How it works
When you delegate SOL to a validator, you earn two types of rewards:- Inflation rewards are the base staking yield from Solana’s inflation, currently under 5% APY. These auto-compound — they are added to your staked balance each epoch without any action needed.
- MEV rewards are additional yield from validators running the Jito client (most Solana validators). MEV rewards do not auto-compound. They accumulate as idle SOL and must be claimed manually.
If you stake mid-epoch, your stake shows as “Activating” until the next epoch begins. Once active, it starts earning rewards.
Stake SOL
1
Choose a validator
Navigate to Stake in the sidebar and select the Validator tab. Browse or search for a validator. Each row shows effective APY (estimated annual yield), commission percentage, and total SOL staked.
2
Review validator details
Select Stake on a validator’s row to open the staking modal. Review the APY breakdown (Total APY, Native APY, and Jito MEV APY), along with total stake, commission, and number of delegators.
3
Configure your stake
Select the sub-account to stake from under Account and enter the amount of SOL (minimum 1 SOL). MAX holds back 0.02 SOL for fees. Add a note if needed.
4
Submit for approval
Select Stake to create the proposal. Once approved and executed, your stake enters the activation period and becomes active at the next epoch boundary.
View staked positions
Navigate to Stake, select the Validator tab, and set Filter by to Staked. Your stake accounts are grouped by validator. Each stake account shows its status (Activating, Active, Deactivating, or Inactive) and staked amount.Manage stake accounts
From the Staked view you can also:- Add Stake: stake more SOL with a validator you already delegate to.
- Split stake: open Unstake on a stake account and turn on Split stake to move part of it into a second stake account. Both accounts stay delegated and no cooldown starts. Each account must keep at least 1 SOL.
- Merge accounts: select two or more stake accounts under the same validator, then select Review merge to combine them into one.
- Delegate: delegate a stake account that is not delegated yet to a validator of your choice.
Claim MEV rewards
Most Solana validators run the Jito client, which generates MEV rewards on top of standard yield. Unlike inflation rewards, MEV does not compound automatically.1
Open the Stake page
Navigate to Stake. The claimable amount is shown at the top of the page.
2
Claim rewards
Select Claim all MEV rewards, then Confirm, to collect accumulated MEV across all your stake accounts.
3
Approve and execute
The claim creates a proposal. Once approved and executed, the rewards arrive in your sub-account.
Claim MEV rewards periodically to maximize yield. Unclaimed MEV sits idle and does not earn additional rewards. Consider claiming and restaking to compound your returns.
Unstake SOL
Unstaking is a two-phase process: deactivate your stake, then withdraw once deactivation completes.Deactivate
1
Select the position
Navigate to Stake, select the Validator tab, set Filter by to Staked, and find the stake account you want to unstake under its validator.
2
Start unstaking
Select Unstake on the stake account. Enter the amount to unstake, or select MAX to unstake the full position. A partial unstake must be at least 1 SOL and leave at least 1 SOL staked.
3
Submit for approval
Select Unstake to create the proposal. Once executed, your stake status changes to “Deactivating.” You continue earning inflation rewards during this period.
Withdraw
Once your stake status changes to “Inactive” (at the next epoch boundary), return to the Staked view and select Withdraw on the inactive stake account. Choose the sub-account that receives the SOL under Deposit SOL to. The full inactive balance is withdrawn. Once the withdrawal proposal is approved and executed, your SOL returns to that sub-account. Deactivation takes up to one epoch, depending on when in the epoch you unstake.Best practices
- Compare validator metrics. Look at commission rates, total stake, and Jito MEV support. Many validators offer 0% commission.
- Claim MEV regularly. Unlike inflation rewards, MEV does not auto-compound. Claim periodically and restake to maximize long-term yield.
- Plan for epoch timing. Unstaking takes up to one epoch, then a withdrawal proposal. Only stake what you can afford to lock during this period.
- Keep SOL for fees. Ensure your sub-account has enough SOL to cover proposal fees for staking, claiming, and unstaking.
- Diversify across validators. Spreading stake across multiple validators reduces risk and supports network decentralization.
Troubleshooting
Troubleshooting
FAQ
FAQ
How long does staking take to activate?Your stake activates at the start of the next epoch, so activation takes up to one epoch depending on when you stake.How long does unstaking take?Unstaking requires waiting until the current epoch ends, then executing a separate withdrawal proposal. Plan for up to one epoch, plus the time your Squad needs to approve both proposals.Do inflation rewards compound automatically?Yes. Inflation rewards are added to your staked balance each epoch without any action. MEV rewards do not auto-compound and must be claimed manually using Claim all MEV rewards, then restaked if you want to compound them.What is the difference between native APY and Jito MEV APY?Native APY is the base yield from Solana’s inflation, which auto-compounds. Jito MEV APY is additional yield from transaction ordering fees, distributed by validators running the Jito client. MEV currently adds a fraction of a percent to your total yield and requires manual claiming. The Jito MEV APY in each validator’s details shows the current figure.Can I unstake part of my position?Yes. Enter a specific amount when unstaking to split the position. The remainder stays active and continues earning rewards. Both the unstaked amount and the remainder must be at least 1 SOL.