Proof-of-Stake protocols require validators to verify transactions on the blockchain, thereby securing the network and generating rewards in the process. This is in contrast to Proof-of-Work protocols where miners are required to solve complex equations often requiring high-powered machines. In Proof-of-Stake, a validator node can be added by committing a set number of virtual assets (i.e. staking). The validator node may then be randomly chosen to validate the next block and in return for successfully validating the transactions, the validators are rewarded as per the parameters of the relevant blockchain protocol.¹

Crypto.com’s eligible clients may stake virtual assets through Crypto.com’s On-chain staking service to secure the applicable network, by validating transactions propagated over the supported blockchains. Such eligible clients can also earn periodic rewards proportionate to the staked virtual assets in accordance with the relevant supported blockchain protocol. You may purchase the virtual assets on Crypto.com Exchange or transfer virtual assets from an external wallet to your Crypto.com Exchange account to participate in the On-chain staking service.

The benefits of using Crypto.com’s On-chain staking service include:

* Dependent on the generation of rewards granted and determined by the blockchain protocol

** Please note that supported blockchains may independently impose minimum bonding or unbonding periods.

Crypto.com maintains separate wallets for On-chain staking. When you stake virtual assets, such virtual assets are first transferred to these separate staking wallets facilitated by Crypto.com so to distinguish them from your other virtual assets, and then staked to the relevant supported blockchains.

Please read the PoS Staking Terms and Conditions carefully in relation to the risks of "slashing", which may occur when the transaction validator representing those assets incorrectly validates or fails to validate a transaction. As a result, there may be non-payment of validation rewards and the staked virtual assets may be subject to a penalty.

Please conduct your own due diligence and consult your advisors before making any decision including whether to participate in On-chain Staking and related transactions.

Crypto.com currently supports the following supported blockchains and associated digital assets, for On-chain staking:

*There is no minimum staking period or fixed term imposed by Crypto.com. Your staked virtual assets will start earning rewards after the activation time and post processing with the validator. Please note that you may not receive rewards if you choose to unstake your virtual assets early or if the rewards fall below the minimum decimal precision, currently set at 1.00E-08.

** For supported blockchain protocols that offer compounded rewards, your rewards will be disbursed to your Staked Balance. For protocols that do not offer compounded rewards, your rewards will be credited to your Available Quantity in your Wallet and can be withdrawn.

For the estimated rewards rates, please refer to our website for the most up-to-date information. Please note that the rewards rates are not guaranteed, as they are estimates and subject to change depending on the applicable blockchain network activity which may fluctuate.

The Staking History tab under the Staking page provides a record of all your Staking and Unstaking requests with a timestamp of the request and displays the current status of the request.

Staking Transactions and Balances

After you have confirmed your Staking request, the status of your Staking request will first be reflected as “Pending”.

Once we have received your Staking request, we will conduct further checks on your wallet balances and positions. If you do not have sufficient funds in your Available Balances for staking, your Staking request may be “Rejected” by Crypto.com. You may check your wallet balances and positions and initiate another Staking request should you wish to.

Once your Staking request has been accepted by Crypto.com, the status will then be updated to “Activating” and will remain as “Activating” until the virtual assets have been staked on–chain. At this stage, under the “Staking page - Staked Assets” tab, your Staking Balance will be credited with the amount specified in your Staking request, and the corresponding amount will be debited from your Available Balance.

The frequency of which virtual assets are staked on your behalf on-chain is protocol-dependent, as blockchain networks typically measure time periods and activity by epochs which determine and impact the staking cycle.

After the virtual assets have been staked on your behalf on the relevant blockchain protocol, your Staking request will be activated and your virtual assets will start generating rewards. Your Staking request status will change to “Staked”. This is the final state of the staking transaction.

Unstaking Transactions and Balances

You can request to unstake virtual assets staked on-chain anytime, and there are no lock-up periods imposed by Crypto.com. Virtual assets under “Activating” status are not eligible for unstaking and can only be unstaked once the status is changed to “Staked”. However, do take note that most protocols impose an unbonding period when you unstake.

After you have confirmed your Unstaking request, the status of your Unstaking request will first be reflected as “Processing”. Do note that once you have confirmed to unstake, you are making an irrevocable request to redeem your virtual assets and the virtual assets under this Unstaking request will stop earning rewards.

Where your Unstaking request has not yet been completed, the status of your Unstaking request will be reflected as “Unbonding”. Once your Unstaking request is completed, your virtual assets will be credited to the Available Balance in your Wallet and your Staking Balance will be debited simultaneously. At this point, the Unstaking request status is reflected as “Unstaked”.

Your virtual assets which have been staked on-chain are reflected as CCY (Staked) under instruments. For example:

The staked balances include your virtual assets previously committed to staking (“Staked”), and virtual assets under the “Activating” and “Unbonding” statuses, if any. Do note that only virtual assets that have already been staked on-chain are eligible for rewards.

Where the relevant blockchain protocols offer compounded rewards, Crypto.com will credit your rewards as (Staked) e.g. SOL (Staked). For rewards that are non-compounded, the rewards are credited to Available Quantity under your Balances.

Persons from the following locations and all sanctioned nations are prohibited from participating in On-chain Staking.

The rewards rates provided are an estimation based on data from validators and are subject to change. The actual rewards will only be distributed to you when they have been generated (or unbonded as applicable) by the respective supported blockchain protocol and disbursed to you promptly thereafter via blockchain addresses facilitated by Crypto.com. The rewards which you receive will be the actual rate of rewards received from validators, net of fees that we charge for providing this service. Crypto.com does not guarantee any return or any particular rate of return. Do note that only virtual assets that have already been staked on-chain are eligible for rewards for the time period the rewards are due.

Navigate to “Staking Rewards History” for a log of rewards activity posting which shows the date and time of rewards each time rewards are credited, the quantity of rewards being credited and the Rewarded Coin. Only rewards greater than 0.00000001 will be distributed. The “Rewarded Coin” column indicates where the rewards are being credited to under your Wallet Balance. In general, the rewards crediting destination is as follows;

Our process of distributing rewards is in line with the relevant blockchain protocol frequency, as often as daily and allows for compounding of rewards in applicable protocols.

Staked virtual assets will not be eligible for trading or transfers on Crypto.com. In addition, the staked positions cannot be used to contribute to your margin balance and will have no collateral weight.

The rewards distributed to you are net of fees.

As of 1st May 2023, our standard fees are as follows;

Crypto.com reserves the right to charge differentiated fees depending on the eligible user, meaning that some eligible users may have access to higher rewards compared to other eligible users. The fees may be updated from time to time at our sole discretion.

¹Disclaimer: Each blockchain protocol has different staking structures and mechanisms. These protocols are maintained and supported by various third party projects who are distinct and separate from Crypto.com.