Despite carrying inherent risks, staking is one of the safest ways to supplement your earnings in crypto. The idea is simple — instead of holding your assets in a wallet where they remain stagnant, staking involves locking your crypto in a smart contract for a set period to support a blockchain’s operations. In exchange, you earn rewards for your contribution. So, which are the best crypto staking platforms in 2024? Let’s take a look.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
• Staking allows crypto holders to lock up their assets for a certain amount of time in order to support a blockchain’s operations.
• Some of the top crypto staking platforms include Tonstakers, Uphold, and Kraken.
• Users should consider fees and security as well as the APR on offer when choosing a platform.
- Best crypto staking platforms in 2024
- 1. Tonstakers
- 2. Uphold
- 3. Kraken
- 4. Margex
- 5. Bybit Savings
- 6. Binance
- 7. Nexo
- 8. Zengo
- 9. Gate.io
- 10. CoinLoan
- Crypto staking platforms compared
- What is crypto staking?
- How to easily stake your crypto?
- How to choose the best crypto staking platforms?
- When should you stake crypto?
- What’s the best crypto staking platform for you?
- Frequently asked questions
Best crypto staking platforms in 2024
1. Tonstakers
One of the top options for staking TON on The Open Network, Tonstakers is a liquid staking protocol and staking community. The platform is highly user-friendly and caters to a diverse set of user types. Stakers benefit from a super-simple process, top-end security, and some of the best rates on the market, while being able to keep access to staked assets at all times. The non-custodial platform is audited by Certik and is open source.
3.07% APY
- Rewards are paid daily
- User-friendly
- Liquid staking
- Open-source
- Only supports TON
- Not available in U.S.
2. Uphold
We selected Uphold because it lets you stake your crypto without frills or fuss. As of June 2024, the platform has listed nearly two dozen assets for staking. You can stake Zilliqa, Polkadot, Cosmos, Solana, Ether, and Aptos, among others. The annual percentage yields (APYs) are also pretty good, going all the way up to 16%.
Uphold notably offers a one-stop shop for a wide range of assets, not just crypto. You can buy over 250 different cryptocurrencies, but you can also get your hands on other assets such as precious metals and different currencies from around the world.
32 cryptocurrencies with APY up to 16%
– ATOM: 11% APY
– INJ: 14% APY
– ETH: 3% APY
– DOT: 14% APY
- Various assets (e.g., crypto, precious metals, & fiat)
- More than 250 cryptocurrencies available
- Available on iOS and Android
- Has a crypto card
- Limited regional availability
- U.S. users limited services
1. Create an account by going to the Uphold website or using the app.
2. Select an asset.
3. Receive rewards
Terms apply. Crypto assets are highly volatile. Your capital is at risk.
3. Kraken
Kraken makes this list due to its selection of listed assets, the enticing APYs on offer, and the platform’s reputation as a well-rounded and secure exchange.
The CEX lets you stake most of the prominent altcoins, including Algorand, Cardano, Polkadot, Tezos, Kava, Flare, Flow, Tron, and many more. Rewards can reach as high as 26% annually.
-ETH: Up to 6% (bonded); 1-4% (flexible)
-DOT: Up to 21% (bonded 28D); 7-11% (flexible)
-ATOM: Up to 18% (bonded 21D); 6-10% (flexible)
-XTZ: Up to 7% (flexible)
- Multiple assets
- High yields
- High level security features
- Not available in the U.S.
1. Sign up to Kraken exchange using the link below
2. Login to the exchange.
3. Select Earn at the top of the website.
4. Select stake and choose an asset to stake.
4. Margex
With Margex, you can actually use your staked crypto to trade with leverage — up to 100x! Essentially, this offers the potential for less risk-averse investors to see double the action on their assets. The annual percentage yield is not as high as offered by some of our other listed options, but Margex promises that these are honest, reliable, and steady numbers.
