Polkadot Staking: Earn 5–6% APY

Q: Do I still have control over my Polkadot when I delegate them to a validator?

<span data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"You have full ownership of your Polkadot when you stake through Ledger, unlike with crypto exchanges."}" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4993,"3":{"1":0},"10":0,"11":4,"12":0,"15":"Arial"}" data-sheets-textstyleruns="{"1":0}{"1":9,"2":{"5":1}}{"1":23}">You have full ownership of your Polkadot (DOT) when you stake via Ledger, unlike with crypto exchanges.

Stake your Polkadot securely and earn 5–6% APY*

Staking Polkadot lets you earn passive rewards while helping secure the network, all without giving up control of your assets. Most staking platforms take custody of your DOT to stake it on your behalf. Ledger doesn't when you stake through Ledger Wallet. Your Polkadot stays on the blockchain, your private keys stay on your hardware device, and you earn 5–6% APY — without handing control to a third party*.

Stake Polkadot via Ledger Wallet

**Disclaimer: Crypto transaction services are provided by third-party providers. Ledger provides no advice or recommendations on use of these third-party services. Rewards and payout frequency are not guaranteed. Ledger does not provide any financial advice or recommendations. More information on how private keys are stored on your device can be found here.

Stake your Polkadot securely and earn 5–6% APY*

WHY STAKE YOUR POLKADOT?

Polkadot uses a Proof of Stake consensus mechanism. By staking your Polkadot, you actively contribute to network security and decentralization — and earn rewards in return.

Earn 5–6% APY*

Put your DOT to work through staking and get the chance to earn 5–6% a year*. Earning rewards every 24 hours, without selling a single token. The exact yield varies based on network conditions and your validator's commission rate.

*Rewards are not guaranteed. Ledger provides no advice or recommendations on use of staking services.

Stake directly on-chain

By staking via Ledger Wallet*, your DOT participates directly in the Polkadot network. Not through a platform holding your assets on your behalf. You're staking, not lending.

Keep full custody

Your private keys are stored on your Ledger hardware device, not on a platform's server. When you delegate, you sign the transaction on your device. The validator participates in consensus on your behalf — but holds no keys and controls no assets. Your DOT stays on the Polkadot blockchain, associated with your address.

Why stake Polkadot (DOT) via Ledger Wallet

Cold staking security

Your private keys are stored on a dedicated hardware device, offline and physically separate from your computer*. To stake Polkadot, you confirm the transaction directly on your Ledger Signer. No staking action goes through without your physical approval.

Your validator, your choice

On most staking platforms, the platform selects the validator on your behalf. Through Ledger Wallet, you choose. Compare commission rates, uptime history, and track records, then delegate to whichever validator meets your criteria*. Your delegation isn't tied to a single option; you can review and switch as conditions change.

Access the ecosystem on your terms

The Ledger Wallet app connects you to validators, exchanges, and Polkadot services, without locking you into a single provider. Whichever option you choose, the transaction is confirmed on your hardware device. The flexibility of the ecosystem, with hardware-level security on every action.

Start with the Ledger Wallet app

Stake Polkadot and earn 5–6% APY*

When you delegate your Polkadot to a validator via the Ledger Wallet app, that validator participates in securing the Polkadot blockchain. The Polkadot protocol distributes block rewards to validators in return — a portion of which is passed on to delegators proportional to their stake, minus the validator's commission rate.

The current estimated annual yield for Polkadot staking is approximately 5–6%. This figure varies with network participation levels and your chosen validator's commission. Rewards are credited every 24 hours. When comparing validators, the key variables are commission rate, uptime history, and total stake. On some networks, an over-staked validator can dilute individual rewards.

You can un-delegate your Polkadot at any time through the Ledger Wallet app. Most networks apply an un-bonding period after un-delegation — a set number of days during which your DOT cannot be transferred and does not accrue rewards. On networks where slashing is active, a validator misbehaving can result in a partial loss of delegated funds: another reason to choose your validator carefully.

Estimate Polkadot staking rewards

HOW DOES LEDGER'S SOLUTION WORK?

Get your device

A hardware wallet

that offers the best security for your crypto and NFTs - your assets always remain safe.

An app

to manage your crypto and access key services: buy, swap or grow your assets. Securely thanks to your hardware wallet.

