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Tezos Delegation & Staking Guide

Published · Updated

John Murray

Delegating and staking your Tezos (XTZ) tokens is a great way to put your assets to work while supporting the security and decentralization of the Tezos network. Whether you’re new to staking or looking for a smoother experience, this guide will walk you through the full process, step by step.

We’ll show you how to:

  • Get your XTZ ready.
  • Connect a supported wallet.
  • Delegate and stake your tokens.
  • Understand the rewards and risks involved.

By following this simple process using the official Tezos staking dApp, you’ll be earning network rewards in just a few minutes, all while keeping full custody of your assets.

Prerequisites

  1. Get your XTZ ready: 

Before you begin, make sure you own some Tezos (XTZ). You can purchase XTZ on various cryptocurrency exchanges and withdraw it to a supported non-custodial wallet such as Kukai, Temple, or Umami.

  1. Use the official Tezos staking dApp:

This guide follows the earning flow provided through the official Tezos staking dApp. Multiple wallets are supported. The steps explained mainly involve interacting with the dApp, with clear indicators of when to sign messages or transactions in your selected wallet. While the signing process may vary slightly between wallets, it’s simple overall. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to our support team via our website (click the chat icon in the bottom-right corner).

  1. Understand delegation vs. staking: 

Tezos (XTZ) offers two flexible ways to participate and earn rewards: delegation and staking. Delegation is a simple, liquid option where your funds remain accessible at all times, while staking locks your tokens for a short 4-day unbonding period but provides up to 3× higher rewards. For more details on the differences, visit the dedicated P2P Tezos page.

  1. Delegation is a required first step: 

Before you can stake your XTZ, you must first delegate it to a baker. This guide walks you through the full process. If you only wish to delegate, you can stop after Step 9.

  1. Your entire balance will be delegated: 

Tezos does not allow partial delegation. Your entire wallet balance will be delegated to the selected baker, who will also be the one you stake with if you proceed further.

  1. Detailed info at your fingertips:

Need more in-depth information? Feel free to browse our materials in the Help Center!

Step 1: Go to the Tezos Staking Page

Click the “Start Earning” or “Connect” button.

Step 2: Connect Your Wallet

  • In the displayed popup, choose your preferred wallet (we used Kukai for this guide).
  • Approve the connection request in your wallet app.

Step 3: View Wallet Status

  • After connecting, your wallet balance will be displayed.
  • If you have no funds delegated yet, the status will show “Inactive”.

Click “Start Earning” to begin.

Step 4: Choose Between Delegating or Staking

Now you will see two options:

  • Delegate: 1x reward factor; funds remain liquid.
  • Stake: 3x reward factor; funds are locked (4-day unbonding period applies after unstaking).

Your choice here isn’t final—it’s flexible. After delegating, you can choose to stake at any time. Similarly, during the staking process, you can stop after delegation (Step 9 in this guide) if you prefer. In this guide, we walk through the full process, so we selected “Stake” at this stage.

Step 5: Understand Staking Requirement

  • Before staking, you must delegate your balance to a Tezos baker.

Click “Select Baker” to proceed.

Step 6: Choose a Baker

  • Use the search bar or browse to find a baker (e.g., P2P.org).

Click “Select” next to the baker of your choice.

Step 7: Confirm Delegation

  • Review the baker details (total staked, fee, and available space).

Click “Continue” to proceed.

Step 8: Sign the Delegation Transaction

  • A prompt will appear. Sign the transaction in your wallet (e.g., Kukai).
  • Wait for confirmation.

Step 9: Confirmation

  • You’ll see a confirmation screen saying “Nicely Done!” once the delegation is successful.
  • Click “Continue”.

Note: This is the final step if you only wish to delegate. However, we encourage you to stake to potentially receive 3x higher network rewards.

Step 10: Stake Your XTZ

  • Now enter the amount of Tezos (XTZ) you want to stake.

Click “Continue” and sign the staking transaction in your wallet.

Step 11: Accept Disclaimer

  • Review the disclaimer:
    • Staked balances are locked until manually unstaked (takes ~4 days).
    • Slashing risk: You may lose part of your stake if your baker violates consensus rules. This is extremely rare on Tezos—P2P.org has not experienced a slashing event to date (01.05.2025).
  • Tick the checkbox to agree with the Terms of Use.

Click “Stake” and you’ll be prompted to sign the transaction in your wallet one more time.

Step 12: Sign the Staking Transaction

  • Once signed and processed, you’ll see a confirmation message:
    • “You have successfully staked 20 tez.”

Any remaining balance is delegated to the baker automatically.

Step 13: Confirm Staked Status

  • After completing the process:
    • The staked amount appears under “Staked”.
    • The delegation status is Active. Any additional funds transferred to this wallet will be automatically delegated, but additional staking must be initiated manually.

The baker's name and details are shown.

That’s it! You are now earning XTZ with P2P.org Baker. Note that your XTZ remains fully in your custody, and you are free to undelegate or unstake at any time using the same interface and confirming the transactions through your wallet.

Are you looking for institutional staking?

We collaborate with leading custodians and institutional staking providers to ensure secure, compliant, and seamless Tezos (XTZ) staking solutions. Whether you use a third-party custodian or require a custom integration, we can help.

Contact us via p2p.org using the chat icon in the bottom-right corner — we’ll work with you to find the best path forward.

The information provided above is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as, or relied upon as, investment, financial, or any other type of professional advice. P2P.org or any associated parties do not offer any form of advisory services, and nothing shared here should be considered as a recommendation or endorsement for any financial decisions. P2P.org is not responsible for any decisions made based on the information provided. You are encouraged to consult with a qualified financial advisor or professional before making any investment or financial decisions.

John Murray

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