higher potential returns come with higher responsibility—it’s crucial to understand the rules before you play.
How to Start Staking
Choose the Right Cryptocurrency:
Visit noders.team/networks and select a token supported by a network like Berachain, Solana, Celestia, Namada, or Sui. Each project offers different conditions and yields—study them carefully and choose the one that fits you best.
Create a Wallet:
Make sure your wallet supports staking for your chosen token. Great options include Keplr, MetaMask, Phantom, Trust Wallet, and Atomic Wallet.
Fund Your Wallet:
Purchase the tokens and transfer them to your wallet or selected platform.
Start Staking:
Delegate your tokens to a validator or activate staking manually, depending on the setup.
Top 5 Cryptocurrencies for Staking
When it comes to staking, our first instinct is to check the APY — the annual percentage yield including compounding. But don’t let flashy numbers fool you: high yields can come with high volatility or unreliable networks. That’s why it’s crucial to strike the perfect balance — and we’re here to help you find it.
But don’t let flashy APY numbers blind you — more isn’t always better. It’s often wiser to choose a validator that is consistent, transparent, and well-reputed — like NODERS — rather than chase short-term high returns and risk potential losses.
Here’s a curated list of five hot staking projects available through NODERS, featuring current yield rates and a quick dive into what makes each unique:
Nillion (NIL)
Nillion is a fresh player in the market with a groundbreaking approach to storing and transmitting confidential data. It operates without a traditional blockchain, using its own cryptographic framework. For investors, it’s a chance to get in early on a truly innovative project.
Yield (APY): 25.78%. Stake NIL
💡 Learn more about Nillion on a One-stop portal for end users, developers, and researchers: |
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Celestia (TIA)
Celestia is the first modular blockchain launched in 2023. It lets developers build their own blockchain chains without starting from scratch. The idea is simple: separate data availability and consensus to maximize flexibility and throughput.
Yield (APY): 10.59%. Stake TIA
💡 Learn more about Celestia on a One-stop portal for end users, developers, and researchers: |
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Avail (AVAIL)
Avail is a modular blockchain developed by the Polygon team that ensures data availability—a key ingredient for scaling Web3, especially in the context of rollups and Layer 2 solutions. With impressive tech and strong community backing, Avail stands out as one to watch.
Yield (APY): 7.79%. Stake AVAIL
💡 Learn more about Avail on a One-stop portal for end users, developers, and researchers: |
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Story Protocol (IP)
Story is a platform that empowers authors, artists, musicians, and creators to protect their intellectual property and earn fair rewards. It’s Web3 for creatives, where content is valued and monetized rather than lost in the noise.
Yield (APY): 3.57%. Stake IP
💡 Learn more about Story on a One-stop portal for end users, developers, and researchers: |
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Sui (SUI)
Sui is a next-generation blockchain built to handle massive transaction loads without sacrificing speed. Its unique architecture allows nearly limitless scalability. A great choice for early adopters who want to ride the wave of cutting-edge tech.
Yield (APY): 2.36%. Stake SUI
💡 Learn more about Sui on a One-stop portal for end users, developers, and researchers: |
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These projects aren’t just about growing your token stack—they’re an invitation to join thriving, fast-moving ecosystems. Each one brings a fresh vision, a strong team, and solid tokenomics. And staking through NODERS means reliability, expert support, and a real chance to be part of the Web3 revolution—starting today.
Conclusion
Staking is more than just a tool for passive income—it’s a gateway to becoming an active part of the decentralized economy. With the right network, validator, and strategy, your tokens can become a reliable engine of long-term growth.
Approach staking with curiosity and caution. Research each project, ask questions, and start small. The blockchain world is open to you—and staking might be your first step toward financial freedom.