Staking lets you earn passive income on crypto you already hold by helping to secure proof-of-stake blockchain networks. When you stake through your Ledger hardware wallet, your private keys never leave the device — meaning you get the rewards without taking on the custody risk of leaving assets on an exchange.
This guide covers every coin you can stake via Ledger Live, how to stake each one step by step, current reward rates, lock-up periods, and the risks you need to understand before you commit.
What Is Staking?
In proof-of-stake blockchains, validators lock up (stake) tokens as collateral to earn the right to validate transactions and create new blocks. In return, they receive block rewards and transaction fees. When you stake your tokens, you are either:
Ledger Live makes delegation and pooled staking accessible directly from the app, with your Ledger device signing all transactions securely.
Which Coins Can You Stake via Ledger Live?
As of 2026, Ledger Live natively supports staking (or delegating) for the following coins:
| Coin | Staking Method | Est. Annual Yield | Lock-up Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ethereum (ETH) | Pooled staking (Lido, Kiln, etc.) | 3%–5% | No lock-up (liquid) |
| Solana (SOL) | Delegation | 6%–8% | ~2–3 day cooldown |
| Polkadot (DOT) | Nomination | 12%–15% | 28-day unbonding |
| Cosmos (ATOM) | Delegation | 15%–20% | 21-day unbonding |
| Polygon (POL/MATIC) | Delegation | 4%–6% | ~3-day withdrawal |
| Tezos (XTZ) | Delegation (baking) | 4%–6% | ~35-day cycle |
| Algorand (ALGO) | Auto-staking | 4%–6% | None |
| Near (NEAR) | Delegation | 8%–12% | ~2–3 day cooldown |
| Cardano (ADA) | Delegation (via external) | 3%–5% | None |
Yield rates vary based on network conditions, total staked supply, and validator performance. The figures above are approximate and should be verified in Ledger Live before committing funds.
How to Stake Ethereum (ETH) with Ledger
Ethereum staking through Ledger Live uses liquid staking providers, primarily Lido (which gives you stETH in return) and Kiln (institutional-grade). There is no 32 ETH minimum required for pooled staking through Ledger Live.
Solo Staking vs Pooled Staking
Solo staking requires 32 ETH and running your own validator node. This is outside the scope of Ledger Live and aimed at advanced users. The benefit is full control; the downside is complexity and the capital requirement.
Pooled staking via Ledger Live requires no minimum (practically speaking, 0.01 ETH or more is sensible after gas fees). You receive liquid staking tokens in return.
Step-by-Step: Stake ETH via Ledger Live
- Open Ledger Live and connect your Ledger device
- Choose your provider — Lido or Kiln are the main options
- Enter the amount of ETH you want to stake
- Review the transaction details including the gas fee
- Press both buttons on your Ledger to confirm
- The transaction is broadcast — you will receive stETH (Lido) or equivalent liquid tokens in your wallet
Your stETH balance grows daily as rewards accrue. You can unstake at any time by swapping stETH back to ETH on the open market, or by using the withdrawal function (which may take days to process depending on the Ethereum withdrawal queue).
How to Stake Solana (SOL) with Ledger
- Open Ledger Live and ensure the Solana app is installed on your Ledger device
- Open the Solana app on your device
- Select a validator from the list (Ledger Live shows validator details including commission rates and uptime)
- Enter the amount of SOL to stake (minimum 0.01 SOL; keep ~0.01 SOL unstaked for transaction fees)
- Review and confirm the transaction in Ledger Live
- Approve the transaction on your Ledger device
- Your SOL is now delegated — staking rewards begin accumulating within ~2.5 days (one epoch)
Unstaking SOL: Click Unstake in your SOL account, confirm on the device, and wait 2–3 days for the cooldown period before your SOL is liquid again.
How to Stake Polkadot (DOT) with Ledger
DOT uses a nomination system. You nominate up to 16 validators, and the network algorithm selects which ones actually receive your stake each era (24 hours).
- Open Ledger Live, connect your device, open the Polkadot app on the device
- Enter the amount to stake (minimum 10 DOT to be considered for staking rewards)
- Select up to 16 validators from the list
- Review and confirm in Ledger Live
- Approve on your Ledger device
Important: DOT has a 28-day unbonding period. Once you choose to unstake, your tokens are locked for 28 days before you can move them. Plan accordingly.
How to Stake Cosmos (ATOM) with Ledger
ATOM offers some of the highest native staking yields among major coins, though the unbonding period is significant.
