When individuals contemplate investing in Bitcoin, they frequently think about
mining it or purchasing it directly on a crypto market. Staking coins, as it’s
often called, is a fantastic alternative for individuals interested in
cryptocurrencies and obtaining assets for digital wallets.
The following questions must be understood by everyone interested in investing
in cryptocurrencies, even though the word “staking” may be a more recent
addition to the financial lexicon:
- What is staking crypto?
- What does staking crypto mean?
- How does staking crypto work?
Comprehending how to purchase Ethereum or how a cryptocurrency exchange operates
might seem like a step up from understanding cryptocurrency staking. Learning
about cryptocurrency staking may increase your skills and help you become a more
astute trader.
In this post, we’ll answer the question, “What does staking crypto
mean?” So let’s get started.
What Is Crypto Staking?
Crypto staking is the process of locking up Bitcoin holdings in
order to earn rewards or interest. The basis for developing cryptocurrencies is
blockchain technology, which enables crypto transactions to be confirmed and the
accompanying data to be stored on the blockchain.
Staking is another word for approving those transactions on a blockchain.
Depending on the kind of cryptocurrencies you’re working with and the technology
that makes them operate, these validation processes are referred to as
“proof-of-work” or “proof-of-stake.”
Every phase helps crypto networks come to an agreement or certify that all
transaction data is how it should be. However, reaching that consensus requires
participation. In order to take part in the consensus-taking processes on these
networks, investors must actively hold onto or safeguard their Bitcoin holdings
in their wallets. This activity is known as staking.
Staking is essentially the process of approving and validating blockchain
transactions. Such investors are paid by the networks for doing so. The prizes
will be decided by the network. It could be useful to make the analogy between
investing in a savings account and crypto staking.
Advantages of Crypto Staking
Staking Crypto has several advantages. Here are the top three:
It’s Less Energy-Consuming
PoS (Proof of Stake) networks consume a great deal less energy than PoW (Proof
of Work) systems. Each mining device uses a lot more energy than a typical
computer and needs a steady source of electricity. But a typical PC can also
operate validator nodes.
Rewards Are Simpler To Acquire
Rewards from mining and staking cryptocurrencies might differ significantly.
Most people can stake a fair bit of cryptocurrency on a cryptocurrency exchange
and get some yield.
However, being a miner frequently calls for a lot greater dedication. You would
first need to purchase the appropriate computer, which may be expensive. Then,
you would need to learn how to operate it, which could take some time.
No Special Tools Are Needed
As long as they have the funds and ability to maintain the node operating
continuously, anyone may function as a validator using a standard computer.
Contrarily, mining needs specialized equipment.
Popular Coins Used for Staking Crypto
The idea of PoS consensus was still new a few years ago, and there weren’t many
choices for staking coins. More and more projects are currently using PoS, and
some platforms are making it simpler than ever for customers to stake their
coins and earn cryptocurrency. The most popular PoS coins are:
ETH
Ethereum (ETH) has grown to be one of the most well-known digital currencies
available. Rewards might vary, but a 5–17% annual return on staking Ethereum is
often anticipated.
DOT
A more recent coin, Polkadot (DOT), was released in 2020. Polkadot, like Cosmos,
aims to enable interoperability and is built to handle “parachains,” or several
blockchains developed by various developers. The annual income from DOT staking
is roughly 15%.
ATOM
The team behind the Cosmos (ATOM) project intends to integrate several
blockchains, allowing them to exchange data like a blockchain internet. This
concept is referred to as interoperability. Staking ATOM returns roughly 21% a
year.
EOS
In that it’s used to facilitate decentralized programming, EOS is comparable to
Ethereum. Users may stake the EOS blockchain’s native tokens, much like other
cryptocurrencies, to gain rewards. About 3% is the anticipated rate of return
for EOS staking.
Start Staking Crypto
Several services let users immediately begin staking cryptocurrency. Users may
stake currencies on several well-known platforms, including Coinbase and Kraken.
Investors must choose to stake on exchanges like these and similar to receive
rewards.
Staking-as-a-service businesses, which focus on staking rather than trading, are
another option for enterprising stakers to consider. Such platforms include
Stake Capital, MyContainer, and Staked as examples. Each platform will have
unique offers, guidelines, and costs.