Real-time staking data, validator analytics, and nomination strategies across every major Proof-of-Stake blockchain — all in one place.
Live Comparison
Side-by-side staking metrics for the top Proof-of-Stake networks. Sort by reward rate, lock-up period, or staking ratio to find your ideal chain.
| Network | Est. APY | 30d Trend | Staking Ratio | Lock / Unbonding | Min. Stake | Validators | Slashing Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ethereum |
3.4% | 28.1% | ~1–5 days | 32 ETH / any via LST | 1,050,000+ | Low | |
Polkadot |
15.2% | 53.8% | 28 days | 250 DOT (nomination pools: 1 DOT) | 297 active | Medium | |
Kusama |
17.4% | 47.2% | 7 days | 0.1 KSM (nomination pools) | 1,000 active | Medium | |
Cardano |
3.2% | 62.1% | None (liquid) | 2 ADA | 3,200+ | Low | |
Cosmos |
14.8% | 62.4% | 21 days | None | 180 active | Medium | |
Solana |
7.1% | 66.7% | ~2–3 days | None | 1,800+ | Low | |
Celestia |
12.5% | 58.3% | 21 days | None | 100 active | Medium | |
Avalanche |
8.2% | 56.4% | 14 days | 25 AVAX (delegate) / 2,000 (validate) | 1,700+ | Low | |
NEAR |
9.5% | 46.2% | ~2–3 days | None | 230+ | Low | |
Sui |
3.8% | 81.2% | ~1 day | 1 SUI | 107 active | Low |
* Approximate figures — APY fluctuates with network conditions. Updated April 2026.
Chain Deep Dives
Detailed staking profiles for every chain we track, including mechanics, tips for nominators, and what to watch out for.
Beyond Native Staking
Once you stake, do you want your capital back? Liquid staking and restaking unlock that capital — but every layer of convenience adds a new layer of risk. Start with the deep-dives below.
Get a tradeable token (stETH, rETH, mSOL, jitoSOL…) the moment you deposit. Use it across DeFi while staking rewards continue to accrue. Powerful, but you inherit smart-contract, depeg, and operator-set risk.
Read the LST guide →The same ETH securing Ethereum can also secure AVSs on EigenLayer. LRTs (eETH, ezETH, rsETH…) wrap that exposure into a single token. Yields stack — and so do the slashing surfaces.
Read the LRT guide →Every bridged LST or LRT inherits a bridge's trust assumption. Architectures range from cryptographically verified to a 1-of-1 verifier holding nine figures of TVL. Know which one yours uses.
Read the bridge guide →How a single-verifier LayerZero DVN configuration let attackers mint 116,500 unbacked rsETH and walk away with $292M in WETH borrows on Aave. Timeline, root cause, and lessons.
Read the post-mortem →Perspective · Post-Kelp Lending Thesis
After a decade of DeFi exploits, every major loss has lived above the chain — in a wrapper, a verifier, a restaking layer, a bridged token. The opposite hypothesis: a lending venue that refuses every new abstraction and only accepts L1-native collateral. aare.finance is one project trying it.
Four design rules: isolated markets per pair, immutable contracts, no bridged collateral, conservative LTVs. Listed assets stop at ETH and native L1 LSTs (stETH, rETH). No LRTs. No L2 wrappers. No exceptions.
Honest disclosure: aare.finance is concept-stage. No mainnet contracts, no audits yet, no track record. The page argues a thesis — not a finished product.
Read the manifesto →Staking 101
Whether you're a first-time delegator or a seasoned nominator, these guides cover everything you need to know.
Different blockchains offer different reward rates, lock-up periods, and risk profiles. Use our comparison table above to weigh APY against unbonding time, slashing risk, and minimum requirements.
Self-custody wallets are recommended. For Ethereum, try MetaMask or Ledger Live. For Polkadot/Kusama, use the Polkadot-JS extension, Talisman, or Nova Wallet. For Cosmos, Keplr is the go-to.
Look for validators with high uptime (>99%), reasonable commission (5–15%), a track record of no slashing, and active community participation. Diversify across multiple validators when possible.
Submit your staking transaction through your wallet. On NPoS chains like Polkadot, you nominate up to 16 validators. On DPoS chains like Cosmos, you delegate to individual validators.
Check your staking performance regularly. If a validator goes offline, raises commissions, or gets slashed, re-delegate promptly. Tools like StakingWatch help you stay on top of changes.
Liquid staking tokens (LSTs) give you a tradeable receipt for your staked assets. This lets you earn staking rewards while using that capital in DeFi — composability without the lock-up.
Risk Awareness
Staking isn't risk-free. Here are the key risks every staker and nominator should understand before committing capital.
Validators who misbehave (double-signing, extended downtime) can lose a portion of their stake — and on NPoS chains like Polkadot, nominators share that loss. Always research validator history.
Most chains enforce an unbonding period (7–28 days) during which your tokens are illiquid. During market volatility, you can't sell. Liquid staking mitigates this but introduces smart contract risk.
Staking rewards are paid in the native token. A 15% APY means little if the token's price drops 50%. Consider the overall outlook of the chain, not just the staking yield.
Liquid staking protocols, staking pools, and DeFi integrations all rely on smart contracts. Bugs or exploits can lead to loss of funds. Stick with audited, battle-tested protocols.
Validators can raise commissions, go offline, or act maliciously. On chains with capped validator sets, your nominations might not even be elected. Monitor your validators actively.
The regulatory landscape for staking is evolving. Some jurisdictions may classify staking rewards as taxable income or restrict staking services. Stay informed about local regulations.
Bridged LSTs and LRTs inherit the bridge's verifier set. The April 2026 KelpDAO incident saw $292M in unbacked rsETH minted via a 1-of-1 LayerZero DVN. Bridge guide →
Restaking (EigenLayer, Symbiotic) layers extra slashing conditions on top of base staking. Each AVS your operator opts into adds a new way to lose principal. LRT guide →
Liquid staking tokens can trade below redemption value during stress. If you've borrowed against an LST, a 5% depeg can liquidate you long before withdrawal queues open. LST guide →
Reference
Key terms every staker and nominator should know.