Staking at Bitvavo
Summary
This article explains the two ways you can earn rewards on Bitvavo: Flex Staking and Fixed Staking. You’ll learn how each one works, how to enable or disable Flex Staking, and how to stake crypto using the Fixed Staking feature. It also explains where to view your earnings and track your staked assets.
Bitvavo Earn: two ways to earn rewards with your crypto
Bitvavo has made staking easier and more flexible. With the new Earn Hub, you can choose between:
- Flex Staking: Earn rewards automatically on all eligible assets unless you opt out.
- Fixed Staking: Lock your assets for a fixed period (e.g. 30 days) and earn higher rewards.
You can find both options in one place: the Earn Hub in your Bitvavo app or website. This makes it simple to manage your staking preferences and view your current rewards.
Flex Staking: earn rewards automatically
Flex Staking works just like the previous staking feature, but with a new approach: you earn rewards on all eligible assets at once, instead of choosing them one by one. If you prefer not to earn rewards, you can opt out at any time.
How to enable or disable Flex Staking
- Tap here or tap the profile icon in the top-right corner and navigate to "Staking".
- Tap "Enable Staking" or "Disable Staking" to turn it on or off.
- Click here or click on "Earn" in the balance overview.
- Click on "Manage Staking" and enable or disable Staking as desired.
Fixed Staking: earn more by locking your crypto
Fixed Staking gives you a higher reward (APY) by locking up your crypto for a fixed period, like 30 days. During this period, your funds can't be traded or withdrawn.
How to stake crypto with Fixed Staking
- Tap here or tap "Earn" below your portfolio chart.
- Tap the asset you want to stake.
- Next to "Fixed Staking" tap the Stake button.
- Review the APY, duration, and your available balance.
- Tap "Continue", then enter the amount you want to stake.
- Review the preview with estimated returns.
- Tap "Confirm" to lock your assets and start earning.
Where can I see my staking earnings?
You can view both your Flex Staking and Fixed Staking rewards in one place:
- Open the Earn Hub section in the app or website.
- You’ll see your total earnings, a breakdown per asset, and details of any assets currently locked.
FAQ
Staking services are offered by Bitvavo B.V. and are not currently regulated under MiCA. This means the safeguards and protections that apply to regulated crypto services may not extend to Staking. As a result, these services may involve additional risks. Please refer to our Risk Disclosure and User Agreement for more details.
Can I choose which assets to stake with Flex Staking?
No, Flex Staking applies to all eligible assets in your account. You can only enable or disable it for your entire portfolio.
What happens when the Fixed Staking period ends?
Your funds (and earned rewards) will automatically become available in your account again. You can then choose to lock them again or keep them flexible.
How can I cancel my Fixed Staking term?
You can cancel your Fixed Staking and unlock your funds by going to the asset page, tapping "Staking", selecting "Details" in your Fixed Staking term, and then tapping "Cancel term".
Is there a minimum amount required for Staking?
The minimum amount required for Flex Staking depends on the reward percentage and the decimals available for the asset. A payout is only available if the weekly Flex Staking reward is more than the smallest available amount for the asset. If the payout is too small, it will be rounded down to 0, and no payout will be credited. Once you have enabled Staking for a certain asset, the full balance in the respective cryptocurrency on your account will be staked by Bitvavo and rewards will be distributed to you.
For Fixed Staking a minimum amount may apply depending on the asset. You’ll see the requirements before confirming your stake.
Can I disable Staking while I still have funds locked in Fixed Staking?
No. It is not possible to disable Staking when funds are locked in Fixed Staking. You will have to wait until the fixed period is over before you can disable Staking.
What is the difference between Flex and Fixed Staking?
With Flex Staking, your assets remain available to trade or withdraw at any time while still earning rewards. Fixed Staking allows you to lock selected assets for a set period in exchange for higher annual returns.
Which assets are available for Staking?
Flex Staking is currently available on a variety of assets. To see the full list of assets that are available for Flex Staking, see our Earn page.
Fixed Staking is available for a select list of Proof of Stake assets. For the assets for which Fixed is available, both the APY and the lock up periods are continuously subject to change. We aim to expand the offering of assets for which Fixed Staking is available in the near future.
Can I trade or withdraw my assets while using Staking?
With Flex Staking, you can trade or withdraw your assets at any time. With Fixed Staking, your assets are locked for a fixed period and will not be available to trade or withdraw until that period has ended.
How are Staking earnings calculated?
Staking rewards are calculated based on several factors, including the amount of cryptocurrency staked, the duration of staking, and the network's inflationary rate or transaction fee distribution. The specific staking algorithm and network consensus rules determine the reward calculation methodology. In some cases, rewards may be proportional to the staked amount, while in others, they may be influenced by factors such as network participation or validator performance.
