28 Oct, 2025
2 minutes
Staking transformed the manner in which investors interact with blockchain networks. As opposed to mining, which involves using expensive hardware and high energy consumption, staking enables one to stake crypto to support a blockchain network and receive rewarded new cryptos without exerting effort. Staking is locking your coin on a Proof-of-Stake (PoS) blockchain or its variant, where the customers verify transactions and create new blocks. The stakers are rewarded, in exchange for labor, within most cases - the same currency that they staked.
It is not, however, possible to stake all cryptocurrency. Cryptocurrency can be staked only if it's on staking-supported consensus algorithms. What cryptocurrencies are stakeable, how to stake them, and what to stake in 2025 is below.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered investment advice. Always conduct your own research and consult a qualified financial advisor before purchasing or staking any cryptocurrency.
Selecting the most valuable cryptocurrency to stake is a question of a number of parameters - staking reward, lockup period, health of the network, and maturity of the overall ecosystem. Staking in 2025 is no longer a question of token ownership, staking now is simply a question of active blockchain participation, liquidity, and involvement in scalability. Some of the leading cryptocurrencies well-supported by staking and possessing strong fundamentals, community support, and estimated return are discussed below.
| Cryptocurrency | Consensus Type | Typical APY (2025) | Lock-Up Period | Staking Model | Key Advantages |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ethereum (ETH) | Proof-of-Stake (PoS) | 3-6% | Variable (validator exit queue) | Validator / Liquid staking | Most secure PoS network, massive liquidity |
| Cardano (ADA) | PoS | 3-5% | None | Delegated pools | No lock-up, easy delegation |
| Tezos (XTZ) | PoS (“Baking”) | 5-7% | ≈ 14 days | Delegation to bakers | Early PoS adopter, strong governance |
| Solana (SOL) | PoS | 6-8% | ≈ 2 days | Delegation | High throughput, low fees |
| Sui (SUI) | PoS | 5-8% | Epoch-based (~24 h) | Validator staking | Parallel execution, developer friendly |
| BNB Chain (BNB) | Proof-of-Staked-Authority (PoSA) | 4-6% | 7-14 days | Delegation to validators | Huge user base, Binance ecosystem |
| Polkadot (DOT) | Nominated PoS (NPoS) | 8-12% | 28 days | Nominator / Validator | Strong interoperability, stable yields |
| Polygon (MATIC) | PoS | 4-7% | Variable | Validator / Delegation | Core Ethereum scaling layer |
| Avalanche (AVAX) | PoS (Avalanche consensus) | 6-9% | ≥ 14 days | Validator / Delegation | Subnets, rapid finality |
| Cosmos (ATOM) | PoS | 10-12% | 21 days | Validator / Delegation | Cross-chain IBC interoperability |
| NEAR Protocol (NEAR) | PoS (Sharded) | 8-10% | 2-3 days | Delegation | Easy staking UX, fast settlement |
| Hyperliquid (HLP) | PoS | Variable | Short epochs | Validator staking | Institutional-grade trading chain |
| Aptos (APT) | PoS | 7-10% | ≈ 30 days | Validator / Delegation | Move-based high-speed network |
| Bittensor (TAO) | PoS / Hybrid | Dynamic | Flexible | Validator / Miner hybrid | AI-powered decentralized network |
Most secure and biggest Proof-of-Stake chain. Ethereum staking is currently live in full today after The Merge and recent upgrades. Validators need to stake 32 ETH directly or indirectly through liquid staking providers such as Lido, Rocket Pool, or Coinbase.
APY: 3-6%
Lock-up period: Allow withdrawals but possibly delayed depending on validator queue
Why it stands out: Biggest liquidity, institutional adoption, and a leading DeFi role
Cardano Network provides delegated staking where the users can pool without coins being locked. It is thus one of the easiest staking networks to be used by retail consumers.
APY: 3-5%
Lock-up period: None
Why it stands out Transparent governance and strong academic history
Tezos was one of the first PoS blockchains that included a "baking" scheme where the users delegate XTZ to validators.
APY: 5-7%
Lock-up period: ~14 days
Why it stands out: On-chain governance and battle-tested security model
Kilometers-per-second scalable blockchain. Stakeholders lock SOL with validators securing the network.
APY: 6-8%
Lock-up period: ~2 days to turn off stake
Why it stands out: High performance, low cost, and upcoming DeFi platform
Layer-1 next-gen network designed for parallel processing and scalability. SUI rewards validators for real-time transaction verification.
APY: 5-8%
Lock-up period: Epoch-based (~24 hours)
Why it stands out: Dev-friendly interfaces and high performance
BNB Chain uses a Proof-of-Staked-Authority (PoSA) scheme where delegators vote in validators.
APY: 4-6%
Lock-up period: 7-14 days based on validator
Why it stands out: Belonging to the Binance ecosystem and huge community presence
Polkadot uses an Nominated Proof-of-Stake (NPoS) mechanism in which nominators can sponsor good validators and gain ginormous crypto staking rewards.
APY: 8-12%
Lock-up period: 28 days
Why it stands out: Interoperability and sound ecosystem building
Polygon is founded on Layer-2 scaling supplemented by a sound staking foundation supporting its Proof-of-Stake chain.
