Learn how to stake NEAR tokens and earn staking rewards!
NEAR Staking
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Rewards
APY
8.3% 9.3%
Details
Rating
8/10
Reward fee
1-10%
Risk
Low
Unstake period
2-3 days
By staking NEAR tokens, users contribute to the security and decentralization of the network while earning staking rewards. In this guide, we’ll focus on staking NEAR through the Nansen platform. We’ve specifically chosen Nansen because of the potential for an upcoming Nansen airdrop. Staking NEAR on Nansen may make users eligible for these airdrop rewards in addition to the standard NEAR staking rewards.
Nansen is a validator on the NEAR network. Validators are responsible for processing transactions, validating blocks, and maintaining network consensus. For users who don’t want to run their own validator, staking through a validator like Nansen is a simple alternative. This process is known as delegation, and users who do this are called delegators. As a delegator, users have a share in the validator’s staking rewards.
NEAR offers attractive staking incentives, with rewards that are higher than those available on networks like Solana (6.9 - 7.6%) or Ethereum (2.9 - 4.4%). These rewards are generated through protocol inflation, where new tokens are issued annually.
Staking rewards are paid out in NEAR tokens and are automatically distributed every epoch, which occurs approximately once in 12 hours. The total amount users earn depends on how much NEAR is staked across the network and the performance of the validator users delegated to. If a user chose to unstake his tokens, there is an unbonding period of four to six epochs (or roughly two to three days), before his tokens become available for withdrawal. To stake on Nansen, the minimum amount required is just 0.1 NEAR, making it accessible for most users.
To get started, users need a wallet that supports the NEAR network. There are several options available, including OKX Wallet, Trust Wallet, MyNearWallet, and others. Once the wallet is set up and funded with NEAR tokens, users can delegate to the Nansen validator directly through the platform and begin earning rewards.
Pros & Cons
Getting Started is Affordable
You can begin staking with as little as 0.1 NEAR. This small amount works across different wallets and platforms like Nansen, Trust Wallet, MyNearWallet, and others.
Chance for Value Growth
If NEAR’s price goes up over time, you benefit from both the staking rewards and the higher token value. So, you could end up with more NEAR that's also worth more.
Generally Lower Risk
Staking is typically safer than yield farming in DeFi. It supports the blockchain’s core functions and doesn’t depend on complex smart contracts that can carry more risk.
Easy-to-Understand
Platforms like Nansen offer a clean and simple interface for staking, unstaking, and claiming rewards. It makes the process straightforward for most users.
Price Fluctuations
The value of NEAR in dollars can go up or down, which means the actual worth of your staking rewards might change. Even if you’re earning more NEAR, those tokens could be worth less in the future.
Unstaking Takes Time
After you choose to unstake, there’s a waiting period of about 2–3 days before you can access your tokens. You won’t earn rewards during this time. This kind of delay is common with many proof-of-stake networks, though the exact duration can differ.
Funds Are Temporarily Locked
While your NEAR is staked, it can’t be used for trading or anything else. That means your funds aren’t immediately available if other opportunities come up.
Inflation Impact
NEAR offers higher staking rewards compared to some other networks, but these rewards come from new tokens being created. This leads to a higher inflation rate than what you’d see with networks like Ethereum or Solana.