Can I un-stake ETH?
Staked ETH cannot be unstaked or transferred on the Ethereum network for an unknown period of time. This means that clients should only stake ETH that they plan to hold long-term. This limitation is not specific to Kraken - it is a limitation on the Ethereum network itself.
How are staked ETH and ETH staking rewards different from regular, unstaked ETH?
Staking ETH permits the staker to act as a validator on Ethereum’s proof-of-stake Beacon Chain, support the Ethereum 2.0 upgrade and be eligible to earn staking rewards. ETH2.S cannot be un-staked and neither ETH2.S nor ETH2 may be transferred on the Ethereum network at this time. Further information on this may be found on our blog here.
Do I need to be holding ETH in order to stake?
Yes, in order to stake ETH you first need to deposit or buy ETH.
How do I stake ETH?
You can stake ETH following the guide here. Newly staked ETH will undergo up to a 20 day or longer (depending on network conditions) bonding period before it will start earning ETH2 rewards.
What are the rewards for staking ETH?
Rewards vary depending on the rules of the Ethereum staking protocol, including how much ETH has been staked at a given time, minus an administrative fee. Rewards are expected to be between 5% to 7% per year. More information is available here.
Can I trade staked ETH?
As a courtesy to clients who may wish to exchange their staked ETH for unstaked ETH, Kraken provides a trading pair ETH2.S/ETH for this purpose, with two important caveats:
- The market is NOT available for residents of the US and Canada (these clients can stake ETH but not trade their staked ETH for unstaked ETH).
- We offer no guarantees of any kind about the continued availability or liquidity of this market - price slippage in market orders should be expected and it may be difficult to exchange staked ETH for unstaked ETH in large amounts, and this market may not be available for the duration of the Ethereum 2.0 transition.
Can I deposit or withdraw staked ETH?
No, staked ETH cannot be deposited or withdrawn.
Can I stake, trade, deposit or withdraw ETH staking rewards?
No.
Do staked ETH rewards compound using the Grow Rewards option?
No. Unlike other stake-able assets on Kraken, ETH2 rewards do not compound so you will not see the Grow Rewards option available.
How long will my staked ETH and ETH staking rewards be locked up for?
This is completely dependent on how long it takes for the Ethereum 2.0 network upgrade to complete. Further information on this can be found on our blog here.
Can I use staked ETH or ETH staking rewards as collateral for margin trading?
No. Unlike regular ETH, staked ETH and ETH staking rewards are not collateral assets for margin trading.