Guide

How to Stake ICP

Staking ICP means locking your tokens in the Network Nervous System (NNS) and earning voting rewards for as long as they stay locked. It is one of the three jobs of the ICP token, alongside paying for compute and transferring value. Here is how staking works, step by step, and the risks to understand before you start.

August 16, 2026 · 6 min read

What staking ICP actually is

Staking on ICP is not about securing the network in a proof-of-stake sense — consensus on ICP is run by node providers, not by stakers. Instead, staked ICP goes into neurons, which participate in governance of the Network Nervous System. In exchange for locking your tokens and voting on proposals, you earn voting rewards — newly minted ICP paid out in proportion to your stake.

The trade-off that decides your rewards

Every neuron has a dissolve delay — how long your ICP stays locked. You choose it when you create the neuron, from 6 months up to 8 years. The longer the delay, the higher the voting weight and the bigger your rewards.

Typical APY in 2026 runs from roughly 15% at a 6-month dissolve delay up to around 28–29% at the maximum 8 years. Your ICP remains illiquid for the full dissolve delay — you cannot sell or move it until the timer finishes and you dissolve the neuron.

Step-by-step

The NNS is an on-chain DAO with its own dapp. The flow is:

Fund a wallet — hold ICP in an NNS-supported wallet. Many wallets, including ICPay, let you hold ICP without touching staking at all.
Open the NNS dapp at nns.ic0.app and connect your Internet Identity.
Stake a neuron — choose how much ICP to lock and pick your dissolve delay.
Vote or delegate — cast votes on proposals, or follow a trusted neuron to auto-vote for you.
Claim rewards — voting rewards accrue as you vote; you can claim them periodically.

What to watch out for

Liquidity — your ICP is locked for the whole dissolve delay. An 8-year neuron is a serious commitment.
Rewards are not fixed— APY depends on the neuron's voting power and participation, so figures are estimates, not promises.
No slashing — staking ICP does not come with penalty for misbehaviour, but inactivity can still mean missed rewards.
Taxes — rewards may be taxable income in your jurisdiction; check local rules.

Should you stake?

Staking makes sense if you plan to hold ICP long-term and want governance participation plus rewards in return for the lock-up. It makes little sense if you need the tokens soon, or if you are not interested in voting. A middle path is staking a small amount with a short dissolve delay to learn the mechanics, then increasing your position once you are comfortable.

Remember that staking is separate from using a wallet: you can hold and send ICP in a wallet like ICPay without ever creating a neuron.