Following the Merge, Ethereum now uses proof of stake (POS), which allows you to stake your Ether coins (ETH) in return for more ETH.<\/p>\n\n
Staking is designed to make the Ethereum network faster, more scalable and more sustainable. Mining on Ethereum has stopped, leaving staking the only way to earn new ETH. There are both simple and complex ways to participate in staking, each with its own benefits and risks that you need to weigh up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\nThis is not an endorsement of cryptocurrency or any specific provider, service or offering. It is not a recommendation to trade or use any services.\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Ethereum staking involves validating transactions on the Ethereum network to earn new ETH coins. By locking up a minimum of ETH in a wallet, you gain the ability to confirm whether a transaction conforms to signature requirements and other rules. In return for your work, you get additional ETH coins \u2013 this is called staking rewards.<\/p>\n\n
Anyone can become a validator by staking through dedicated software, through your Ethereum wallet or by joining a staking pool<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n The minimum amount of ETH required to run a validator node alone is 32. Anyone with less than that will want to join a pool or another service that lets you stake small amounts of ETH for rewards. You can find these pools on platforms such as Crypto.com and Nexo, which usually let you start with 1 ETH or even less.<\/p>\n\n Staking's goal is to make the network more secure from attacks and more decentralised. Ethereum staking is the only way to create new ETH coins following the Merge, which made energy-intensive mining obsolete.<\/p>\n\n\n