We also chose this platform due to its use of the MP Shield tool, which protects you from price manipulations.
– LINK: 3% APY
– BTC: 3% APY
– USDT: 5% APY
– USDC: 5% APY
– ETH: 4.7% APY
- High liquidity and fast execution
- Diverse order types available
- Advanced trading interface
- Mobile support
- Minimum deposit of $10
- No native fiat support
- Limited global availability
1. Go to the Margex website and select staking in the top, right hand corner.
2. Deposit one of the available coins for staking.
3. Go to your wallet and enable staking.
5. Bybit Savings
We chose Bybit Savings as it is a low-risk, stable way to dip your toes into cryptocurrency staking. The platform is great for beginners, with easy staking options for major coins like Bitcoin and Ethereum. You can choose to stake flexibly, meaning you can pull your crypto out whenever you want, or for a fixed term with a guaranteed rate. Additionally, the platform also offers a unique feature called APR Booster that gives you a temporary yield boost on top of the standard rate. The platform is also highlighted due to its revolving time-limited offers, including one for up to 100% APR when staking USDT.
APTR – Up to 50% (fixed)
USDT – 100% (fixed/flexible)
AXS – 4.99% (fixed/flexible)
- Fixed and flexible staking options
- Multiple assets available
- Custodial
- Not available in the U.S.
1. Go to the Bybit website using the link below
2. Go the Finance drop down tab.
3. Select Earn.
4. Choose an asset to stake.
6. Binance
Binance staking offers a straightforward way to earn passive income from your crypto stash. It is great for both beginners and experienced investors, with different staking options to choose from. Whether you prefer the security of locked staking, the potential high rewards of DeFi staking, or want to support the Ethereum network through ETH 2.0 staking, Binance covers all the bases, earning the platform a spot in this list.
Furthermore, the platform makes it easy to track your rewards and manage your staked assets. And, of course, Binance being Binance — the world’s largest crypto exchange by trading volume — you get the level of brand value and reputation that you would expect from a go-to staking platform.
-ATOM: 11.5%
-ADA: 1.7%
-MATIC: 3%
-DOT: 9.1%
- Over 350 assets
- Available worldwide
- Not available in the U.S.
1. Go to the Binance website using the link below
2. Select the Earn dropdown tab.
3. Choose Binance Earn, Simple Earn, or any other Earn product.
4. Choose and asset and start staking.
7. Nexo
With interest rates up to 16% for starter users, Nexo is another top staking provider that easily makes this list. There are four loyalty tiers on the platform, starting from Base and going up to Platinum. As you move to a higher tier, your rewards increase noticeably. For instance, if you are a Base member, you will get a return of up to 20% on Axie Infinity (AXS) staking. As you move up the ladder, you get 22.75%, 25%, and 30% as a Silver, Gold, and Platinum member respectively.
Interests are automatically compounded every day, which is key for ensuring a speedy growth of your portfolio valuation over time.
-BTC: Up to 7%
-DOT: Up to 15%
-ETH: Up to 8%
- Multiple assets
- Fixed and flexible plans
- Can borrow and re-stake on the same platform
- Not available in the U.S.
- You can only lend to earn yield
1. Sign up for the Nexo platform using the link below
2. Go to the Nexo website and login to your account.
3. Go to the products dropdown tab and select Earn Interest.
4. Select an asset.
8. Zengo
We chose Zengo as one of the top staking providers in 2024 thanks to the platform’s simplicity and security. With a neat and straightforward interface, Zengo is a great option for beginners. At the same time, it has enough advanced features to meet the requirements of experienced investors.
The platform lets you easily stake assets like Ethereum and Tezos directly from your Zengo wallet — overall, it’s a pretty efficient process. Apart from that, Zengo stands out for its focus on security. Your staked assets never leave your Zengo wallet, meaning you’re always in control. Furthermore, in our assessment, the platform is transparent with its rewards and staking fees.
