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Stake ELA

BPoS has two steps for participants who want rewards: (1) Stake—lock ELA on the main chain—and (2) Vote—pledge that stake to a validator node for a pledge period. Locking ELA alone does not earn rewards; voting (the pledge to a node) is what earns rewards. The system is Bonded Proof of Stake (BPoS).

How It Works​

  1. Stake your ELA—lock ELA via a staking transaction in Essentials (step 1: funds are bonded for voting)
  2. Vote for a BPoS node—pledge your stake to a validator (step 2: this is what qualifies you for rewards)
  3. Set the amount and duration of your pledge (10 to 1,000 days)
  4. Your pledge becomes active and ELA remains locked for the pledge term
  5. Rewards accrue while your vote is active—throughout the pledge period
  6. At expiry, the pledge ends and that vote no longer earns rewards
  7. Re-vote (pledge again—same or different node) after pledge expires to continue earning; this is not the same as “re-staking” if your ELA was already staked

Pledge duration affects how the protocol weights your vote for reward distribution. For details on reward calculation and BPoS economics, see Staking Guide.

Requirements​

  • Elastos Essentials wallet (see Set Up Your Wallet)
  • ELA on the main chain (not ESC)
  • A small amount of ELA for transaction fees
Wallet Compatibility

Only the Elastos Essentials wallet supports ELA staking on the main chain. MetaMask and other Ethereum wallets cannot stake because the ELA main chain uses a different cryptographic curve (NIST P-256). Make sure you are using the Elastos Mainchain wallet within Essentials, not the Elastos Smart Chain (ESC) wallet.

info

Staking only works on the Elastos main chain. If your ELA is on ESC, you need to bridge it to the main chain first.

Step-by-Step Guide​

Step 1: Open the Staking Section​

  1. Open Essentials
  2. Go to the Wallet tab
  3. Make sure you are on the ELA main chain wallet
  4. Navigate to the BPoS Voting section

Step 2: Select a BPoS Node​

Browse the list of available BPoS nodes. Each node shows:

  • Name and operator information
  • Commission rate (the percentage the node operator keeps)
  • Uptime and reliability metrics
  • Total votes received

Choose a node you trust. You can also browse nodes at staking.elastos.net/nodes.

Step 3: Set Your Stake​

  • Enter the amount of ELA you want to stake
  • Choose your pledge duration (between 10 and 1,000 days; the app enforces chain limits)

Step 4: Confirm and Sign​

  1. Review the staking details: amount, node, duration
  2. Tap Confirm
  3. Enter your spending password to sign the transaction

Your ELA is staked and pledged to your chosen node. Rewards accrue because of the active vote (pledge), not merely because ELA is locked.

Managing Your Stake​

Viewing Rewards​

Check your BPoS voting rewards in Essentials under the BPoS Voting section. They accrue while your pledge to a node is active; see Staking Guide for how they are calculated.

Claiming Rewards​

When you want rewards in your spendable balance, use Claim (or the equivalent control) in the staking or BPoS Voting area. Claiming is an on-chain transaction—keep a little ELA aside for fees.

After Your Pledge Expires​

When your pledge period ends, your staked ELA unlocks from that vote. To continue earning rewards, re-vote after the pledge expires—cast a new pledge to the same or a different node (and set a new duration). Alternatively, once no vote locks your stake, use Unstake in ELA Staking (if your app separates stake and voting) to move ELA back to your spendable balance.

Canceling Early​

You cannot withdraw staked ELA before the pledge period ends. Choose your duration carefully.

Tools and Resources​

ToolDescription
Staking CalculatorEstimate your ELA rewards based on stake amount and pledge duration
Browse BPoS NodesCompare all active nodes, their commission rates, uptime, and total votes
Staking PortalThe official Elastos staking portal with guides and node information