Stake SOL

There are two main ways to stake Solana on Backpack:

1. Liquid Staking: stake SOL while maintaining liquidity through tokenized staking derivatives like bpSOL

2. Native Staking: delegate SOL directly to a validator through your wallet.

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How to Stake SOL for bpSOL

Liquid stake SOL by swapping it for bpSOL directly in Backpack Wallet.

1. Select Swap.

2. Select SOL as the token you want to swap.

3. Select bpSOL as the token you want to receive.

4. Enter the amount of SOL you want to swap.

5. Select Review Swap, review the transaction details, then approve the transaction.

Note: The APY displayed in Backpack Wallet may change. Refer to the current rate shown in the app.

How to Natively Stake SOL

Native staking lets you stake SOL directly with a Solana validator through Backpack Wallet.

1. From Portfolio, select Solana (SOL).

1. Select Stake SOL to Earn.

1. Select Native Staking.

1. Enter the amount of SOL you want to stake.

2. Review the selected validator. To choose a different validator, select Other Validators.

3. Select Stake and approve the transaction.

Note: Staking requirements, validator information, commission rates, and APY may vary. Refer to the current information displayed in Backpack Wallet before staking.

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FAQs about staking SOL with Backpack

What is the minimum amount of SOL needed to stake?

• Stake SOL for bpSOL (Liquid Staking): 0.01 SOL

• Native Staking: 1.00167 SOL

Note: Minimum staking requirements may change without notice. Always refer to the amount displayed in Backpack Wallet for the most up-to-date requirement.

How long does it take for staked SOL to activate?

• Stake SOL for bpSOL (Liquid Staking): No activation period applies. You can swap SOL for bpSOL directly.

• Native Staking: Activation time may vary, but a new stake typically activates within 24 hours.

Can I unstake my SOL at any time?

• Stake SOL for bpSOL (Liquid Staking): You can swap bpSOL back to SOL at any time.

• Native Staking: You can unstake at any time, but you must wait until the next Solana epoch before the SOL becomes available in your wallet.

See the Solana Epoch status here

What is the Mad Validator?

The Mad Validator is Backpack owned and managed. It began operations after the Mad Lads NFT collection launch.

See details about the Mad Validator here.

What is staked SOL used for?

Staked SOL is used to validate blockchain transactions on the Solana network.

What is the difference between native staking and liquid staking on Solana?

The key difference between native staking and liquid staking on Solana comes down to liquidity and flexibility:

• Native Staking

  • You delegate SOL directly to a validator.

  • Your SOL is locked and cannot be used elsewhere until you unstake (which takes 2-3 days).

  • You earn staking rewards but have no immediate liquidity.

• Liquid Staking

  • You stake SOL through a liquid staking protocol (like Sanctum)

  • You receive a liquid staking token (e.g. bpSOL) that represents your staked SOL.

  • This token can be traded, used in DeFi, or swapped back to SOL.