- Connect your Ledger and open the Cosmos app on the device
- Choose a validator (check commission rate — lower is better; check uptime — higher is better)
- Enter the amount to delegate
- Review the transaction and confirm in Ledger Live
- Approve on your Ledger device
Rewards for ATOM accumulate and are NOT automatically compounded — you need to manually claim and re-delegate to compound. Ledger Live shows your pending rewards in the account overview.
Unbonding: ATOM has a 21-day unbonding period. There is no way to speed this up.
How to Stake Tezos (XTZ) with Ledger
Tezos uses a system called baking where delegates (bakers) validate blocks. When you delegate XTZ, you are not locking up your tokens — they remain liquid and spendable at all times.
- Connect your Ledger and open the Tezos Wallet app on the device
- Select a baker from the list
- Confirm the delegation — this is a single transaction that costs a small XTZ fee
- Rewards begin accumulating after approximately 5–7 baking cycles (roughly 35 days for the first reward)
Because your XTZ is never locked, this is one of the lowest-risk staking options. You can change your baker or stop delegating at any time with a simple transaction.
How to Stake Algorand (ALGO) with Ledger
Algorand uses a unique auto-staking system. Simply holding ALGO in a wallet that has opted in to staking earns rewards automatically — there is no delegation or lock-up required.
In Ledger Live, your ALGO account automatically participates in staking once you have a balance. Rewards appear in your account balance as they are distributed by the network. No additional steps are required.
Risks of Staking
Staking is generally lower risk than active trading, but there are real risks to understand:
Slashing Risk (DOT, ETH validators)
If a validator behaves maliciously or goes offline repeatedly, the network may “slash” a portion of the staked tokens. When delegating through reputable validators listed in Ledger Live, slashing risk is very low but not zero.
Price Risk
Staking locks your tokens for days or weeks. If the market drops sharply during your unbonding period, you cannot sell quickly. This is particularly relevant for DOT (28 days) and ATOM (21 days).
Smart Contract Risk (ETH liquid staking)
Lido and other liquid staking protocols involve smart contracts. Bugs or exploits in these contracts could put staked ETH at risk. This is a real but historically low-probability risk for audited protocols.
Validator Risk
Poorly performing validators earn fewer rewards. Choosing validators with strong uptime and reasonable commission rates (listed in Ledger Live) mitigates this.
Protocol Risk
Network upgrades and governance decisions can change staking parameters, yields, or unbonding periods without much warning.
Claiming and Compounding Rewards
| Coin | Auto-compound? | How to Claim | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| ETH (Lido) | Yes (stETH rebases) | Automatic | No action needed |
| SOL | No | Claim in Ledger Live | Rewards added to stake by default in most validators |
| DOT | No | Manual claim via Ledger Live | Re-nominate to compound |
| ATOM | No | Manual claim | Must re-delegate to compound |
| XTZ | No | Automatic distribution by baker | Check baker’s payout frequency |
| ALGO | Yes | Automatic | No action needed |
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I stake crypto on Ledger without Ledger Live?
Yes, for some coins. For example, you can stake ADA via Yoroi or Daedalus with Ledger connected, stake DOT via Polkadot.js with Ledger, and stake ETH via third-party dApps. Ledger Live is the most convenient option but not the only one.
Q: Is my crypto at risk while staking through Ledger?
Your private keys never leave the device, so staking transactions are as secure as any other Ledger transaction. The risks that do exist (slashing, smart contracts, lock-up periods) are covered above.
Q: Can I unstake at any time?
It depends on the coin. ALGO and XTZ (baking) have no lock-up. ETH via Lido is liquid (you can sell stETH). SOL takes 2–3 days, DOT takes 28 days, and ATOM takes 21 days.
Q: What is the minimum amount needed to stake?
This varies by coin. Practically speaking: ETH (no minimum but gas costs make small amounts inefficient), SOL (0.01 SOL minimum stake), DOT (10 DOT to receive rewards), ATOM (any amount), XTZ (any amount).
Q: Do I pay tax on staking rewards?
In most jurisdictions, yes — staking rewards are typically treated as income at the time of receipt. Consult a tax professional familiar with crypto in your country.
Q: What happens to my staking rewards if Ledger Live goes offline?
Staking is handled on-chain, not by Ledger Live. If Ledger Live is unavailable, your rewards continue to accumulate on the blockchain. You just cannot claim or manage them until you reconnect.
Q: Can I use a hardware wallet for both security and staking at the same time?
Yes — this is actually the recommended setup. Staking with a hardware wallet gives you the best of both worlds: you earn rewards while keeping private keys secure offline.
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