How to Stake Solana (SOL) Safely in 2025: The Complete Guide
Staking Solana (SOL) in 2025 is easier than ever - but choosing the right method is critical to protecting your tokens and maximizing rewards.
Table of Contents
What Is Solana (SOL)?
Solana is a high-performance, Proof-of-Stake blockchain designed for speed, scalability, and low fees. Its architecture allows thousands of transactions per second to be processed with near-instant finality and minimal cost.
Solana is widely used for decentralized finance (DeFi), NFTs, real-world tokenization, and high-throughput decentralized applications. At the heart of the network is SOL, the native token. SOL is used for transaction fees and staking—and plays a central role in securing the network and participating in consensus.
What Is Staking? (And Why It Matters for Solana)
Staking is a foundational mechanism for securing Proof-of-Stake (PoS) blockchains like Solana. Unlike traditional Proof-of-Work systems, PoS chains rely on validators instead of miners. These validators are chosen to produce blocks based on how much SOL is staked—or delegated—to them.
When you stake SOL, you don't transfer ownership. Instead, you lock your tokens in your wallet and delegate their weight to a validator. This acts as a kind of deposit that signals trust in the validator. In exchange, you receive a share of the validator’s rewards.
The staked SOL helps secure the network: by backing trustworthy validators, you directly contribute to the health, decentralization, and resilience of the blockchain.
To discourage bad behavior, Solana enforces slashing—a penalty for validators who act maliciously or go offline. When you stake your SOL, you support the network’s integrity, validate transactions, and earn regular staking rewards.
Why Stake Solana?
Staking SOL provides more than just yield. It’s a way to become an active participant in the Solana ecosystem. Here’s what staking offers:
1. Passive Income
Earn rewards for helping secure the network. The more SOL you stake, the more rewards you generate—typically between 6% and 9% APY.
2. Network Security and Decentralization
By staking your SOL, you're not only helping to choose validators — you’re actively contributing to the security and decentralization of the Solana network itself. Your stake becomes part of the mechanism that verifies transactions and keeps malicious actors out.
3. Control and Ownership
With non-custodial staking, your SOL never leaves your wallet. You retain full control of your private keys at all times.
4. Governance Participation
In some cases, stakers can vote on protocol proposals, giving them a voice in shaping Solana’s evolution.
5. Zero Technical Overhead
You don’t need to run infrastructure. Just choose a validator (like Blocksize), delegate, and start earning.
By staking, you turn your SOL into a productive asset—without sacrificing control.
What You Need to Get Started
You don’t need much to begin staking SOL. Here’s what you’ll need:
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SOL Tokens: You can buy SOL on any major crypto exchange.
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Wallet: Use a supported wallet like Phantom, Solflare, Ledger. Since May 2025 you can also use MetaMask.
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Small Reserve: Keep ~0.01 SOL to cover transaction fees.
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Validator: Choose a validator with high uptime, low commission, and a strong reputation, like Blocksize.
Once you’ve chosen a validator and delegated your SOL, you’ll start earning rewards automatically.
Where to Stake SOL – And Where Not To
There are several ways to stake SOL, each with tradeoffs in security, control, and liquidity. Here's a comparison:
| Method | Key Ownership | Validator Choice | Liquidity | Risk Level | DeFi Usability | Ideal For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Non-Custodial Wallet | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ❌ Locked | 🟢 Low | ❌ No | Long-term holders, control |
| Centralized Exchange | ❌ No | ❌ No | ✅ Liquid-ish | 🔴 Higher | ❌ No | Convenience-first users |
| Liquid Staking | ✅ Yes | ⚠️ Limited | ✅ Liquid | 🟡 Medium | ✅ Yes | DeFi users, advanced users |
| Aggregators | ✅ Yes | ⚠️ Mixed | ✅ Varies | 🟡 Medium | ⚠️ Partial | Discoverability, user choice |
| Staking Pools | ✅ Usually | ⚠️ Mixed | ❌ Locked | 🟢 Low | ❌ No |
Small holders, simplicity |
Details on Each Option
Non-Custodial Wallets (Native Staking)
Staking via a non-custodial wallet is the most secure and decentralized way to stake SOL. You keep full control over your keys, select a validator (like Blocksize), and earn rewards directly in your wallet — without handing over custody.
This method uses Solana’s native delegation system. Instead of transferring your SOL, you delegate your stake and voting power to a validator. This supports the network by signaling trust and helping determine who validates the next block.
Delegating lets you earn passive rewards without running any hardware. It’s a simple, native way to support Solana and share in validator earnings — but your returns depend on validator performance. That’s why it’s critical to choose a reliable operator with high uptime and transparent infrastructure.
