Ethereum (ETH) staking allows you to earn passive income since all you have to do is lock your coins to help secure the network. Anyone who wishes to help the network and get rewards can stake with Ethereum’s proof-of-stake (PoS) blockchain.
Why Ethereum Staking?
Ethereum staking serves two primary purposes: it helps secure the network and generates incentives. Here are some of the possible rewards that can be earned.
Passive income: Staking Ethereum pays you more ETH to help validate network transactions. Its incentives provide a fantastic passive revenue source on ETH holdings of 3% annually.
Securing the Ethereum network: Staking improves the security of the Ethereum network. Ethereum gets safer and more decentralized, and the more people stake, the harder it is for hostile players to exploit the blockchain.
Basic Terminologies in Ethereum Staking
Are you looking to stake your Ether? Below are some terms you need to know about staking on this blockchain.
Proof-of-Stake (PoS): The blockchain’s design lets users called transaction validators stake or deposit Ethereum to participate in the process. The minimum ETH required to be locked and validated is 32 ETH. Thus, users can suggest new blocks and also authenticate them.
Validators: Validators are those who lock their ETHs to consummate transactions. They are responsible for securing transactions and verifying them.
Epochs: An epoch is a specific period that commences and ends with the approval and executive of transactions by validators when new blocks are suggested. An epoch on Ethereum uses up to around 32 slots of 12 seconds each, or around 6.4 minutes.
Slashing: It is the punishment enacted against validators who occasionally engage in misconduct by violating the network’s laws, either deliberately or due to system faults. Malicious behavior by a validator can result in a loss of a fraction of their staked Ethereum.
Staking Pools: These pools allow small ETH holders to contribute and jointly meet the required 32 ETH to become a validator. With the same method, they can also alleviate the costs and risks that come with individual staking, such as hardware purchase and maintenance.
7 Steps to Start Staking Ethereum
You can stake Ethereum in two ways — through the pool or solo staking. Each approach comprises the steps below.
Step 1: Prepare a Safe Wallet
You need an Ether wallet. Hardware wallets such as Ledger or Trezor are among the safest as they have the best protection mechanism to protect your holdings against malicious actors.
Step 2: Buy Ethereum (ETH)
If necessary, buy ETH from trusted brokers like Coinbase or Binance. Similarly, most hardware wallets have a provision to purchase ETH directly.
Step 3: Choose Your Staking Method
Solo staking: You will set up a node and become a validator. This is easy, but for it to work, you need knowledge of the required hardware in addition to the prerequisite 32 ETH minimum.
Staking Pool: A stake pool collects ETH from several users, thereby enabling lower stakeholders to participate and earn yields actively.
Step 4: Deposit Your ETH for Staking
After you have determined which method suits you best, deposit your ETH. For instance, if you’re using Coinbase, ensure your account is confirmed, then move ETH from your wallet to Coinbase.
Your first step is to check out the “Earn” or “Staking” tab on your platform of choice.
Step 5: Start Staking Ethereum
In the staking section of the platform you chose, input the amount of ETH you would like to stake, and the transaction in staking will be completed. The service you pick should also manage technical activities, like joining the network and launching a validator for you.
Step 6: Track Your Rewards
After you are done staking, you must follow your rewards closely. Most platforms display this information clearly in the “My Earnings” or “Rewards” section.
The terms of rewards for staking depend on the network conditions at that time. At present, if you are staking ETH, the expected return is about 3% every year.
Some validators participate with a tool called MEV-boost to increase the reward. This increase can be up to 5.69%.
Step 7: Withdraw Your Rewards or Reinvest Them
You can either reinvest your rewards to earn more over time or withdraw them so you may cash out all your earnings. Your choice depends on your goal of investing in the first place.
Risks to Consider
It is worth noting that staking has its downsides.
Punitive Measures: Validators must follow all the network rules. Otherwise, they risk having their ETH balance decreased. A simple and effective way to avoid such risks is by thoroughly abiding by the recommendations for monitoring your node.
Token Locking: Staked tokens are usually subject to a lockup period, which impedes portability until the time is up.
Conclusion
Investing in Ethereum through staking provides an opportunity to generate passive income. At the same time, it helps maintain the security of the network.
You will still experience benefits and drawbacks, whether you choose to do it yourself or via a pool. Staking your ETH will be a smart choice if you are a long-term holder hoping to get additional ETH.
