How to Stake SUI: Step-by-Step Guide
Native Sui staking delegates the voting power of your SUI to an active validator. Your position remains a self-custodial stake object controlled through your wallet; the validator does not receive custody of a spendable SUI balance. This guide takes you from an unstaked balance to an active position.
If you are new to the network, start with what Sui staking is. You will need a Sui-compatible wallet and enough spendable SUI for both the stake and the network transaction fee.
How to Stake SUI in 6 Steps
Prepare a Sui-compatible wallet
Set up a wallet that supports native Sui staking, secure its recovery information, and make sure you are connected to Sui Mainnet. Never share a recovery phrase or private key with a staking website, validator, or support account.
Add SUI and keep some available for gas
Transfer SUI to the wallet address you control. Do not delegate the entire spendable balance: leave enough SUI outside the stake object to pay for the staking transaction and future wallet actions. Network fees can change, so the wallet's transaction preview is the current source of truth.
Compare active validators
Open the Sui validator list and compare measured APY, commission, stake concentration, and performance signals. APY is a historical estimate rather than a promised return. Use our guides to choose a Sui validator and understand how Sui staking APY is calculated before deciding.
Connect your wallet and choose the amount
Open the staking app, connect the intended wallet, select the validator you researched, and enter the amount to delegate. You can first use the SUI staking calculator to model a range of possible outcomes without treating the result as a guarantee.
Review the transaction and sign
Confirm the website domain, selected validator, amount, network, and transaction details in the wallet. Only approve the transaction when those details match your choice. After it is executed, the wallet should show a native stake position rather than a normal spendable coin.
Wait for activation and monitor the position
A new delegation becomes active at the next epoch boundary. Sui epochs last approximately 24 hours, but the exact boundary is determined by the network. A stake earns for epochs in which it remains active for the entire epoch. Rewards are reflected in the staking-pool exchange rate and compound within the position; see how Sui staking rewards work for the full lifecycle.
How to Unstake SUI
Start the unstaking action from the wallet that controls the stake object, review the transaction, and sign it. The transaction unwraps the native stake position and returns the represented principal plus accumulated rewards as spendable SUI. Keep some SUI available for transaction fees and follow the status shown by your wallet.
Risks and Checks Before You Stake
- Rewards vary. Validator performance, commission, protocol reward inputs, and the length of time your stake is active affect the result. Past APY does not guarantee future APY.
- Validator selection matters. Sui's tallying rule can withhold an epoch's rewards from a punished validator and its delegators. This guide does not make a no-slashing or principal guarantee.
- Staked SUI is not a spendable coin. Native staking wraps SUI in a stake object. Normal spending requires unstaking; transfers depend on compatible tooling.
- SUI remains exposed to market risk. The token price can move by more than the number of tokens earned through staking.
- Verify every signature. Use a trusted domain, read the wallet preview, and reject unexpected transaction requests.