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How to Stake

This guide walks you through staking (delegating) your NAM tokens to earn rewards.

Time & Difficulty

⏱️ 5 minutes | 🎯 Difficulty: Beginner

Prerequisites​

  • NAM tokens in your wallet
  • At least 1 NAM for gas fees
  • Decision on which validator(s) to use

Stake Using Namada Extension​

Step 1: Open Staking Interface​

  1. Click the Namada Extension icon
  2. Navigate to Staking or Stake
  3. View available validators

Step 2: Choose a Validator​

Browse the validator list. For each validator, you'll see:

  • Name/Moniker
  • Commission rate
  • Total stake
  • Uptime/status

See Choose a Validator for selection tips.

Step 3: Enter Stake Amount​

  1. Click on your chosen validator
  2. Click Delegate or Stake
  3. Enter the amount of NAM to stake
  4. Keep some NAM for transaction fees!

Step 4: Confirm Transaction​

  1. Review the details:
    • Validator: [name]
    • Amount: [X] NAM
    • Fee: ~0.01 NAM
  2. Click Confirm
  3. Sign the transaction

Step 5: Verify Stake​

After confirmation:

  1. Your staking balance updates
  2. Check "My Delegations" section
  3. Rewards start accumulating next epoch

Stake Using CLI​

View Available Validators​

namadac validator-state

Delegate to a Validator​

namadac bond \
  --source my-wallet \
  --validator tnam1validator... \
  --amount 1000

Verify Your Bonds​

namadac bonds --owner my-wallet

Example output:

Bonds:
  Validator: tnam1validator...
  Amount: 1000 NAM
  Status: Active

Stake with Multiple Validators​

Diversifying reduces risk:

Using Extension​

Repeat the staking process for each validator.

Using CLI​

# Validator 1
namadac bond --source my-wallet --validator tnam1val1... --amount 500

# Validator 2
namadac bond --source my-wallet --validator tnam1val2... --amount 300

# Validator 3
namadac bond --source my-wallet --validator tnam1val3... --amount 200
StrategyAllocation
Conservative3-5 validators
Balanced5-10 validators
Diversified10+ validators

Consider validator size, performance, and commission when allocating.

Transaction Fees​

ActionApproximate Fee
Initial stake~0.01 NAM
Add to stake~0.01 NAM
Redelegate~0.01 NAM

When Do Rewards Start?​

  • Stakes become active next epoch (~12 hours)
  • Rewards accumulate each epoch after that
  • You can check pending rewards anytime

Checking Your Stake Status​

Using Extension​

  1. Go to Staking section
  2. View "My Delegations"
  3. See amounts and validators

Using CLI​

# View all your bonds
namadac bonds --owner my-wallet

# View rewards
namadac rewards --owner my-wallet

Adding to Existing Stake​

You can add more NAM to the same validator:

Extension​

  1. Go to your delegation
  2. Click Add or Stake More
  3. Enter additional amount
  4. Confirm

CLI​

# Additional stake to same validator
namadac bond \
  --source my-wallet \
  --validator tnam1validator... \
  --amount 500

The new stake is added to your existing bond.

Redelegating​

Move stake from one validator to another without unbonding:

Extension​

  1. Find your delegation
  2. Click Redelegate
  3. Choose new validator
  4. Enter amount
  5. Confirm

CLI​

namadac redelegate \
  --source-validator tnam1old... \
  --destination-validator tnam1new... \
  --owner my-wallet \
  --amount 500

Benefits of redelegation:

  • No unbonding period
  • Continuous rewards
  • Change validators instantly

Troubleshooting​

"Insufficient balance"​

Ensure you have:

  • Amount to stake
  • Gas fee (~0.01 NAM)

Leave at least 0.5-1 NAM for future fees.

"Validator not found"​

  1. Check validator address is correct
  2. Verify validator is active
  3. Try refreshing validator list

"Transaction failed"​

  1. Check network status
  2. Ensure sufficient gas
  3. Try again in a few minutes

"Stake not showing"​

  1. Wait for current epoch to complete
  2. Refresh your wallet
  3. Check bonds via CLI

Best Practices​

Do​

  • ✅ Research validators before staking
  • ✅ Diversify across multiple validators
  • ✅ Keep some NAM liquid for fees
  • ✅ Monitor your validators occasionally
  • ✅ Consider redelegating from poor performers

Don't​

  • ❌ Stake everything (keep some for fees)
  • ❌ Stake with only one validator
  • ❌ Ignore validator performance
  • ❌ Forget about the 21-day unbonding period

What's Next?​

After staking:

  1. Claim Rewards - Collect your earnings
  2. Monitor validators - Keep track of performance
  3. Consider compounding - Restake rewards for growth

FAQ​

How much can I earn?​

Typical APY: 5-15%, depending on:

  • Network-wide staking rate
  • Validator commission
  • Your validator's performance

Can I unstake anytime?​

Yes, but there's a 21-day unbonding period. Plan accordingly.

Is staking safe?​

Generally yes, but risks include:

  • Slashing (validator misbehavior)
  • Opportunity cost (locked funds)
  • Validator failure

Diversify to reduce risk.

Should I restake rewards?​

Compounding increases long-term returns. Consider your:

  • Time horizon
  • Liquidity needs
  • Tax situation