-XTZ: 4.92% APR
-ETH: 3.65% APR
- Simple to use
- Globally available
- Only Tezos is available to stake
1. Sign in to the ZenGo wallet using the link below
2. Go to the Actions tab.
3. Select Earn.
4. Choose the asset.
9. Gate.io
Gate.io offers certain distinct advantages for stakers via its popular HODL & Earn program. It gives you tons of options to earn passive income from your crypto stash irrespective of how experienced you are. For instance, it brings you the choice to go for both locked and flexible staking options.
If you’re looking for the highest possible returns and don’t mind locking up your crypto for a set period, locked staking is the way to go. But if you prefer flexibility and the ability to access your crypto at any time, flexible staking might be a better fit.
On top of that, the platform also supports PoS staking. For those out of the loop, it is like a crypto savings account. You can earn daily interest on your balance without locking up your funds. And last but not least, getting started with Gate.io staking is relatively pretty easy, which adds further to its appeal.
-USDC: Up to 2.63%
-ETH: Up to 0.88%
-USDT: Up to 0.88%
-UNI: Up to 35.92%
- Multiple assets to earn
- Available globally
- Many yields are lower than protocol native staking
1. Go the Gate.io official website using the link below
2. Go to the top of the page and hover over the Finance dropdown tab.
3. Select Lend & Earn.
4. Choose an asset.
10. CoinLoan
We listed CoinLoan as the platform offers both flexible and fixed staking options, meaning you can choose what works best for you. It is also highly transparent and has no hidden fees or charges to worry about.
If you want to keep all your options open, CoinLoan’s flexible account lets you earn daily interest and withdraw anytime. Meanwhile, if you are specifically after higher returns, you may consider a fixed account that offers up to 9.2% annual interest, with the option to earn even more by staking the platform’s native token, CLT.
-ETH 7%
-USDC 9.2%
-USDT 9.2%
-Solana 7%
- High and consistent yields
- Multiple assets to earn
- Multiple terms
- Actual returns may be lower than portrayed
1. Sign up for an account on CoinLoan.
2. Go to the products dropdown tab and select Earn.
3. Scroll down to Asset.
4. Choose an asset.
Crypto staking platforms compared
How do the best crypto-staking platforms compare? Let’s take a quick look.
| Availability | Cryptos | Interest rate | Welcome bonus | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tonstakers | Global except for U.S. | TON | 3.07% | No |
| Uphold | U.S., U.K. and 4+ | 250+ | Up to 16% APY | Seasonal cashback for deposit |
| Kraken | U.S., E.U., and 100+ | 16 | Up to 26% | No |
| Margex | 100+ | 39 | Up to 5% | $50 bonus |
| Bybit Savings | 100+ countries | 38 | Revolving special offers | Up to $5,000 |
| Binance | U.S., E.U., and 100+ countries | 350+ | Up to 19.9% | $10 for U.S. users only |
| Nexo | E.E.A. and 100+ countries | 35 | Up to 16% | No |
| Zengo | U.S., E.U., 100+ countries | 120+ | Up to 8% | $10 in BTC |
| Gate.io | U.S., E.U., and 100+ countries | 100+ | 35.92% | Up to $100 |
| CoinLoan | 100+ | 21 | 9.2% | No |
What is crypto staking?
Cryptocurrency staking is the act of locking up cryptocurrencies on a blockchain network to help verify and confirm transactions in exchange for rewards or staking fees.
You can only stake cryptocurrency on proof-of-stake (PoS) blockchains, such as Cardano, Solana, or Polygon. While there are many other blockchains that use this consensus mechanism, it is important to note that not all tokens are suitable for staking.
Crypto holders who deposit their coins for staking are called delegators. In a nutshell, staking crypto contributes toward decentralizing and securing the blockchain in exchange for staking benefits. Staking coins is also a great way for crypto investors to generate passive income. This is especially true if you have high-interest rate staking yields on your chosen cryptocurrencies.
