Kusama
Hold KSM? Earn around 13.5% per year by helping secure the network — no lock-in beyond the unbonding period.
40.0% of KSM is currently staked
First time? Three steps
How to stake on Kusama
-
1
Pick a provider you trust
Use the picks above. Non-custodial means you keep control of your keys; custodial (e.g. an exchange) means they hold them for you.
-
2
Send KSM to the provider
Most providers accept any amount. A few require a minimum — those are listed on the provider's page.
-
3
Wait for rewards to accrue
Rewards arrive automatically. To unstake, expect an unbonding window of up to 0 days on this chain.
Beyond staking · higher yield, higher risk
DeFi yields on Kusama
Top DeFi pool earns 12.6% vs 13.5% from native staking — but DeFi adds smart-contract and impermanent-loss risk.
1 pools
| Pool | Protocol | Type | Yield | Pool size ↓ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VK bifrost-liquid-staking - VKSM VKSM | BI Bifrost Liquid Staking | farming | 12.62% | $890Thousand | → |
Read up before you stake
Background reading on Kusama staking
Guide
What is staking?
The plain-English version: how locking your tokens earns you new tokens, and why the network pays you to do it.
Read the guide →
Guide
How blockchains differ from each other
Why Solana, Ethereum, and Cosmos chains pay different rates and why their security models differ.
Read the guide →
Guide
What does a validator actually do?
Validators run the chain. Pick a healthy one and your rewards arrive on schedule; pick a bad one and you can lose part of your stake.
Read the guide →
Frequently asked
What people ask about Kusama staking
What does staking KSM on Kusama mean?
+
Staking on Kusama means locking your KSM with a validator that helps run the network. In return, the network pays you a share of newly created tokens — similar to how a savings account pays interest, but the rate is set by the protocol, not a bank.
How much can I earn?
+
Right now the top validators on Kusama pay varies by validator per year, after their commission. The rate moves with the chain's inflation schedule and how much of the supply is staked overall.
Is staking safe?
+
Your tokens stay in your wallet — you never hand them over. The two real risks are slashing (the network can shrink your balance if your validator misbehaves, which is rare) and lock-up (you can't sell instantly during the unbonding period). Pick a validator with a track record and you sidestep most of the risk.
Can I unstake whenever I want?
+
Yes, but unstaking is not instant. Most chains have an unbonding period of a few days to a few weeks during which you don't earn rewards and can't sell. Liquid-staking tokens (like stETH for Ethereum) sidestep this by giving you a tradeable receipt token.
What wallet do I need?
+
Any non-custodial wallet that supports Kusama works — Phantom or Solflare for Solana, Keplr for Cosmos chains, MetaMask for Ethereum and EVM chains, Yoroi or Eternl for Cardano. Connect, choose a validator, click delegate. The whole flow takes a couple of minutes.
See also
Terms used on this page
-
Validator
A computer that processes transactions and votes on the blockchain's state. In return for keeping the network honest it collects fees and staking rewards.
-
Slashing
An automatic penalty where part of a validator's stake is destroyed for misbehaviour or extended downtime. Real risk for delegators too.
-
Unbonding Period
The waiting time after you unstake before tokens become liquid again. Ranges from minutes (Ethereum LSTs) to 21+ days (Cosmos chains).
-
Validator Commission
The fee a validator takes from staking rewards before passing the rest to delegators. Often 5–15%; lower means more of the reward reaches you.
-
Real Yield
Yield paid in revenue-bearing assets (ETH, USDC, fees) rather than newly minted protocol tokens. The non-inflationary part of the rate.