Staking SOL step by step: stake, rewards and unstaking

Guide · 13 Nov 2026 · SoLyrae

Staking lets you earn rewards on your SOL while helping secure the network. This is what actually happens at each stage.

1. You delegate, you do not hand over your SOL

When you stake from a wallet, your SOL moves into a stake account that you control. You then delegate that stake account to a validator's vote account. The validator cannot spend or withdraw your SOL. It only receives the voting weight your stake represents.

2. Activation takes an epoch

Solana works in epochs, and an epoch now lasts around 26 hours. A new delegation starts earning rewards after it activates, which happens when the next epoch begins. There can be a short extra wait if many people are activating stake at once.

3. Rewards arrive every epoch

At each epoch boundary, rewards are calculated and added to your stake account, increasing your stake automatically. The size depends on the network's inflation schedule, how well your validator voted and the validator's commission. That is why the numbers on the explorer matter.

4. Unstaking is a deactivation, then a withdrawal

In your wallet, choose to unstake (deactivate) the stake account.
The stake stops earning and becomes inactive at the end of the current epoch, so plan for up to about a day.
Once it is inactive, withdraw it to your wallet balance.

5. Things to keep in mind

Keep a small amount of SOL unstaked for transaction fees.
You can split a stake account and delegate the parts to different validators.
You can change validator by deactivating and delegating again.
Rewards are not guaranteed. They depend on the network and the validator, and the SOL price can move. Check the current Solana documentation for the latest rules and risks before you stake.

Want to delegate to SoLyrae? The vote account and the three steps are on the home page. Compare it with other validators first on the explorer.

This article is for information only and is not financial advice.