Anyone with BTC can participate in Bitcoin staking on Starknet. At a high-level, users have three options for participating in staking:
- Stake as a delegator: Users with any amount of Bitcoin on Starknet can participate. Users can delegate their tokens to validators without running their own nodes. Delegators share in the rewards earned by the validators they choose. For more information on how rewards are split between validators and delegators, visit “Staking Overview” in the Starknet Docs, and scroll down to “Staking Rewards.”
- Acquire Liquid-Staked Tokens: Liquid Staked Tokens (or LSTs) are a common option in DeFi. LSTs represent staked tokens. Owners of LSTs accrue staking rewards and have the additional benefit of being able to use their LSTs as they like (for example, in DeFi applications). Users can acquire liquid-staked Bitcoins by swapping for them on exchanges that support this market or by depositing tokens directly with LST providers.
- Stake as a validator: To run a validator node, you will need to comply with all the requirements of running such a node (including the minimum STRK threshold). Validators can then delegate supported forms of Bitcoin staking to themselves.
In this guide, we will focus on how to stake through delegation and stake with LSTs. If you’d like to stake as a validator, visit “Becoming a Validator” in the Starknet Docs. If you’d like to swap tokens for LSTs, visit AVNU or other DEXs to see which Liquid-Staked Tokens are available.
Getting Set Up
***Note: If you’re already a Starknet user with supported Bitcoins (WBTC, LBTC, solvBTC, tBTC) in your wallet, go straight to step 3.
1. Set up a Starknet wallet
Download Ready (extension, mobile) or Braavos(extension, mobile) (or a different Starknet wallet).
2. Get supported BTC on Starknet
Native Bitcoin only exists on the Bitcoin network. To participate in Bitcoin staking on Starknet, users will need to hold a tokenized version of Bitcoin that is supported by the staking program. Currently, the following tokens are supported: WBTC, LBTC, SolvBTC & tBTC.
Option 1: Move your assets from Bitcoin to Starknet. Users can use Atomiq Labs, Garden Finance, or LayerSwap. Note: Double-check to make sure the receiving network is on Starknet.
Option 2: Bridge from Ethereum or compatible L2 to Starknet. From the mainnet Ethereum chain, users can use StarkGate, Starknet’s canonical bridge. From other chains, users can go through Stargate (soon), Rhino.fi, LayerSwap, or any bridge that supports Starknet.
Option 3: Swap Users who already have tokens on Starknet can always choose to acquire tokenized Bitcoin through DEXs, like AVNU (Note: a user can also directly acquire liquid-staked Bitcoin on AVNU and skip the rest of the guide).
3. Choose your staking platform
Congrats! You now have tokenized Bitcoin in your wallet and are ready to participate in Bitcoin staking. The next step is to choose the platform through which you’d like to stake. You can either stake through your Ready or Braavos wallets, or you can choose from a larger list of staking providers and liquid staking tokens through Endur, Voyager, or the Earn App (coming soon).
Important: Some wallets subsidise transactions (see Ready, Braavos mobile) and others let users pay fees with wBTC (Ready wallet extension). If you choose a different wallet, you will need STRK to pay for transaction fees.
Liquid Staking through Endur
Step 1: Connect Wallet
Connect Your Wallet to app.endur.fi
Step 2: Go to “Liquid Staking” Section
Click the Liquid Staking button from the menu to go to the Liquid Staking Section
Step 3: Select Bitcoin
Click the box that says BTC
Step 4: Choose the variant of Bitcoin to stake
The default option is WBTC. Select the down arrow next to WBTC to choose an alternative. The options are WBTC, tBTC, solvBTC, and LBTC
Step 5: Enter the amount to stake
Manually enter an amount, or select 25%, 50%, 75% and max by selecting the corresponding button.
Step 6: Click Stake and Approve Transactions
Click the Stake button, approve the transaction via your wallet, and confirm. Once the transaction is confirmed, a liquid staked Bitcoin will automatically be deposited into the corresponding wallet address.
Staking through Ready
Step 1. Tap “Stake your Bitcoin”
From the Ready App, click “Stake Your Bitcoin” from the homescreen. Alternatively, click the Leaf icon.
Step 2. Select the Bitcoin staking banner
This will take you to the Bitcoin staking screen.
Step 3. Enter the amount to stake
Choose how much Bitcoin you want to stake. Then click Stake. You can stake WBTC, LBTC, tBTC, and SolvBTC.
Step 4. Review and confirm
Check the details and confirm the transaction.
Staking through Voyager
***Note: Staking through Braavos requires users to also have a small amount of STRK in their wallets to pay for transaction fees.
Step 1: Connect Wallet and Choose Validator
Connect your wallet to Voyager. Then, from the list of possible validators, select which validator to delegate tokens to.
Step 2: Select a version of BTC
Click on the down arrow next to STRK. A list of supported tokens will appear. Select which token to stake.
Step 3: Enter the amount of tokens to stake
Users can manually enter an option or stake the maximum available in the connected wallet.
Step 4: Enter Reward Address
This is the address where staking rewards will accrue. Click use wallet address to enter the same wallet that currently is connected to Voyager.
Step 5: Review Information and Delegate
Double-check the information and click delegate. All done!
Staking Through Braavos
***Note: Staking through Braavos requires users to also have a small amount of STRK in their wallets to pay for transaction fees.
Step 1: Open Braavos app
Open Braavos and tap “Invest.” [1]
Step 2: Select staking
Tap “Stake” in the “Stake wBTC” box.
Step 3: Enter amount
Enter the amount of wBTC you wish to delegate for staking, and then click “1-Click Stake.”
Step 4: Click OK
This will return you to the wallet overview
Step 5: View Your Staked Balances
Conclusion
Congratulations! You are now providing to Starknet by staking your Bitcoin. Stay tuned for updates on Starknet’s X page.
Disclaimer
Not investment advice, do your own research. Staking is subject to risks, including risk of loss. For more information see Terms.
[1] StarkWare takes the position that the purpose of staking is to move towards further decentralization and does not view it as an investment.