How to easily stake your crypto?
The staking process is usually easy and is accessible to almost all cryptocurrency holders. Most centralized cryptocurrency exchanges (CEXs) offer cryptocurrency staking or staking pools on their platforms. One of the most used CEXs for staking crypto is Binance.
Using Binance, you can stake your crypto in a few steps.
- Set up a Binance account and verify your identity
- Deposit funds into your account
- Go to Binance Staking and choose crypto to stake
You can find Binance Staking on the top menu under “Earn” > “Staking.”
Note that each coin has a different APR (Annual Percentage Rate), a pre-defined duration for staking (e.g., 30, 60, 90 days), and a minimum amount for staking.
- Set the amount to stake and confirm the deposit.
After the time is up, you will be able to unlock your funds. This is just one example of how easy it is to stake crypto on a compatible platform.
How to choose the best crypto staking platforms?
Finding trusted staking platforms is key to earning extra rewards on your holdings. So, how do you pick the right ones? Here are a few tips to keep in mind.
Fees
Firstly, consider whether these platforms are free of exorbitant fees, as this directly impacts your net earnings. The best cryptocurrency staking platforms are free from high costs and thus enable you to retain a larger portion of your staking rewards.
This is particularly important when dealing with platforms offering the highest APY crypto staking options. Hefty staking fees can quickly diminish high returns, so it’s crucial to find a balance between high APY and low costs.
Platform type
Another vital aspect is the staking provider’s alignment with DeFi (decentralized finance) principles. Determine whether you require a centralized or decentralized platform.
The best DeFi staking platform will offer a transparent, user-controlled approach to staking, often yielding higher returns and providing more flexibility. It may also provide liquid staking derivatives, which can be used for yield farming.
These decentralized staking platforms leverage blockchain technology to offer a more democratic and accessible staking environment compared to their centralized counterparts.
However, note that security on decentralized platforms tends to be weaker. Weigh up your priorities and only deviate from centralized platforms when you’re confident enough to do so.
Crypto staking rewards
Not every crypto is stakeable, and the ones that are aren’t always available on every platform. So, it’s important that you do your homework properly to understand the relevant factors, such as availability and staking risks, before deciding on which crypto is right for you.
This means researching the different cryptocurrencies available for staking and making sure the platform you choose supports the ones you’re interested in. That said, most of the trusted staking platforms we have listed in this article offer a wide variety of coins to choose from.
Additionally, you must consider the rewards rate versus the inflation rate and price, as an imbalance can result in diminished rewards.
Ease of use and support
The staking provider you choose should be user-friendly. It should provide clear guidance and support and ensure the process of staking is straightforward. Unnecessary complexity serves nobody and can lead to users making errors. Good customer support will help you avoid any crypto staking mistakes.
When should you stake crypto?
There’s no optimal time to stake — everything in crypto is highly dependent on the individual. However, while operating in bear markets comes with risk, it can also lead to greater reward when staking.
Let’s think of it this way. When you stake crypto, you are essentially locking it up to help the network run smoothly. In return, you are rewarded with more coins. So, if you buy and stake during a bear market, when prices are low, you’re snagging those extra coins at a discount.
History also shows us that after every bear market comes a recovery period. When the market bounces back, your staked assets be worth more, and you’ll also — theoretically — have a bunch of extra coins thanks to those staking rewards.
What’s the best crypto staking platform for you?
The best crypto staking platform for you will ultimately depend on the assets you want to stake and your individual priorities. Some people may simply be on the hunt for the best APR. Others may be looking for solid returns but with more of a diverse asset range or a specific security measure.
While not all staking providers on this list will offer the specific assets you’re interested in, it’s important to remember that the value of holding one crypto over another varies with each investor’s long-term strategy. Regardless of the platform you choose, try not to make decisions based on FOMO. Always conduct due diligence and only invest what you can afford to lose. Staking comes with risk, and returns are never guaranteed.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.