What You'll Learn

• Set up the IOTA Wallet
• Choose a validator using reliable data
• Stake IOTA
• Track rewards; switch or withdraw

Time: ~10–15 minutes
Difficulty: Beginner
Prerequisites: IOTA in your wallet

Before You Start

Requirements

• IOTA Wallet (browser extension)
• ≥ 1 IOTA (minimum stake)
• Internet connection
• Seed phrase stored offline

Safety

• Never share seed phrase
• Install wallet from official sources only
• Verify validator details in wallet/explorer
• Test with a small amount first

Step 1: Set Up the IOTA Wallet

1. Install the official IOTA Wallet extension (Chrome Web Store link via iota.org/docs).
2. Create a new wallet profile.
3. Write down the 24-word recovery phrase on paper; store offline.
4. Fund the wallet:
   • Copy your IOTA receive address.
   • Withdraw IOTA from your exchange/wallet.
   • Wait until balance shows in wallet.

Note: Firefly is deprecated on Rebased. Use the IOTA Wallet extension.

✅ Checkpoint: Balance visible on mainnet

Step 2: Open Staking

1. In the IOTA Wallet, go to Stake & Earn (or Staking in the Dashboard).
2. Connect the wallet if prompted.
3. Review network status in wallet/explorer:
   • Current APY (variable)
   • Total staked
   • Active validators

✅ Checkpoint: Staking screen shows available validators

Step 3: Choose a Validator

Selection criteria:

• Uptime/performance history
• Commission rate (verify; ranges vary)
• Pool size/distribution (avoid over-concentration)
• Clear operator identity and track record

Tools:

• Wallet validator list
• Official Explorer validators: https://explorer.iota.org/validators

How:

1. Click Browse Validators.
2. Filter/sort by uptime, commission, stake.
3. Open a validator detail page; confirm address/pool ID.
4. Click Select Validator.

✅ Checkpoint: Validator selected

Step 4: Stake

Amount

• Minimum: 1 IOTA
• Keep a small IOTA balance for fees (do not stake 100%)

Execute

1. Enter stake amount (or Max, leaving some for fees).
2. Review:
   • Validator name/address
   • Stake amount
   • Estimated fees
3. Click Stake Now and confirm in wallet.

Processing completes quickly; track via Explorer link from the wallet.

✅ Checkpoint: Status shows Staking Pending/Queued

Step 5: Verify Activation

1. Open My Stakes/Portfolio.
2. Confirm:
   • Stake amount
   • Validator
   • Status: Active after next epoch (~24h)
   • Next reward timing

Bookmarks:

• Wallet Dashboard
• Explorer position for your stake/validator

Timeline

• Immediate: Stake tx confirmed; appears in portfolio
• Next epoch (~24h): Becomes Active; rewards start
• End of each epoch: Rewards auto-credited inside the pool (auto-compounding)

✅ Checkpoint: You know when rewards start

Step 6: Track Rewards

View in wallet:

• Total Staked
• Accrued Rewards (reflected via pool exchange rate)
• APY (indicative; varies)

Notes:

• Rewards compound automatically at epoch boundaries.
• No manual “claim” needed under exchange-rate model.
• To realize rewards to liquid IOTA, Unstake.

Optimize (Optional)

• Diversify across 2–3 validators to reduce operator risk.
• Reassess validator uptime/commission periodically.
• If a validator degrades, Unstake then Stake with another; changes take effect next epoch.

Troubleshooting

Transaction failed

• Ensure fee balance > 0
• Validator address verified
• Network set to mainnet
• Try a smaller amount

Rewards not visible

• Wait for next epoch to complete
• Refresh wallet/Explorer
• Check validator active status

Wallet connection issues

• Update wallet extension
• Clear site permissions/cache
• Try another Chromium-based browser

Validator missing

• Confirm you’re on mainnet
• Validator may be inactive/removed; pick another

Security

• Never share seed phrase
• Prefer hardware wallet support for large balances (Ledger when supported)
• Verify URLs and extension publisher
• Maintain multiple offline backups of the recovery phrase

Summary

Congratulations! 🎉 You've successfully completed the IOTA staking tutorial. Here's what you accomplished:

✅ Installed the IOTA Wallet — Set up your secure wallet with recovery phrase
✅ Selected a validator — Chose a validator using verifiable metrics and performance data
✅ Staked IOTA — Successfully staked your tokens and confirmed the transaction
✅ Verified activation — Tracked your stake status and understood the reward flow
✅ Learned management — Now know how to switch validators or withdraw when needed

Quick Reference Guide

Keep this handy for your staking journey:

💡 Pro Tip: Bookmark your wallet dashboard and the IOTA Explorer for easy access to your staking portfolio.

Related Articles

Continue your staking education with these guides:

• Understanding IOTA Staking Rewards — Learn how rewards are calculated and what affects your returns
• Welcome to IOTA Staking Blog — Discover more resources and tools for IOTA staking

Note: More guides coming soon, including Validator Selection Guide and Staking Optimization Strategies.