The crypto asset Ethereum continues to grow in popularity and many people are looking for methods to profit from it. Among the most popular ways is by staking ETH.
Ethereum staking is the locking of ETH on the Ethereum network to help validate transactions and keep the network secure. In return, you will receive a reward in the form of ETH.
Now, to understand more about what Ethereum staking is, from the process, benefits, how it works, how to participate, to the factors to consider when choosing a staking method, see the following review.
What is Staking Ethereum?
Ethereum staking is a new mechanism introduced with Ethereum 2.0. The main blockchain network applies Proof–of–Stake (PoS) consensus to increase its capacity.
Unlike staking, which uses the Proof-of-Stake mechanism, traditional crypto mining uses the Proof–of–Work (PoW) mechanism.
In PoW, miners compete to solve complex math problems using high computing power to validate transactions and add new blocks to the blockchain.
Miners who successfully solve the problem first earn a reward in the form of new coins. Traditional crypto mining with PoW requires enormous computing power, which means high electricity consumption.
That often leads to a significant environmental impact as many miners use electricity derived from energy sources that are not environmentally friendly.
On the other hand, staking is much more energy efficient as it does not require high computing power to validate transactions. ETH staking allows Ethereum owners to secure a certain amount of their coins as collateral.
These coin owners act as validators who help verify transactions and new blocks on the blockchain. In return, they have the opportunity to earn rewards or incentives.
Ethereum staking serves several purposes, such as increasing network security, reducing reliance on mining which requires high computing power, and giving Ethereum coin holders the opportunity to earn passive income.
The ETH staking program incentivizes coin holders to support and maintain the integrity of the main network.
By participating in ETH staking, everyone can contribute to block formation and transaction authorization, and help the development of the Ethereum network.
What is Proof of Stake (PoS)?
Proof-of-Stake (PoS) is a consensus mechanism used by the Ethereum network to validate transactions and create new blocks in the blockchain. This system was created to ensure the security of every transaction in a distributed database.
Unlike Proof-of-Work (PoW), which requires a lot of computing power, PoS reduces the computational burden required for block and transaction verification.
In PoS, crypto asset owners use their coins as collateral so no intensive computing power is required. The selection of validators in the PoS mechanism does not depend on computational power or the amount of assets held, but is randomized.
This randomization process ensures that every individual has the opportunity to confirm transactions and validate blocks without having to compete for computing power.
Ethereum Staking Process
Investors may have heard of cryptocurrency miners who validate transactions on blockchains with Proof-of-Work mechanisms like Bitcoin.
Crypto miners attempt to solve complex mathematical puzzles using high-powered computers that consume large amounts of electricity.
Some of the leading cryptocurrencies that use Proof-of-Work models, most notably Bitcoin, have been widely criticized for their rapidly increasing energy consumption.
Staking is the main alternative to Proof-of-Work. Instead of using high-powered computers to try to solve math puzzles, Ethereum staking involves locking ETH on the blockchain for a chance to validate transactions and earn more ETH in return.
Benefits of Ethereum Staking
Basically, Ethereum staking will provide several benefits, including the following.
1. Passive Income from Staking
By staking, ETH owners can earn rewards in the form of new ETH as incentives. In addition to the staking rewards, the ever-increasing market value of ETH can add to the benefits for ETH owners.
2. Strengthening Network Security
Validators participating in staking have a vested interest in maintaining the security and integrity of the network as they are staking their own ETH.
In addition, staking also allows more people to participate in the consensus process without the need for expensive and energy-intensive mining equipment.
3. Accessibility of Staking
Staking essentially provides an opportunity for more people to participate in the Ethereum network even with only a small amount of ETH.
On the other hand, with more participants, the Ethereum network becomes more decentralized and secure from attacks or manipulation.
How does it work?
Ethereum staking works in two ways, namely the Proof-of-Stake mechanism and the reward scheme for validators. Here’s how Ethereum staking works, which is important to know.
Proof of Stake Mechanism
In contrast to PoW consensus, the PoS mechanism typically combines 32 transaction blocks in each validation period lasting 6.4 minutes known as an “epoch”.
During each epoch, the beacon chain randomly selects a committee of 128 stakers to validate a particular shard block. The committee has 32 slots to propose and validate transactions within the block.
When assigned to a block, one committee member will propose a new block, while the other 127 members validate its transactions.
Once the committee completes the block verification process, the block is added to the blockchain network, and a cross-link is created to confirm the addition. Each staker who proposes a new block will receive a reward in return.
Reward Scheme for Validators
It is important to note that block proposers and attesters have different reward schemes. Block proposers receive a portion of the base reward (“B”), while provers receive the rest.
This base reward determines the Ethereum issuance rate which will decrease per validator as the number of participants increases.
How to Participate in Ethereum Staking
There are two ways to participate in Ethereum staking: solo staking and staking pools. The following is an explanation of each method.
1. Solo Staking
Anyone can participate in Ethereum solo staking by becoming a validator who verifies transactions and blocks for a reward. This method gives you full control over your assets and the potential for greater rewards.
However, keep in mind that to do so, you need at least 32 ETH coins and a deep technical understanding which may not be suitable for everyone.
