SOLANA STAKING: HOW TO DO IT AND BEST OPTIONS
If you want to stake Solana, you’re in the right place. In this post, we’ll show you how to do Solana Staking and which are the best options available right now.
If what you want is to create tu propio Staking para NFT, en este post te explicamos Cómo Crear Staking de Solana NFT
WHAT DOES STAKING SOLANA MEAN?
Solana Staking means delegating our SOL to network validators that earn yield by validating transactions and keeping the Solana Blockchain decentralized.
Here’s the simple version:
Solana uses the Proof of Stake mechanism (PoS) to keep its Blockchain running correctly in a decentralized way. This mechanism relies on transaction validators, whose power depends on the amount of Solana they have staked.
Validators are rewarded by earning yield in SOL, so as users we can delegate our Solana to those validators for them to use. That is what we call Solana Staking, and it gives us the following benefits:
- We earn returns on the SOL we already hold
- Earn extra yield if Solana goes up in value
- We compound rewards automatically
- We help keep the network secure
- We help keep the network decentralized
Keep in mind that we can also stake through Pools on Solana. This lets us stake our Solana while keeping our liquidity available to use.
We’ll cover more details on Solana Liquidity Staking later.
HOW MUCH CAN I EARN WITH SOLANA STAKING
Helping secure the Solana network is great and all, but what really matters is this: How much money will I earn if I stake on Solana?
By staking Solana, we can earn around 7% APY, meaning a 7% return on the amount staked.
Rewards are not fixed. They are an estimate that will vary in base based on the validator performance we choose for staking (we will cover the best options below).
It is important to stress that returns are not guaranteed and that there are risks, just like with any other investment.
SOLANA STAKING APY
As mentioned earlier, the current return is around 7% of the amount staked. Keep in mind that this is APY, meaning the annual yield you get thanks to compound interest (staking compounds automatically).
Solana staking offers APY, which is slightly higher than APR because rewards are automatically reinvested every 2-3 days.
HOW TO STAKE SOLANA
Staking Solana is relatively straightforward, so let’s get straight to it and learn how to do it in just 4 steps.
1. DEPOSIT SOL INTO YOUR SOLANA WALLET
The first thing we need for staking is the amount of SOL we want to stake in our wallet (if it is not there already). Once we decide how much SOL to use, we need to send it to our wallet on Solana.
It is recommended to use a Ledger for staking. If you are not sure how, check out this post, where we explain how to stake Solana with Ledger.
2. STAKE FROM YOUR WALLET
Next, open your wallet and click your SOL tokens. You’ll see your Solana balance and recent transactions. From there, click the three dots in the top-right corner, then click “Stake SOL”.
3. CHOOSE A SOLANA VALIDATOR
Next comes validator selection. We recommend using “Coinbase Cloud” or “0% Fee | Melea”, but below we break down the best option with a side-by-side comparison.
4. CHOOSE THE AMOUNT AND START STAKING
To complete the staking process, choose the amount you want and confirm the transaction. Within seconds, your SOL will be working for you, generating rewards.
Of course, you can withdraw your staking funds whenever you want. Your rewards are also restaked automatically, so you can take advantage of compound interest.
SOLANA STAKING POOLS
If you want to stake without giving up your liquidity, staking in Pools is a very strong option. It lets us stake our SOL, generate returns, and still hold a token with liquidity that we can use.
On Solana, there are several DeFi platforms where you can stake Solana in Pools.
Click the following link si quieres aprender sobre Staking Pools en Solana.
WHAT IS THE BEST VALIDATOR FOR STAKING SOLANA?
The yield and security of your investment depend on the validator you choose to delegate your Solana to through staking. That is why we are going to compare the best validators for Solana staking.
The factors that separate the best Solana validators from the rest are:
- Amount of Solana staked
- Commission
- Trust
- Recent activity
For the next comparison, we’ve picked the options we consider the best choices for Solana, based on these criteria.
BEST SOLANA STAKING VALIDATORS COMPARED
The percentage shown under “SOL Staked” is the percentage of the total Solana supply. The commission is not the APY we receive; it is the commission the validator receives from the total APY generated with our SOL.
