To stake on Ledger, open the Earn section in Ledger Wallet app, select an eligible asset, choose a Validator or provider, and confirm with Physical Confirmation.
Private keys stay offline in the Secure Element chip throughout — on-chain staking never requires transferring assets to an exchange or custodian.
| Asset | Provider | Annualized Yield (2026) | Unbonding |
|---|---|---|---|
| ETH — Liquid Staking | Lido | ~3% | None — swap stETH |
| ETH — Native Pooled | Kiln | ~3.5% | ~4 days |
| SOL — Native | Validator (user selects) | ~5–7% | ~2–3 days |
| ATOM — Delegated | Validator (user selects) | ~15–21% | 21 days |
| DOT — Nominated PoS | Validator (nominate) | ~12–15% | 28 days |
| ADA — Delegation | Stake pool | ~2.7% | No lockup |
Rewards Are Not GuaranteedAnnualized yields fluctuate based on network participation rates, Validator commission, and epoch reward schedules.
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Validator | Network node that confirms transactions and distributes rewards |
| Delegator | Token holder who assigns stake to a Validator without transferring ownership |
| Unbonding Period | Mandatory wait between undelegating and accessing staked assets |
| Slashing | Penalty that burns staked tokens when a Validator misbehaves |
| Liquid Staking | Issues a tradeable receipt token (e.g. stETH) while the original asset earns rewards |
| Validator Commission | Percentage of rewards deducted before distribution to delegators |
Proof-of-Stake selects Validators based on the amount of crypto they hold or receive as delegations. Validators distribute a share of block rewards to delegators proportionally, after deducting commission. The Earn section in Ledger Wallet 4.0 automatically identifies idle assets eligible for rewards — no manual portfolio search required, and Liquid Staking providers like Lido and Kiln are accessible directly from the tab.
Connect the Ledger signer via USB-C and unlock with your PIN.
See all eligible assets with current annualized yield and estimated rewards in token and fiat terms.
Select the asset, then native delegation to a Validator or Liquid Staking via Lido/Kiln.
Review the amount, yield, Unbonding Period, and commission, then press both buttons on the device.
Keep Gas ReservesAlways retain a small amount of the native token in the non-staked balance to cover gas fees for future staking and undelegation transactions.
| Selection Criteria | Target | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Uptime | 99%+ | Low uptime causes missed epoch rewards |
| Commission rate | 5–10% | Higher commission reduces net yield |
| Total stake | Moderate | Very high stake reduces decentralization |
| Slashing history | Clean | Past incidents signal elevated future risk |
Delegators can split positions across multiple Validators to reduce single-node Slashing exposure — particularly recommended for ATOM and DOT.
| Feature | Lido (Liquid Staking) | Kiln (Native Pooled) |
|---|---|---|
| Annualized yield | ~3% | ~3.5% |
| Output token | stETH | ETH (native) |
| Liquidity | Instant — swap via Paraswap | ~4 day Unbonding Period |
| DeFi composability | stETH usable as collateral | No derivative token |
Supply Chain RiskA 2025 supply chain attack on Kiln injected malicious logic into unstaking transactions, causing $41.5M in losses. The Ledger Secure Element chip was not compromised — the exploit targeted the smart contract layer.
| Asset | Yield | Slashing Risk | Unbonding |
|---|---|---|---|
| ADA | ~2.7% | None | None |
| ETH (Lido) | ~3% | Indirect | None |
| SOL | ~5–7% | Yes | ~2–3 days |
ADA staking has no Slashing mechanism and no Unbonding Period — the ideal first staking experience. SOL auto-compounds rewards every epoch, increasing effective yield over time without any user action.
ATOM delivers the highest nominal yield (~15–21%) via Cosmos Hub Delegated Proof-of-Stake, but assets are illiquid for 21 days after undelegation. DOT’s 28-day Unbonding Period is the longest among major Ledger staking assets — model liquidity needs carefully before committing.
| Asset | Unbonding Time | Rewards During Unbonding |
|---|---|---|
| ADA | None — instant | N/A |
| ETH (Lido) | None — swap stETH | N/A |
| SOL | ~2–3 days | Stop at undelegation |
| ETH (Kiln) | ~4 days | Stop at undelegation |
| ATOM | 21 days | Stop at undelegation |
| DOT | 28 days | Stop at undelegation |
Unbonding Periods are enforced at the blockchain protocol level — they cannot be shortened by Ledger, the provider, or any third party.
None of these risks expose the private key or compromise the hardware security chip — they only affect the fiat value of the delegated position.
| Factor | Ledger | Coinbase | Binance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Key custody | Self-custody | Custodial | Custodial |
| ETH APY | ~3–3.5% | ~2.16% | ~2.65% |
| SOL APY | ~5–7% | ~7.76% | ~6.96% |
| Exchange hack risk | None | Present | Present |
Ledger offers higher ETH and ADA yield than Coinbase and Binance while keeping assets in self-custody, where no exchange freeze or insolvency can block access. Coinbase leads on SOL yield — exchange staking occasionally outperforms hardware wallet staking on specific assets.
Open Ledger Wallet app, connect the device, navigate to Earn, select an eligible asset, choose a Validator or staking provider, review the yield and Unbonding Period, then press both buttons to authorize with Physical Confirmation.
ETH (via Lido and Kiln), SOL, ATOM, DOT, ADA, and BTC yield, plus additional assets in the Earn section. SOL and ADA have no minimum. ETH staking does not require 32 ETH through pooled delegation.
Private keys stay offline in the hardware chip throughout — exchange hack and custodial risk don’t apply. Main risks are Validator Slashing, smart contract exploits in Lido/Kiln, price moves during unbonding, and token inflation.
Yes. Lido and Kiln both enable ETH staking with any amount through pooled delegation. Lido issues stETH with no Unbonding Period. Kiln offers ~3.5% native yield with about 4 days to withdraw after undelegation.
Open Earn → select the active position → Unstake → enter the amount → confirm with Physical Confirmation. ADA and Lido stETH have no lockup; SOL takes ~2–3 days; ATOM 21 days; DOT 28 days.