Centralized Exchanges (Custodial) - not recommended
Exchanges like Binance or Coinbase offer simple staking interfaces but hold custody of your SOL for a very low APY (interest). This introduces risks such as loss of access if the exchange is compromised or goes bankrupt. You don’t control validator selection, nor do you have governance rights.
Staking Aggregators
Platforms like staking.kiwi or validators.app act as aggregators — they don’t hold your funds but route your delegation through curated validators. They simplify the staking journey by offering performance data and recommendations. While they usually support non-custodial staking, your validator choice may be abstracted or limited.
Liquid Staking Platforms
Protocols like Marinade, Jito, or Lido issue a token (e.g. mSOL, JitoSOL) that represents your staked SOL. These tokens earn staking rewards while remaining liquid and usable in DeFi. Liquid staking is great for advanced users who want to earn yield and retain utility.
Staking Pools
These platforms aggregate SOL from many users and distribute it across validators. Pools help smaller holders participate in staking without needing technical knowledge. Choose reputable, non-custodial pools with transparent validator strategies and low fees.
When choosing any method, always prioritize non-custodial setups with clear validator access and strong reputations.
Staking Risks (and How to Avoid Them)
Staking SOL is generally safe, especially when using non-custodial wallets and reputable validators. However, there are risks to be aware of:
1. Slashing
If a validator misbehaves or goes offline, a portion of their stake (including your delegation) may be slashed. This is rare but possible. Choosing a trusted validator with strong uptime mitigates this.
2. Custodial Risks
Staking through exchanges means handing over control of your funds. They hold the private keys, which introduces counterparty risk.
3. Lock-up Periods
When you stake SOL, it becomes locked. Unstaking takes several days (a few epochs), which means your tokens are illiquid during that time.
4. Opportunity Cost
You can’t use staked SOL in other DeFi protocols—unless you use liquid staking.
How Blocksize mitigates risk: We operate secure, geo-redundant infrastructure, 24/7 monitoring, and 99.9%+ uptime. All staking is non-custodial—your SOL never leaves your wallet.
Step-by-Step Guide to Staking SOL
1. Choose a wallet: Phantom (browser extension), Solflare as MetaMask snap integration, or Ledger (hardware) are good options.
2. Buy and transfer SOL: In order to stake SOL, you need to buy some token or transfer existing ones to your wallet. Note: leave ~0.01 SOL for transaction fees.
3. Access the staking tab: Most wallets have a “Stake” or “Delegate” button. In your Phantom wallet click "More" and "Stake SOL". Select "Native Staking" afterwards.
4. Select a validator: Search for “Blocksize” in the validator list or directly paste in our vote account address: HMk1qny4fvMnajErxjXG5kT89JKV4cx1PKa9zhQBF9ib
5. Enter your desired staking amount and confirm the transaction with a click on "Stake".
Alternative staking method: Staking Kiwi
1. Access Blocksize validator account on Staking Kiwi: Link.
2. Connect your wallet on the top right corner
3. Enter your desirred staking amount and accept the transaction by pressing "stake now":
Calculate Solana Staking APY Now
Use our staking calculator to estimate your SOL rewards. Just enter the amount of SOL you want to stake and the expected APY. Rewards compound automatically.
To the calculator
Why Blocksize Is a Top Choice for Staking SOL
Blocksize is trusted by institutions and retail stakers alike for its commitment to transparency, security, and uptime.
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Non-custodial by design — you keep control of your keys.
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German-based — validating reliably and transparently from Germany under local standards.
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Institution-grade infrastructure — SOC 2 and ISO/IEC 27001 aligned.
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Redundant validator nodes — 24/7 monitoring and automated failover.
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Trusted by banks, asset managers, and DeFi-native communities.
Delegate your SOL to a team that understands uptime, risk, and staking yield.
FAQ: Common Questions About Solana Staking
Can Blocksize access my funds?
No. Your SOL remains in your wallet. Staking only delegates voting power. Your keys stay with you.
Is there a risk of losing SOL through slashing?
Slashing is extremely rare on Solana. Blocksize maintains 99.9%+ uptime and follows best practices to avoid downtime or penalties.
Do I need to run a validator?
No. Blocksize runs the infrastructure for you. You simply delegate from your wallet.
Is staking taxed?
In many jurisdictions, staking rewards are taxable as income when received. Consult your tax advisor for details.
How do I track rewards?
Your wallet and explorers like Solana Beach or Solscan show reward history per stake account.
Can I unstake anytime?
Yes, but SOL remains locked for a few epochs (~2-4 days) before becoming liquid again.
How does staking with Blocksize work?
Search for “Blocksize” in your wallet’s validator list. Delegate any amount. Track your rewards and performance.