What Is Tezos Staking?
Tezos uses Liquid Proof-of-Stake, where validators (called bakers) create blocks and earn rewards. Delegation does not freeze your XTZ; direct staking does.
There are two ways to earn staking rewards:
Delegation
Keep full custody. No lockup. Point your XTZ at a baker. Reward payout timing, rate, and any fee are the baker's off-chain policy, so verify the terms directly.
Direct Staking
Stake directly with a baker for protocol-distributed rewards. The baker's on-chain external-staker edge determines the reward split. XTZ remains frozen until the protocol unstaking and finalization process completes.
How To Start Staking
- Get a wallet — Temple, Kukai, or Umami all support delegation
- Get XTZ — Buy on any major exchange and transfer to your wallet
- Choose a baker — Browse the live baker directory for capacity and community context, then verify the baker's published payout terms
- Delegate — Set a delegate in your wallet; reward payouts are sent under the baker's off-chain timing, rate, and fee policy
- Optional: Direct stake — Stake with a baker that accepts external stakers after checking its on-chain edge and available staking capacity
Live Staking Statistics
Issuance Rate
Staking Ratio
Total Staked
Total Delegated
APY is an estimate from live protocol issuance, supply, staked XTZ, and delegated participation. If those inputs cannot be verified, the page leaves the rate unavailable.
Delegation vs Direct Staking
| Delegation | Direct Staking | |
|---|---|---|
| APY estimate | — | — |
| Minimum | None | None (baker sets limit) |
| Availability | Not frozen — transferable | Frozen while staked, then subject to protocol unstaking/finalization |
| Custody | You keep your keys | You keep your keys |
| Protocol penalties | Delegated balance is not slashable | Stake can share penalties for punishable baker offenses |
| Reward terms | Off-chain baker payout policy; verify timing, rate, and fee directly | On-chain 0–100% external-staker edge; the baker retains that share of direct-staking rewards |
The on-chain edge_of_baking_over_staking applies to direct external staking: external stakers share the portion remaining after the baker's edge. It is not a delegation fee. Delegation payouts are baker-operated transfers whose policy is not enforced by the protocol.
Why Stake on Tezos?
- Self-amending — The protocol upgrades through on-chain governance, with no persistent upgrade-driven community split in the tracked history.
- Liquid delegation — Your XTZ are never locked when delegating. Transfer anytime.
- Low barrier — No minimum to delegate. Run a baker with 6,000 XTZ.
- Energy efficient — Proof-of-stake since day one. Negligible energy per transaction.
- Battle-tested — Mainnet since 2018, with 21+ protocol upgrades and a documented on-chain amendment record.