Get your device

Stake your Polkadot with Ledger

Buy a Ledger hardware wallet

A Ledger hardware device does two things: it stores your private keys on dedicated offline hardware, and it physically signs every transaction. No action, staking or otherwise, can proceed without your confirmation on the device itself.

Buy a hardware wallet

Download the Ledger Wallet app

The Ledger Wallet app is your gateway to the Polkadot ecosystem: exchanges, validators, DeFi protocols and more. Buy, stake, swap, and manage your crypto across multiple providers, from Kraken to 1inch.* Download it free on desktop or mobile.

Download Ledger Wallet

Set up your device

Follow the setup steps in the Ledger Wallet app and create a Polkadot account on your device.

Get started with Ledger

Buy or transfer Polkadot to your account

Transfer your existing DOT to your Ledger account, or buy via the Ledger Wallet app. Keep a small amount aside to cover network transaction fees.

Receive crypto

Start staking Polkadot (DOT)

In the Ledger Wallet app, go to your Polkadot account and click "Earn rewards". Enter your staking amount, choose a validator and confirm the transaction directly on your physical Ledger signer. Your keys do not leave the hardware*.

Stake Polkadot now

LEDGER LIVE

Other crypto to stake with Ledger

EOS

Hedera

HBAR

NEO

Avalanche

AVAX

Oasis Network

ROSE

Internet Computer

ICP

Axelar

AXL

Tron

TRX

Cronos

CRO

Algorand

ALGO

NEAR*

NEAR

CARDANO

ADA

Stacks

STX

Solana*

SOL

Tezos

XTZ

ATOM*

ATOM

Ethereum

ETH

dYdX

DYDX

Casper Network

CSPR

EGLD*

EGLD

Osmosis*

OSMO

Kusama

KSM

Mina Protocol

MINA

MANTRA

See all coins supported

*Ledger validator node available

Want to learn more about staking?

We answer all the basic questions you might have in our Ledger academy: What is staking? What’s the difference between Proof-of-Stake and Proof-of-Work? What is a validator?

You can also take a look at our School of Block series on Youtube to learn how to get started in staking and make your money work for you.

Visit our Ledger Academy

What is staking

Read the article

School Of Block

See our episode about staking

What is proof of stake

Read the article

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between staking with Ledger and staking on an exchange?

When you stake through a centralised exchange, the exchange holds the private keys to your assets on your behalf. With Ledger, your private keys are stored on your hardware device*. You interact with validators and services through the Ledger Wallet app, but the keys, and therefore control of your assets, remain with you.

Do I need to keep my Ledger device connected to earn staking rewards?

No. Your Ledger device is only needed when signing a transaction, such as when you initially delegate, switch validator, or un-delegate. Once your stake is active on the blockchain, any potential rewards accumulate without any action required from your device.

What happens if I lose my Ledger device?

Your assets are on the blockchain, not stored on the device itself. Your Ledger can be recovered using your secret recovery phrase, a set of words generated when you first set up the device. With your recovery phrase, you can restore access to your accounts on a new Ledger device. Keeping that phrase secure and offline is essential.

What are the risks of staking Polkadot?

Staking Polkadot carries two main risks. First, market risk: the value of your DOT may change during the staking or un-bonding period. Second, on networks where it applies, slashing risk: if a validator misbehaves, delegators can lose a portion of their staked assets. You can reduce slashing risk by choosing a reputable, well-established validator available via the Ledger Wallet app.

How do I receive my Polkadot staking rewards?

Rewards payment can be triggered by any user (usually the validator or one of his nominators). When any of them triggers the payout, all of them receive their rewards. Claiming rewards manually is not supported in Ledger Live. As a consequence, you will receive your rewards without doing anything when the validator(s) you choose or anyone else who nominated the same validator(s) triggers the rewards payout.

Is there a risk to staking Polkadot (DOT)?

With Polkadot the validator and nominator could lose a portion of their assets if the validator misbehaves and is slashed. As such, it is important to take a good look into who you are nominating.

Do I still have control over my Polkadot when I delegate them to a validator?

You have full ownership of your Polkadot (DOT) when you stake via Ledger, unlike with crypto exchanges.

How do I choose a Polkadot validator?

Choosing a validator is a personal decision, and it’s important to do your own research. When available, choose Ledger, a trusted validator that offers great rewards and best security.