Staking utilizes blockchain Proof-of-Stake protocol to generate rewards through a process typically called “staking”.

Benefits of Onchain staking on Kraken versus staking on other platforms:

✓ Start earning rewards instantly — no waiting or bonding periods 

✓ Some of the highest returns in the industry

✓ Stake your assets in just a few clicks from your Kraken balances

✓ Instant unstaking when using Flexible terms

Kraken offers two types of staking products: Bonded and Flexible.

Note: Geographic restrictions apply for asset and program availability - see here for more information.

For asset tickers, please refer to our API documentation.

Kraken offers on-chain bonded terms when staking certain assets, such as DOT and ATOM. Staking rewards will typically be paid out to your staking balance each payout interval. If you choose Bonded staking, your assets will be subject to a wait time after you unstake them before you can use them for other purposes. The wait time (known as the on-chain unbonding period) can last 3 or more days, depending on the asset.

While your assets are staked via our Bonded staking services, they are not available for trading and cannot be transferred to your external (non-Kraken) account.

Staking also impacts your equity for margin trading (where available). Staking in bonded products will remove them from your trading and equity balances. Your equity balances affect your free margin and margin level for margin trading.

*Rates above are estimates and are subject to change in compliance with Kraken’s Terms of Service. Assets subject to an on-chain bonding period do not accrue rewards during the period after you elect to unstake and before the on-chain unbonding period ends.

Flexible staking allows you to unstake your assets at any time without being subjected to an unbonding period. This allows for immediate access to assets once unstaked, to be used for other purposes.

Staking also impacts your equity for margin trading. Staking in flexible products will remove them from your trading and equity balances. Your equity balances affect your free margin and margin level for margin trading.

Staking rewards are paid out once per week. There may be variance in payout timing due to platform upgrades.

Each asset will earn rewards at its own Annual Percentage Rate (APR). The reward rate is different per asset, and rewards will be paid out in kind. For example, your rewards for staking ETH will be in the form of ETH. Rewards will only be paid if the reward is greater than the smallest decimal precision supported.

All rewards that have been earned will appear in the total rewards column on the Earn page.

*Rates are estimates and are subject to change in compliance with Kraken’s terms of service. Assets subject to an on-chain bonding period do not accrue rewards during the period after you elect to unstake and before the on-chain unbonding period ends.

† Rewards are earned only through Flare network airdrops.

* Assets with no on-chain unbonding period.

** As of the Shapella upgrade rewards will be issued to your account as unstaked ETH, fully unlocked and able to stake, trade or withdraw in your account. Kraken will continue to distribute weekly rewards on a variable rate that reflects what we’ve earned on-chain minus our fee. Rewards will vary according to the rules of the Ethereum protocol. ETH staking rewards are not auto-compounded and will be added to your spot balance.

See country specific restrictions.

Geographical restrictions can be found here. If Staking is not showing as an option on your account, you may not be eligible.

There are currently no transaction fees for staking or unstaking. Kraken takes a commission based on the rewards you receive from the network.

Staking and restaking are considered separately when determining commissions. For example, if you stake 2,000 ETH and restake 3,000 ETH, Kraken will retain a commission of 22% of the rewards earned, and not 16% as applicable to a 5,000 ETH current balance staked.

The APR rates shown above are an estimate of the rewards you could earn on the assets you hold, before our commission, and are based on the average staking rewards accrued over the past period. In cases where we are subject to a validator commission, the APR rates shown are after such commissions. Commissions for onchain bonded staking, and for flexible staking on assets with no onchain unbonding period, are based on current balances staked per asset.

For example, if you stake 4,000 ETH and earn 200 ETH in network rewards, Kraken will retain a commission of 16% of the rewards earned (32 ETH).

Bonded staking commissions per asset are outlined in the table below:

Flexible staking commission:

For flexible staking on assets with an unbonding period, you will receive network rewards on up to 50% of the assets you elect to stake, less Kraken’s commission. For Cardano (ADA), MINA (MINA), Bittensor (TAO), commissions for flexible staking are based on balances staked per asset, as shown in the table above. For all other staking assets, commissions are 20%. Rewards are generated by staking a portion of your eligible assets on-chain, Kraken keeps the remainder unstaked for liquidity purposes. The APR shown above under “Rewards (annual percentage rate)” do not include Kraken’s commission. For additional information, please refer to our Terms of Service. 

You can use Bonded and Flexible staking on the Kraken Pro. Only Bonded and Auto Earn features are available on the Kraken app.

Participating in staking is not a risk-free endeavor. Individuals should be aware of the following risks.

You retain ownership of each eligible asset that is staked, and such assets remain your property while staked.

We will compensate you for any slashing penalty or nonpayment of staking rewards, unless this nonpayment results from your actions, network maintenance, a bug, a hack, or in certain other rare situations. For a full list of circumstances, please refer to our Terms of Service.

You retain ownership of each eligible asset that is staked, and such assets remain your property while Staked. However, you may be affected by bonding periods if you want to unstake assets you have staked using our bonded staking option.

No. While similar in design on our client interface, Staking and Opt-In Rewards are separate products. Staking utilizes assets “on-chain” in Proof-of-Stake protocols such as Tezos. Opt-In Rewards utilizes assets as further described in our Terms of Service. Both Staking and Opt-In Rewards have 3 programs available: Bonded, Flexible and Auto Earn.