Digital assets may generate Staking benefits without you having opted in for the Staking service, in which case all such benefits accrue solely to Bitvavo. Bitvavo carries the risks directly related to staking activities without you having opted in for the Staking service. More information can be found in our pricing policy.
If you sell or withdraw an asset to an external wallet, it will stop earning.
Does staking incur any fees?
Yes, staking may involve certain fees. These can include network transaction fees and service fees related to providing the staking functionality.
These fees are already factored into the reward rates that Bitvavo offers for staking. That means you don’t pay anything extra on top of the displayed rates.
Important: Bitvavo does not charge additional fees directly from your assets. All costs are included in the calculated reward rate.
For full details, please refer to our pricing policy.
Are there any risks involved with staking?
Yes, staking comes with certain risks that you should be aware of before enabling it. These include:
- Network risks: Issues like bugs, attacks, or consensus failures in the blockchain could affect the safety of your staked assets.
- Slashing risks: In some networks, validators can be penalized for misbehavior or downtime. This is known as “slashing” and may lead to loss of staked assets.
- Market risks: The value of the cryptocurrency you're staking can fluctuate. This affects both the value of your rewards and the total return.
- Regulatory risks: Laws and regulations around staking may change, which could influence how staking services are offered or even their availability.
For a full overview of all potential risks, please review our Risk Disclosure Statement.
When do I receive my earnings?
Flex Staking rewards are accrued daily and paid out weekly on Mondays. Payouts are made in the form of digital assets and appear in your account before 23:59 CE(S)T. Fixed staking rewards are paid out at the end of your lock up term.
Can the earning rates change?
Yes, earning rates for Staking can change. These changes may be caused by network conditions, liquidity pool participation, or supply and demand. However, for Fixed Staking, the reward rates will not change during the lock-up period.
What happens if I disable Staking?
Disabling Staking stops rewards from being earned on any eligible assets you hold. You can re-enable Staking at any time through your Earn hub settings.
Can I switch between Flex and Fixed Staking?
Yes, but with a few important details. Flex Staking must be enabled first to access any staking earnings. For eligible assets, you can then opt into Fixed Staking to enhance your APY rate for the lock-up period. Once staked in a Fixed contract, your assets will be locked up for the specified period. After that period ends, you can either restake on Fixed, continue staking on Flex, or opt out of Staking all together.
How are Staking validators or nodes selected?
Staking involves the process of participating in the validation and consensus of a blockchain network holding cryptocurrency assets. Bitvavo stakes on behalf of its customers.
As a customer, you entrust Bitvavo to handle the staking process, including the selection of appropriate validators or nodes within the supported blockchain networks. Bitvavo employs a rigorous due diligence process to assess the credibility and reliability of validators or nodes it engages with for staking purposes. This due diligence process may involve evaluating factors such as the reputation of the validators or nodes, their performance history, security measures in place, and their compliance with network protocols.
Are there any restrictions on participation Staking?
Certain limitations or restrictions may apply to your Staking participation. This may include restrictions based on where you reside.
Are there any tax implications for earnings accrued via Staking?
The tax implications and reporting requirements associated with Staking vary depending on the jurisdiction in which you reside. Staking rewards may be subject to income tax, capital gains tax, or other tax obligations. It is advisable to consult with a tax professional or refer to tax authorities to understand the specific tax implications and reporting obligations related to Staking in your jurisdiction.
Does Bitvavo do smart contract staking?
Most staked assets on our platform use native Proof-of-Stake (PoS), with only a small portion staked via smart contracts. Smart contract staking involves staking assets via smart contracts directly. While it offers rewards, it also carries risks like potential bugs or vulnerabilities in the contract, as well as the changes in the underlying protocol. To manage these risks we carefully assess all protocols before supporting them.
For assets staked via smart contracts, there is a risk of bugs or vulnerabilities in the contract code that could impact the security of staked assets.
What happens if I trade an already staked asset?
When you sell or withdraw assets that are Staked, those assets will simply stop earning staking rewards. Any rewards accrued up to that moment will still be credited to your account.
What does opting in for the Staking Service mean?
By choosing to use the Staking Service, you can earn rewards (“Staking Rewards”) from Bitvavo staking your supported Digital Assets stored in your Bitvavo Digital Asset Wallet (“Staking Digital Assets”). Bitvavo may stake these assets, at its discretion, in third-party proof-of-stake blockchain protocols and/or networks (the “Staking Service”).
Was this article helpful?