NEAR

Staking NEAR means locking your NEAR with a validator that helps secure the network. The network pays you new tokens as a reward — like interest on a savings account, but the rate is set by the protocol, not a bank.

Right now, staking NEAR pays around 9.0% per year, after the validator's commission. The exact number depends on which validator you pick. The list above is sorted by reward rate.

Your NEAR stays in your wallet — you delegate trust, not custody. The two real risks are slashing (rare; the network can shrink your balance if your validator misbehaves) and lock-up (you can't sell instantly during the unbonding period). Picking a validator with a track record neutralizes most of the risk.

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. If you need instant exit, look for a liquid-staking option — you get a tradeable receipt token for your staked balance.

Any non-custodial wallet that supports NEAR. Connect, choose a validator from the list above, click delegate, sign the transaction. The flow is short and you don't transfer the tokens — you grant the validator the right to use your stake to vote on the network.