2. Staking Pool
Staking pool is another type. In this method, coin owners can combine their resources with other coin holders.
By combining ETH, the staking pool increases the chances of validating the block. The rewards from the staking process will be divided fairly based on their contributions.
The staking pool is suitable for coin owners with small amounts and little technical knowledge about staking.
Does Staking Have Risks?
While staking has many benefits, it also has a number of risks that are important to be aware of, including the following.
1. Volatility and Liquidity
Staking ETH carries the risk of price volatility, where the value of ETH can fluctuate sharply. This means that the value of your investment can drop significantly in a short period of time.
In addition, staked ETH is locked during the staking period so it cannot be accessed or sold, which reduces the liquidity of your assets. This risk can be problematic if you need funds urgently or if the market moves unfavorably.
2. Maintenance and Technical Issues
ETH staking carries potential risks of volatility and liquidity, maintenance and technical issues with equipment, and financial penalties.
The price of ETH may drop or the validator may stop functioning properly due to malfunction, error or hacking, which may cause losses to your investment.
The ETH you stake will be locked during the staking period and you will not be able to access it during that time. The ETH you stake may be penalized or slashed if you fail to vote or behave in a malicious manner.
Factors to Consider when Choosing a Staking Method
When choosing a staking method, there are several factors to consider, including the following.
1. Deposit Requirements
Minimum deposit requirements affect the flexibility of the staking strategy. A higher minimum deposit may require a longer staking period to break even and reduce the capital allocation of the investment portfolio.
Lower minimum deposits may encourage shorter staking periods and free up capital allocation to other investment areas.
2. Security
Staking involves locking up a significant amount of crypto assets for a long period of time. In this case, choosing a platform with the best cybersecurity, digital security, and technological robustness can reduce the risk of loss and theft.
3. Staking Fee
Staking fees can differ greatly between various crypto wallets and exchanges and have a big impact on the overall outcome.
Therefore, it is important to pay close attention to the commission fees charged for staking participation and choose a provider that offers competitive fees.
4. Quality Assurance
A crypto wallet with a good reputation for software and product development can provide extra security and peace of mind when staking, especially if you lock in a maximum amount of ETH per node.
In general, large companies have stronger talent and standards than small startups providing staking services.
5. Customer Service
When you run into problems or have questions about staking, having access to responsive and helpful customer service is beneficial.
In this case, a wallet provider or exchange with reliable customer support can reduce stress and make the process smoother.
6. Staking Waiting Period
Please be aware that some third-party staking methods have long waiting periods before rewards are distributed.
If you are planning staking then it is important to look for a service that offers fast prize distribution to reduce liquidity issues and increase your reinvestable returns.
Let’s Staking Ethereum on INDODAX
For Ethereum staking at INDODAX, you can use the INDODAX Earn feature. This feature utilizes the method of locking crypto assets to get rewards on the blockchain using Proof-of-Stake consensus, also known as staking.
Like saving money in a deposit, you can lock your crypto assets and earn rewards, similar to the interest earned from saving crypto assets that have been locked using the INDODAX Earn feature.
Here are the steps to staking Ethereum (ETH) through the INDODAX Earn feature on the web:
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- Open the indodax.com website and select the “Earn” option in the navigation menu.
- Scroll down the page and select ETH from the “Available Coins” option. Make sure your ETH balance is sufficient with a minimum stake of 0.05 ETH.
- Confirm by entering the amount of crypto assets you want to stake, then continue by reading and agreeing to the INDODAX Staking Service Agreement. Click the “Confirm” button to continue the process.
- After that, your staking status will change to “Bonding” which indicates that your asset has entered the staking queue and is waiting to enter the “Earning” stage. The transition from the
- Bonding stage to the Earning stage is done every day at 14:00 WIB.
When you have entered the Earning stage, the Bonding status will change to “Earning” which indicates that your asset is actively generating staking rewards. Rewards from staking are distributed every day at 13:00 WIB.
Basically, staking can be a suitable option for those who want to earn passive income from Ethereum, especially for those who don’t have time to constantly monitor price movements.
By locking Ethereum in the staking process, you can earn interest in return for the Ethereum you lock.
FAQ
1. What is Ethereum staking?
Ethereum staking is the process of locking ETH on the Ethereum blockchain for a chance to validate transactions and receive rewards in the form of additional ETH.
2. What are the main benefits of Ethereum staking
The main benefits include passive income from staking rewards, strengthening network security, and lowering barriers to participation in Ethereum network consensus.
3. What is the difference between solo staking and staking pools?
Solo staking allows you to validate your own transactions by locking up 32 ETH and requires deep technical understanding. Staking pools allow you to combine ETH with other coin owners, making participation easy without the need for 32 ETH or high technical knowledge.
4. What are the main risks associated with Ethereum staking?
The main risks include ETH price volatility, limited liquidity as ETH is locked during the staking period, as well as technical maintenance risks and financial penalties in case of errors in validation.
5. What should be considered when choosing a staking platform or method?
Important considerations include minimum deposit requirements, staking fees, platform cybersecurity, quality assurance of service providers, customer service, waiting period for reward distribution, coding capabilities for solo staking, and cost of hardware required.