After the comparison table, we’ll break down each Validator in depth.
| Staking Validator | Top/Stake | SOL Staked | Fee | Location |
| Coinbase Cloud | 1 | 2.44% (9,452,937 SOL) | 8% | US |
| Staking Facilities | 2 | 1.89% (7,318,096 SOL) | 8% | DE |
| Ledger by Figment | 15 | 0.94% (3,658,958 SOL) | 7% | CA |
| Melea | 19 | 0.87% (3,357,465 SOL) | 0% | US |
Here you can see the info for All Solana Validators.
COINBASE CLOUD: SOLANA VALIDATOR
Coinbase Cloud is Coinbase’s Solana Validator, run by Coinbase, one of the best-known centralized exchanges in the world. It is currently the number 1 validator on Solana, with the largest amount of SOL in Staking.
The upside is that you can stake SOL directly from its exchange, and it is one of the most secure options.
On the downside, it has a fairly high commission (8%), and if Coinbase goes down, the validator goes down with it.
It is based in the United States, which can be either a drawback or an advantage depending on how you view SEC regulation.
STAKING FACILITIES: SOLANA STAKING VALIDATOR
Staking Facilities is a highly popular validator for Solana and many other blockchains among investors.
In this case, it ranks among the top 2 Solana validators. Based in Germany, it charges an 8% commission.
It is genuinely secure and a serious option to consider, competing directly with the rest.
LEDGER BY FIGMENT: SOLANA STAKING LEDGER
Ledger, the company behind the well-known cold wallet, also has its own validator on Solana that lets us stake and generate rewards. It is based in Canada.
Although it does not have as much staked volume as the options mentioned above, it offers a slightly lower commission (7%) and carries a certain security guarantee thanks to the company behind it.
It lets us stake directly from the Ledger app. Keep in mind that you can still hold your funds in Ledger and stake with a different validator.
Here we explain cómo hacer Solana Staking con Ledger.
MELEA: 0% FEE SOLANA VALIDATOR
Melea is a very solid option. Even though it has less name recognition and volume in Solana Staking than the others, it still ranks near the top, and plenty of people trust this validator.
Its main edge is the 0% commission, which helps maximize your returns.
Melea also runs validators on other networks. On paper, it is the less secure option, but also the most profitable.
Its validator is based in the United States and competes with the validators mentioned above for the title of Best Validator for Solana Staking.
PROS AND CONS OF SOLANA STAKING
Solana Staking obviously has its pros and cons. Look at your own situation with base in mind and decide whether it is worth it for you.
✅ BENEFITS OF SOLANA STAKING
We generate yield
Automatic compounding
We help keep the network running
Extra upside if Solana appreciates
❌ CONS OF SOLANA STAKING
There are risks involved
You lose liquidity*
Risks tied to your chosen validator
Losses if Solana drops in value
SOLANA STAKING FAQ
IS SOLANA STAKING WORTH IT
Of course we cannot make the decision for you; depending on your personal situation, financial capacity and risk tolerance, Solana Staking may or may not be advisable.
The reality is that if you have SOL you’re not going to use, it’s a great idea, while always being aware of the risks involved. Plus, staking in Pools helps minimize certain risks while keeping liquidity.
CAN I DO SOLANA STAKING ON LEDGER
Yes, you can stake Solana with the funds on your Ledger. You have two options:
– Stake from the Ledger app using its validator.
– Connect your Ledger to an online wallet and stake through it on the validator of your choice.
HOW TO MINE SOLANA
It’s common to ask how Solana mining works, but really the equivalent of mining on the Solana Blockchain is Staking.
If you want to mine Solana, you need to stake on a validator, supporting the network and generating yield.
IS SOLANA STAKING DANGEROUS
Of course, the use of crypto already has certain risks in terms of value.
If we talk about Staking on Solana, we must add the risk associated with validators, which is why diversifying among the Best Options for Staking is recommended.
HOW ARE YIELDS GENERATED
The yield generated through Staking comes from the help we provide to the Solana Blockchain.
Solana works thanks to Proof of Stake, so by staking our SOL we generate yield by validating the transactions that take place.
DO I HAVE TO DO ANYTHING TO MAINTAIN STAKING
No, once you stake on Solana the yield generated each “epoch” (2-3 days) is automatically reinvested.
Of course you can withdraw your SOL from staking whenever you decide without affecting the yield already generated.
CONCLUSION
Solana Staking is well worth considering for the passive APY it can generate. What do you think? Which validator would you choose? Do you prefer staking through Pools?
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CEO & Co-Founder Smithii. Building on Solana since 2021 and passionate to share my experience on Solana projects. I also Founded Lince after years investing in DeFi.