APY: 4-7%
Lock-up period: Variable
Why it stands out: Central function in Ethereum scalability and cross-universal DeFi adoption
Avalanche boasts an innovative consensus protocol for subnets' hosting and swift finality. Staking crypto offers validator and delegator modes.
APY: 6-9%
Lock-up period: Minimum 14 days
Why it stands out: Multi-chain architecture and interoperability
Cosmos Hub enables interchain exchange via the IBC protocol. ATOM staking secures a network of interoperable blockchains.
APY: 10-12%
Lock-up period: 21 days
Why it stands out: Interoperability and cross-chain DeFi trailblazer
NEAR leverages sharding for incredibly high scalability and easy delegation via the use of easy-to-use wallets.
APY: 8-10%
Lock-up period: 2-3 days
Why it stands out: Developer-centric ecosystem and instant finality
More. Fresh project with validator-based staking for its native Layer-1 trading layer.
APY: Variable
Lock-up period: Short terms
Why it stands out: Institutional-grade trading layer with community staking crypto
Replacement of language-based infrastructure, Aptos facilitates high-speed and scalable PoS validation and governance staking crypto.
APY: 7-10%
Lock-up period: 30 days
Why it stands out: Business-class infrastructure and good VC backing
Decentralized network of validators and miners providing computing power and intelligence models for TAO crypto staking rewards.
APY: Dynamic
Lock-up period: Flexible
Why it stands out: Blockchain-AI revolution
Each of these cryptocurrencies has staking opportunities that differ from one another - from low-risk, stable environments such as Ethereum and Cardano to high-potential new ones such as Story Protocol and Bittensor. Your selection will rely on your purpose: steady return, governance input, or exposure to new technology.
Staking provides investors and blockchain users with an opportunity to gain passive income without directly contributing to the decentralized networks. There are certain risks associated with it that one should be cautious about before investing. Following is a simplified list of advantages and disadvantages.
Creation of Passive Income. When you lock your tokens, you get rewarded in the same asset as best crypto staking rewards - essentially interest on a savings account but in a decentralized network.
Network Security and Stability. Staking stabilizes the blockchain by having more participants in validating transactions, making the network impervious to attacks.
Low Energy Consumption. Whereas staking is energy and hardware intensive, staking is green, and you can do it securely with software wallets or validators.
Governance and Voting Rights. Most of the staking tokens like Solar (SXP) or Polkadot (DOT) give their holders governance rights - i.e., voting rights on proposals and network upgrades.
Long-Term Value Growth. Crypto staking rewards trading on top of holding, and that eliminates market volatility and facilitates long-term price stability in most systems.
Price Volatility. Token holders are rewarded with staking crypto while token value can go down incredibly poorly, destroying future returns.
Slashing Penalties. Misbehaving validators or validators offline may be punished - forfeiting a portion of their staked tokens.
Centralization Risks. Staking crypto through centralized interfaces is convenient but also centralizes power and introduces custodial risk in the event of technical or regulatory failure on the platform.
Protocol or Smart Contract Risks. Placing a bet on unverified staking pools or DeFi services exposes one to smart contract issues or malicious operators.
Adjusting Rewards and Risk. The best crypto staking strategy depends on risk tolerance and horizon.
For steady returns over the long-term, trusts like Ethereum, Cardano, or Cosmos provide steady returns.
For potentially greater reward (at some extra small risk), newer networks like Aptos, Sui, or Story Protocol can be utilized.
Diversification across multiple staking crypto assets - and use of non-custodial wallets - provides optimal security vs. profitability trade-off.
Cryptocurrencies that run on Proof-of-Stake (PoS) or its variants - Delegated Proof-of-Stake (DPoS) and Nominated Proof-of-Stake (NPoS) - support staking. Ethereum (ETH), Cardano (ADA), Polkadot (DOT), Solana (SOL), and Cosmos (ATOM) are some of them.
Some of the biggest blockchains natively facilitate staking from native wallets or DeFi protocols. Ethereum, Cardano, Polygon, Avalanche, BNB Chain, Solana, Polkadot, and SXP (Solar) are some of the cryptocurrencies that support staking 2026.
The "best" crypto to stake depends on your requirements: - For stability and reliability: Ethereum (ETH), Cardano (ADA), or Polygon (MATIC). - For improved rewards: Cosmos (ATOM), Polkadot (DOT), or SXP (Solar). - For long-term prospects: Sui (SUI), Aptos (APT)
Over 100 cryptocurrencies support staking. The most developed ecosystems of 2025 are Ethereum, Cardano, Solana, Cosmos, Avalanche, and NEAR Protocol - all of them with their own APY rate and model for staking crypto.
Staking is profitable, yes, if the staked token appreciates or holds value. Rewards are between 3% and 12% annually, depending on the network, validator up-time, and inflation rate.
Staking via audited validators or regulated blockchain wallets is safe most of the time. However, staking via central exchanges or unaudited DeFi protocols has third-party and smart contract risks.
Some blockchains, including Ethereum and Polkadot, have experienced fortnight or two lock-up times. Cardano, however, does provide flexible or zero lock-up staking.
