How to stake Solana (SOL) in 2025: A step-by-step guide for beginners

Staking Solana allows users to earn passive income through staking rewards while participating in network governance, with no minimum requirement but a practical minimum of around 0.01 SOL. To start staking, users need a SOL-compatible wallet, and staking is considered one of the safer ways to participate in crypto ecosystems. Solana is a blockchain network known for its fast transaction speeds and extensive ecosystem of decentralized applications, combining proof-of-stake and proof-of-history consensus mechanisms. Staking Solana involves locking SOL into a cryptocurrency wallet, earning rewards based on the amount staked, Solana's inflation rate, and the total amount of SOL staked on the network. Staking also gives users a say in governance, allowing them to vote on proposals that shape the Solana network. Rewards are paid out every two days, and users can choose between liquid staking, which retains liquidity, and native staking, which locks funds away. To stake Solana, users need to choose a Solana wallet, fund it with SOL, and select a validator to delegate funds to. Users can unstake their funds if they want to convert SOL, stake elsewhere, or if their validator acts out of turn. Staking Solana carries risks, including market volatility, validator behavior, cyberthreats, and past downtime, and users should evaluate their risk tolerance and take necessary precautions.