Which validator should I stake my assets with?
The best validator is subjective and ultimately up to you. However, here are some factors to consider:
- Self-bonded ratio: The higher the self-bonded ratio, the more “skin in the game” the validator has. This usually means the validator has strong incentives to act fairly and maintain secure infrastructure.
- Commission: Validator commissions usually range between 0–20%. This fee represents the payment validators request for their service. Some validators are very active in the community and build additional tools to support the network. This adds value but also raises the team’s operational costs. It is often a good idea to consider validators who are actively contributing to the growth of the network, as it shows they are reinvesting their commission back into the ecosystem. Note: fees can change over time so we strongly suggest following your validators on X.com or check your Keplr Dashboard Inbox often to stay up to date on possible changes.
- Voting power: Validators with higher voting power may provide more stability, but staking only with them can lead to centralization. To support decentralization, consider staking with smaller or mid-sized validators as well.
- Reputation and activity: Learn more about validators through the Keplr Dashboard or via explorers such as Mintscan.
It is important to remember that if the validator to which you have delegated your tokens is slashed, your tokens will also be slashed.
What are the risks associated with staking?
There is a possibility that your validator may be slashed. This can happen due to:
- Downtime (going offline): 0.01% of the stake will be slashed.
- Double signing: 5% of the stake will be slashed.
We strongly recommend checking the reputation of the validator before staking your tokens and monitoring their status through the Keplr Dashboard’s Inbox or their official channels on X.
What does it mean when a validator is jailed?
Validators are jailed for too much downtime or double signing blocks; this will freeze this validator until the validator takes manual action to resolve the issue(s). This is to further incentivize validator uptime and to protect funds from getting further slashed.
What can I do if I've staked with a jailed validator?
Ultimately, it's up to validator to get themselves unjailed, but in the meantime you can try to switch to another validator.
How much staking rewards / APY can I expect by staking?
The APR for each chain is calculated based on that chain’s staking formula. You can check it on the individual chain’s page in the Keplr Dashboard or view them all at once on the Chains page.
How does Keplr wallet return staking data?
Keplr uses the standard SDK API to return staking data. You can learn more about that here: Cosmos Network SDK
How often do rewards get paid out?
Rewards are paid on a per-block basis. They accrue to your pending staking reward which you can claim using the 'Claim Reward' transaction.
How often should I claim my rewards?
There is no correct answer because this depends on too many factors, including how many tokens are in stake, transaction fees in that particular network, etc.
Do claimed rewards go through an unbonding period?
No, the rewards will be sent directly into your available balance.
I forgot to claim my rewards before unstaking or switching validator and now they're gone.
Staking rewards are automatically claimed when you unstake or switch validator and added to your available balance.
I staked with multiple validators on multiple chains. Can I claim my rewards at once?
Yes, by pressing [Claim All] in Keplr Wallet or Keplr Dashboard.
How many times can I switch validator? What are some restrictions to redelegations?
You can technically switch as many times as you'd like, but its only the first time you redelegate from a validator to another that there will be no unbonding period. Please note that all the redelegations after this first one must occur after the length of the unbonding period.
For example, on Cosmos Hub:
I can't switch to another validator.
There could be several reasons for this, but the main ones are:
- There are not enough tokens in your available balance to cover the transaction fees
- You have selected fees that are too low to make the transaction successful in that network
- Your tokens are in an unbonding period; you have added new tokens to your starting validator less than 21 days ago
- You have already redelegated your tokens less than the unbonding period duration.
What is the unbonding period and how long does it take?
Unbonding is an on-chain, parameterized period of time during which delegators must wait for their tokens to become fully available again. The period begins when your unstaking transaction is processed, and until it has passed, the tokens remain locked.
- For example, on Cosmos Hub, the unbonding period lasts 21 days, serving as a security measure for the network.
- The duration varies by chain (e.g., Osmosis = 14 days, Babylon = 50 hours).
During the unbonding period, you cannot perform any operations with your tokens, nor will you receive staking rewards. If you change your mind, some chains (e.g. Celestia) support a “Cancel Unstaking” feature. When available, you can use it directly from the Keplr Dashboard.
Importantly, you do not need to unstake your tokens to change validators. Instead, use the [Switch Validator] option available in the [Staking] section of the Keplr Dashboard.
Why am I forced to pay higher gas fees to claim and stake my rewards?
Fees are set by the validators. Perhaps with more network traffic, the fees are higher.
How did Keplr enable approveless transactions for Claim & Stake All?
Keplr Extension and Dashboard offer their users the convenience of claiming and/or staking rewards across all chains with a single click. They have streamlined the process of reward withdrawal and delegation by auto-approving the transactions. This enhancement significantly improves the frontend experience, sparing users the inconvenience of repeatedly approving transactions when claiming and staking rewards on multiple chains. Please note that the approveless transaction feature has been specifically integrated into the "Claim & Stake All". There are no other features that require bypassing your approval in this manner.