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Staking & Validators

Understanding Solana's Proof-of-Stake mechanism

Solana uses a Proof-of-Stake consensus mechanism where validators stake SOL to secure the network and earn rewards. Learn how staking works and how to choose validators.

What is Staking?

Staking is the process of delegating your SOL tokens to validators who secure the network. In return, you earn rewards from:

  • Transaction fees
  • Network inflation
  • MEV (Maximal Extractable Value)

Key Benefits:

  • Earn passive income (5-7% APY typically)
  • Support network security and decentralization
  • Tokens remain in your wallet (non-custodial)
  • No minimum staking amount

How Staking Works

1️⃣

Choose Validator

Select a validator based on performance, commission, and other factors.

2️⃣

Create Stake Account

Create a stake account and delegate your SOL to the chosen validator.

3️⃣

Earn Rewards

Rewards accrue in your stake account every epoch (~2-3 days).

4️⃣

Manage & Withdraw

Redelegate, deactivate, or withdraw your stake at any time.

Choosing a Validator

Key Factors to Consider:

  • Commission Rate: Percentage validator keeps (typically 5-10%)
  • Performance: Uptime and block production rate
  • Stake Concentration: Avoid over-staked validators for decentralization
  • Reputation: Community standing and reliability
  • Infrastructure: Hardware and network quality

Staking with CLI

Create Stake Account

# Create stake account keypair
solana-keygen new -o stake-account.json

# Create and fund stake account
solana create-stake-account stake-account.json 1 SOL

# Delegate stake to validator
solana delegate-stake stake-account.json VALIDATOR_VOTE_ACCOUNT

Manage Stake

# Check stake account status
solana stake-account stake-account.json

# Deactivate stake
solana deactivate-stake stake-account.json

# Withdraw stake (after deactivation)
solana withdraw-stake stake-account.json YOUR_WALLET 1 SOL

Running a Validator

Running a validator requires:

  • Hardware: High-performance server (128GB+ RAM, 12+ cores)
  • Network: Fast, reliable internet connection
  • Stake: Sufficient SOL for initial stake and vote fees
  • Technical Knowledge: Linux administration and monitoring
Read Validator Guide →

Staking Resources

📊

Solana Beach

Validator rankings and network statistics.

View Validators →
📈

Validators App

Comprehensive validator information and APY calculator.

Visit App →
🔍

StakeView

Analyze validators and optimize your staking strategy.

View Tool →
📖

Staking Guide

Official Solana staking documentation.

Read Docs →

Video Tutorials