TON staking: how to stake TON and how liquid staking works
TON staking means putting your Toncoin to work securing the TON blockchain and receiving a share of the network’s rewards in return. Most people don’t run a validator themselves; they stake TON through a pool, and with liquid staking they get a token that represents their share. This guide covers how TON staking works, where the rewards come from, how to stake TON in Waletifi and what can go wrong.
What is TON staking?
TON staking is locking Toncoin behind the validators that confirm transactions on the TON blockchain, so that they have something to lose if they misbehave. In return, stakers receive part of the rewards the network pays to validators.
TON is a proof-of-stake network: instead of miners spending electricity, validators put up TON as collateral. The more TON staked behind honest validators, the harder it is for anyone to attack the network.
How does staking work on the TON network?
Validators on TON are chosen in elections. Candidates lock their stake, the network picks a validator set, and that set produces and checks blocks for a fixed period called a validation round. When the round ends, the next elected set takes over and the previous stakes are released after a short holding period.
Becoming a validator takes a very large amount of TON and a server that is online around the clock. That is why nominators and staking pools exist: many small holders combine their TON in a smart contract that stakes it with validators on their behalf and shares out the rewards.
- Validators: run the nodes, lock a large stake and sign blocks.
- Nominators: lend their TON to validators through a contract and share the rewards.
- Pools: smart contracts that collect many deposits and handle elections and payouts automatically.
What is liquid staking on TON?
Liquid staking on TON is staking through a pool that gives you a token, a jetton, representing your share of the pool. Your TON goes to work, and the jetton in your wallet is your receipt for it.
Rewards are not paid as separate transfers. Instead, each pool token becomes worth a little more TON as the pool earns, so the number of tokens you hold stays the same while their value in TON grows. When you withdraw, you hand the tokens back and receive TON at the current share value.
The word liquid means the receipt is a normal token in your own address rather than a locked entry in someone’s database. Your stake is recorded in your wallet’s name on the blockchain.
Validator, nominator pool or liquid staking: which is which?
There are three common ways to take part in TON staking. They differ in how much TON you need, who runs the infrastructure and what you hold while your TON is staked:
| Method | Who runs the node | Amount needed | What you hold | Getting TON back |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Run your own validator | You | Very large stake | Nothing extra; your stake is locked | After the round you were elected for ends |
| Nominator pool | A validator you choose | Set by each pool, often high | A record in the pool contract | After the round ends |
| Liquid staking pool | Validators the pool works with | Small; 1 TON in Waletifi | A liquid-staking token (jetton) | After the round ends, about 18 to 36 hours |
Where do TON staking rewards come from?
TON staking rewards come from the network itself: validators receive newly issued TON and a share of transaction fees for each round they serve. A pool passes these rewards on to its depositors after its own rules.
That is why the yield is variable. It depends on how much TON is staked across the network, how the validators perform and how many rounds the pool takes part in. Any yearly figure you see is an estimate based on recent rounds, not a promise.
- Rewards are paid in TON, not in another currency.
- A high quoted yield does not protect you from a fall in TON’s price.
- Past rounds do not guarantee future ones.
How to stake TON in Waletifi
Waletifi offers TON staking, where available in your region, as liquid staking through a verified staking pool smart contract on TON, shown in the app as Staking pool 1. The steps are short:
- Open TON staking in the app and choose Staking pool 1.
- Enter the amount: at least 1 TON. The app keeps about 1.1 TON aside for network fees, so you can’t stake your whole balance by mistake.
- Check the review screen, which shows the network fee before you confirm.
- Confirm with your biometrics or PIN; the transaction is signed on your phone.
- Your TON goes to the pool, and the pool’s liquid-staking token arrives in your wallet.
What the TON staking screen shows
After you stake, the screen shows Staked, Annual yield ≈ (an estimate that changes over time), Earned to date and Next cycle with the hours left in the current round. Stake more lets you add to your position at any time.
Waletifi charges no fee on staking; you only pay the TON network fees shown before you confirm. The pool contract address and code are verified and allowlisted in the app, and the app signs only the one allowlisted staking message, so a lookalike contract can’t slip in.
How long does it take to unstake TON?
Unstaking TON can take until the end of the current validation round, which is about 18 to 36 hours. The pool’s TON is locked with validators for the round, so it can only be paid out once that round closes.
In Waletifi, tap Withdraw and the screen tells you it can take up to a stated number of hours after the request. Plan around that delay: don’t stake TON you may need for fees or payments in the next day or two.
What are the risks of TON staking?
Staking is not a savings account, and the app says so before you confirm. Weigh these risks first:
- Variable yield: the annual figure is only an estimate and is never guaranteed.
- Price risk: rewards are in TON, and TON’s price can fall faster than rewards add up.
- Waiting time: a withdrawal can take 18 to 36 hours, and you can’t speed it up.
- Smart contract risk: your TON sits in the pool’s contract, so a contract or network failure could cause a loss.
- Phishing: fake staking sites and bots promise high returns and ask for your recovery phrase.
