NFT staking is a new way to earn passive income from your non-fungible tokens (NFTs) while keeping ownership of them. NFTs are unique digital assets that can represent anything from art and collectibles to gaming items and virtual land. NFTs have gained popularity in recent years as a way to create and trade digital scarcity and authenticity on the blockchain.
However, holding NFTs can also be costly and risky. You may have to pay high fees to mint, buy or sell them, especially on the Ethereum network. You may also face uncertainty about the future value of your NFTs, as they depend on the demand and supply of the market. Moreover, you may not be able to use your NFTs for anything else besides displaying them in your wallet or gallery.
This is where NFT staking comes in. NFT staking allows you to lock up your NFTs on a platform or protocol that offers rewards and benefits for doing so. By staking your NFTs, you can earn passive income in the form of cryptocurrency or NFT tokens while maintaining ownership of your collection. Some platforms or protocols may also offer other perks, such as governance rights, exclusive access or enhanced features.
Tekedia Mini-MBA edition 16 (Feb 10 – May 3, 2025) opens registrations; register today for early bird discounts.
Tekedia AI in Business Masterclass opens registrations here.
Join Tekedia Capital Syndicate and invest in Africa’s finest startups here.
How does NFT staking work?
The process of staking NFTs is similar to staking cryptocurrencies, where you deposit your coins or tokens into a smart contract or a pool and receive rewards for securing the network or providing liquidity. However, not all NFTs are eligible for staking. You need to find a platform or protocol that supports the specific type of NFT that you own.
To participate in NFT staking, you need to own an NFT that is eligible for staking. Not all NFTs qualify for staking, so you need to check with the specific project or platform to see if they support your asset. Once you have an eligible NFT, you can stake it by holding it in a platform that allows staking. The platform will usually have a web3 wallet that you can connect to your NFT wallet.
For example, if you own an NFT from Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC), a popular collection of 10,000 unique ape avatars, you can stake it on Binance NFT PowerStation, a platform that allows you to earn BNB rewards by staking various NFTs. Alternatively, if you own an NFT from Polychain Monsters, a collection of 1000 digital monsters with different attributes and rarities, you can stake it on their own platform and earn their native token POLY.
The amount and frequency of rewards will vary depending on the project or platform. Some platforms may offer fixed rewards, while others may have variable rewards based on supply and demand. Some platforms may also have different tiers of rewards based on the rarity or quality of the NFTs staked.
One thing to remember is that staking your NFTs may involve locking them up for a specific time. This means you won’t be able to sell or transfer them during that time. The length of the lock-up period will vary depending on the project or platform, so be sure to check with the specific project or platform to see how long your NFTs will be locked up.
The rewards and benefits of staking NFTs vary depending on the platform or protocol that you choose. Some factors that may affect the rewards are:
- The rarity and value of your NFT
-
The duration and frequency of your staking
-
The demand and supply of the reward token
-
The total amount of NFTs staked on the platform
-
The rules and conditions of the platform
Before staking your NFTs, you should do your own research and understand the risks involved. Some of the risks are:
Losing access to your NFTs while they are staked.
Losing your rewards if the platform gets hacked or exploited.
Losing your NFTs if the platform gets shut down or discontinued.
Losing value of your NFTs if the market crashes or changes.
Losing compatibility of your NFTs if the platform upgrades or migrates.
NFT staking is an exciting and innovative way to utilize your digital assets and generate passive income from them. However, it is not without its challenges and uncertainties. You should always weigh the pros and cons of staking your NFTs and make informed decisions based on your own goals and preferences.