Staking ADA is one of the easiest and safest ways to earn passive income in the Cardano ecosystem. Instead of leaving your ADA idle in a wallet, staking lets you participate in securing the network, and get rewarded for it. In this guide, you’ll learn exactly how to stake your ADA step by step, even if you're brand new.
What Is a Stake Pool?
On the Cardano network, stake pools enable collective participation in minting new blocks recording the latest transactions on the network. Stake pool operators (SPOs) manage the technical infrastructure while ADA holders delegate their coins to the pool, sharing in the rewards earned from successful block production.
What Is Staking?
Staking is the process of delegating your ADA to a stake pool, which helps validate transactions on the Cardano network. In return, you receive a portion of the rewards that the pool earns, usually around 2–4% annually, depending on the pool's performance.
✅ Important: Your ADA never leaves your wallet and remains 100% in your control. It is not locked and can be un-staked or transferred at any time.
How to Choose a Good Stake Pool
To get the best returns, it’s worth doing a little research. Here’s what to look for:
- Performance: Look for pools that consistently produce blocks. High uptime = reliable rewards.
- Fees: Most pools charge a margin fee (usually 0–5%) and a fixed fee (340 ADA minimum). Lower fees often mean higher returns — but very low fees might not be sustainable long-term.
- Saturation: If a pool has more than 64 million ADA, it becomes saturated and offers lower rewards. Choose a pool under 100% saturation.
- Mission or Purpose: Many pools support charities, education, or open-source development. You can support causes you care about while earning rewards.
- Reputation: Use tools like ADApools.org or PoolTool.io to see ratings, history, and pool stats.
What You’ll Need to Get Started
- Some ADA in your wallet
- A Cardano-compatible wallet that supports staking:
- Lace
- VESPR
- Daedalus
- Eternl or Yoroi
- Begin
How to Stake ADA: Step-by-Step
Step 1: Transfer ADA to Your Wallet
If your ADA is on an exchange, withdraw it to a personal Cardano wallet that supports staking.
Step 2: Open the Delegation or Staking Tab
Once your wallet is funded, go to the staking, delegate, or dashboard section (label varies by wallet).
Step 3: Choose a Stake Pool
You’ll see a list of available stake pools. You can filter by:
- Pool performance
- Fee levels
- Saturation (avoid pools that are over 100% saturated)
- Mission-driven focus (e.g., environmental or social impact pools)
Look beyond just rewards; consider a pool's mission, performance, fees, and saturation level.
✅ It is recommended to find a pool with a good track record.
Step 4: Delegate Your ADA
Click "delegate" or "stake," confirm the pool, and sign the transaction using your wallet. A small transaction fee (about 0.17 ADA) applies, and a 2 ADA deposit is held temporarily (refundable if you stop staking later).
Step 5: Start Earning Rewards
You’ll start earning rewards after 15–20 days, then receive them every 5 days (each “epoch”). The process is automatic, no need to claim manually.
Avoid These Common Mistakes
- Don’t delegate to an exchange or custodial platform if you want full control
- Avoid saturated pools; they give lower rewards
- Never share your seed phrase, not even to "help you stake."
Need Help Choosing a Stake Pool?
Here are guides that get into more detail about how to choose a great pool:
- 7 Things to Consider When Choosing a Cardano Stake Pool: Written guide by Viper Staking
- Cardano Stake Pool Fees and How To Choose a Stake Pool: Video guide by Cardano with Paul
- Selecting a Cardano Stake Pool using PoolTool: Video guide by Woodland Pools
Staking ADA is one of the simplest ways to grow your crypto holdings while supporting a sustainable, decentralized network. Whether you're holding for the long-term or just exploring the ecosystem, staking is a smart next step.
Quick Q&A
Q: Can I Change My Stake Pool Later?
A: Yes, you can redelegate at any time to another pool. It doesn’t cost much (just a small transaction fee), and your rewards will update automatically after a couple of epochs.
Q: What happens if my stake pool underperforms or shuts down?
A: You won’t lose your ADA, but you may earn fewer or no rewards if the pool doesn't produce blocks. You can redelegate to another pool at any time without penalty.
Q: How do I find mission-driven or charity stake pools?
A: You can look at the websites of stake pool alliances like mission driven pools and climate neutral Cardano. These are collectives of pools supporting causes like sustainability, education, or open-source tech, so you can earn while doing good.
Q: Do I need to claim my staking rewards manually?
A: No. On Cardano, rewards are automatically distributed to your wallet every 5 days (each epoch). They simply accumulate as part of your wallet balance, no extra steps needed.
Q: Can I stake ADA from a mobile device?
A: Yes, wallets like VESPR, Begin, and Tokeo allow you to stake directly from your smartphone. It's a convenient option for users who want to manage their delegation on the go.