Boosted Staking

Boosted Staking lets you earn typically higher rewards by locking an asset for a set period. While it is staked, you can't sell or transfer it. To get it back, you unstake it. Some assets then have an unstaking period before they return to your portfolio. Learn more on the staking page or in the Uphold Learn course.

How to stake

1. Tap Staking.
2. Scroll to More assets to stake and select an asset.
3. If the asset also allows Flexible Staking, you'll see an option to choose between Flexible or Boosted. Choose Boosted.
4. Tap Start Staking.
5. Select the Source asset or fiat from your portfolio to convert into the staking asset. You can't use a payment method directly.
6. Tap Preview Staking.
7. Review the transaction and tap Confirm staking.

How to unstake

1. Select the staked asset on your portfolio page.
2. Tap Unstake.
3. Choose the asset or fiat you want to convert your staked asset into.
4. Tap Preview Unstaking.
5. When it asks you to choose how to unstake, tap Standard.
6. Review the transaction and tap Confirm unstaking.

What happens next:

• If the asset has an unstaking period: your transaction appears in your staking activity with the status Unstaking. The asset stays locked and earns no rewards during this time. It returns to your portfolio when the period ends. The length varies by asset. See the staking page for each asset.
  • If you don't want to wait: some assets support Instant Unstaking, which bypasses the unstaking period for a fee. See Staking fees for details and How to unstake instantly.
• If the asset has no unstaking period: it returns to your portfolio without any waiting time.

If Flexible Staking is on and the asset is eligible, it starts earning Flexible rewards when it returns to your portfolio.

How to unstake instantly

Instant Unstaking has a fee. It lets you bypass the unstaking period on an unstaking transaction. It is available for some assets only.

1. Select the staked asset on your portfolio page.
2. Tap Unstake.
3. Choose the asset or fiat you want to convert your staked asset into.
4. Tap Preview Unstaking.
5. When it asks you to choose how to unstake, tap Instant.
6. Review the transaction and tap Confirm unstaking.

You can also instantly unstake an asset after a standard unstaking transaction has started, reducing the time you have to wait:

1. Open your staking activity.
2. Tap the unstaking transaction with the status Unstaking.
3. Check the fee shown on the Unstake instantly button. If you accept it, tap the button.

What happens next: the asset returns to your portfolio without waiting for the rest of the unstaking period.

• Fee: shown on-screen. For fee details, see Staking fees. If you don't use Instant Unstaking, the transaction completes when the unstaking period ends.
• Rewards: no rewards are earned while an asset is in Unstaking status.

Which assets support Instant Unstaking?

Instant Unstaking is available for:

• Aptos (APT)
• Avalanche (AVAX)
• Casper (CSPR)
• Cosmos (ATOM)
• Ether (ETH)
• Injective (INJ)
• Kusama (KSM)
• Near Protocol (NEAR)
• Oasis Network (ROSE)
• Polkadot (DOT)
• Polygon Ecosystem Token (POL)
• Solana (SOL)
• Sui (SUI)
• Tezos (XTZ)

Other staking assets don't support Instant Unstaking. The list can change; see the staking page.

Is Boosted Staking available in my region?

If staking is available in your region, you'll see it in the app. It isn't available in:

• Cyprus
• Singapore
• US: Louisiana (LA) and American Samoa
• Any jurisdiction where Uphold services are restricted

What are the risks of Boosted Staking?

Staking has risks, including:

• Unstaking period: to sell or transfer a staked asset, you unstake it first. Many assets then have an unstaking period set by the blockchain network. It is typically up to 30 days, sometimes longer (for example, DOT: 28 days). The asset is locked and earns no rewards during this time. For some assets you can pay a fee to bypass it with Instant Unstaking.
• Market value: the value of staked assets can change while staked and while unstaking.
• Slashing: some networks penalize validators, for example for downtime. Uphold may reimburse slashing fees on your staked assets, subject to the terms and exclusions in the Staking Program Terms & Conditions.

Uphold monitors staked assets 24/7 to help reduce these risks but can't eliminate them entirely.

When do I start earning rewards, and where can I track them?

Rewards start once the preparation period ends. The preparation period is the time it takes for staked assets to start earning rewards, and it varies by token. Track your Boosted Staking accounts, balances and rewards on your portfolio page.

Are there fees for Boosted Staking?

Yes. Uphold charges a commission on staking rewards. The rate depends on the staking type and can change. See Staking fees for current rates. The estimated APY in the app already includes the commission. Instant Unstaking also has a fee. It is shown on-screen, and details are on the Staking fees page.