What a bank would do — and what you do instead
Banks have no real equivalent to staking. The closest analogy is a share of the fees for keeping the payment system running. On proof-of-stake chains you can take part in securing the network and receive new coins and fees in return — but you are paid in the same volatile asset you stake, and providers keep a commission. Think of staking as a way to avoid dilution on a coin you already intend to hold, not as savings.
How SOL staking works
On Solana you delegate SOL to a validator. You keep ownership, but the SOL is locked until you deactivate it, which takes roughly one epoch (about two days). Validators charge a commission on rewards.
The options
| Option | What you hold | Rate (variable) |
|---|---|---|
| Native delegation | Your SOL, delegated | Solana base ~5.7–5.9% (2026), minus validator commission |
| Jito (JitoSOL) | Liquid-staking token | ~5.5–6% (2026) |
| Marinade (mSOL) | Liquid-staking token, spread across many validators | Varies — see the Rates page |
| Coinbase | Exchange balance | ~3.80% net (Sept 2026) |
Liquid-staking tokens can be used across Solana DeFi — for example as collateral on lenders such as Kamino. Each extra layer adds another smart contract you trust.
Frequently asked questions
Why is Solana staking higher than Ethereum?
Solana’s issuance schedule is different, so rewards are higher in percentage terms — but much of that is new supply, which offsets the gain for holders.
Can I unstake instantly?
Native staking takes about an epoch. Liquid-staking tokens can be swapped immediately, sometimes at a small discount.
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