Cardano staking

Staking ADA means using your ADA to help secure the Cardano network and to earn rewards in return. Cardano uses a proof-of-stake protocol called Ouroboros to choose who adds new blocks. The protocol divides time into epochs that last five days. Each epoch contains many one-second slots. In each slot a slot leader is chosen to try to add a block. You can stake by running a validator node or by delegating your ADA to a stake pool. Stake pools are groups of ADA holders who combine stake so the pool can earn chances to produce blocks. Pool operators run nodes and keep the network running. They take a fee and then share rewards with delegators. Your ADA are never locked when you delegate. You keep full custody of your keys and you can move or trade ADA at any time. There is a small minimum to start delegating so staking is accessible to most users. Rewards are paid at the end of each epoch. The amount you earn depends on how much you stake and on the pool’s performance. Re-staking rewards compounds future earnings. The market price of ADA changes and this affects the fiat value of rewards. Pool misbehavior or downtime lowers rewards and can hurt the network. Centralized staking services may face regulatory scrutiny because they hold custody of tokens. Using a non-custodial wallet or a hardware wallet keeps private keys with you and reduces custody risk. To stake you connect a compatible wallet or a hardware wallet to a wallet interface and select a stake pool from a delegation list. Delegation is a simple transaction that keeps your ownership intact. Monitor pool metrics like uptime, fee structure, and saturation to make a wise choice. Staking supports decentralization because it spreads validation rights across many participants. Staking lets you earn passive income while you help secure the chain. Think of epochs as circles of time that return rewards to those who participate. The system is systematic and clear yet it still needs careful choices from each delegator.