> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.everstake.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.everstake.com/staking-docs/procotols/cardano-ada.md).
# Cardano (ADA)
### What is Cardano?
> Cardano is a blockchain platform that aims to provide a more secure and scalable infrastructure for the development and execution of smart contracts and decentralized applications (dApps). Founded by Charles Hoskinson, one of the co-founders of Ethereum, Cardano distinguishes itself through its scientific approach to development, rigorous academic research, and peer-reviewed protocols.
{% columns %}
{% column width="33.33333333333333%" %} Stake Now
{% endcolumn %}
{% column width="66.66666666666667%" %} Learn about Cardano
{% endcolumn %}
{% endcolumns %}
### How to stake Cardano?
{% hint style="info" %}
Validator Name: Everstake
Validator Addresses:
\[RSTK] Everstake: [pool1zgxvcqf0dvh0ze56ev2ayjvuex3zdd3hgxzdrcezkx497mv3l7s](https://cexplorer.io/pool/pool1zgxvcqf0dvh0ze56ev2ayjvuex3zdd3hgxzdrcezkx497mv3l7s)
\[EVE1] Everstake: [pool1uj4u73qgtprqre78q75fq2vkcrpfrcdreqcqkvn6u0m2k6nk2yp](https://cexplorer.io/pool/pool1uj4u73qgtprqre78q75fq2vkcrpfrcdreqcqkvn6u0m2k6nk2yp)
\[EVE2] Everstake: [pool1ng3vqzrhn3z45yjdscv3q37n26g2pj3vp99rfkgv6225y8lqg8j](https://cexplorer.io/pool/pool1ng3vqzrhn3z45yjdscv3q37n26g2pj3vp99rfkgv6225y8lqg8j)
\[EVRST] Everstake: [pool14skj6e4rpjanzclx3fc880xnl8xafgg63tmw93t9xspvwx985qu](https://cexplorer.io/pool/pool14skj6e4rpjanzclx3fc880xnl8xafgg63tmw93t9xspvwx985qu)
\[EVE3] Everstake: [pool1xmsdhync6k6grkkj7tuycskjpseykpr24luhlazl5nsngsy87gm](https://cexplorer.io/pool/pool1xmsdhync6k6grkkj7tuycskjpseykpr24luhlazl5nsngsy87gm)
\[VRSTK] Everstake: [pool1g3ssnndd8e7lcmstkjl9ane9mup0eshv3aklg63u5tznwl4ch87](https://cexplorer.io/pool/pool1g3ssnndd8e7lcmstkjl9ane9mup0eshv3aklg63u5tznwl4ch87)
\[EVE] Everstake: [pool1ynxx88cq0y8vg8yrq3jrw6epm7rq9a8859v34sq9lzjy7ztg90u](https://cexplorer.io/pool/pool1ynxx88cq0y8vg8yrq3jrw6epm7rq9a8859v34sq9lzjy7ztg90u)
\[ESTK] Everstake: [pool1jst7rrhucnp93hepezv5yqy6fx982xs2v0udwfc5ea6my3kfak7](https://cexplorer.io/pool/pool1jst7rrhucnp93hepezv5yqy6fx982xs2v0udwfc5ea6my3kfak7)
\[EVE4] Everstake: [pool1ywpt43nttzjd7883wafg255mh0hmjypwe65ercw6p2sxg5lt7ez](https://cexplorer.io/pool/pool1ywpt43nttzjd7883wafg255mh0hmjypwe65ercw6p2sxg5lt7ez)
\[EVERS] Everstake: [pool12l453n0jtxqq88cgwgr67z06ldyhqqvwxgkn0sgungjfvhtp2el](https://cexplorer.io/pool/pool12l453n0jtxqq88cgwgr67z06ldyhqqvwxgkn0sgungjfvhtp2el)
Commission: 4.00%
{% endhint %}
Cardano Staking Manual
## How to Stake Cardano (ADA) via Begin Wallet: A Step-by-Step Guide
### How to Create a Begin Wallet?
To create your wallet, visit the official [Begin](https://begin.is/) website and click the **Install for Chrome** button.
On the extension page, click the **Add to Chrome** button to approve the installation of the plugin.
Open the Begin Wallet extension and click the **Create Wallet** button.
After that, enter your wallet name and create the password. It must be at least 10 characters long.
On the following page, you will encounter your Recovery Phrase, consisting of 15 randomly generated words that serve as the access keys to your wallet. This phrase is confidential and inaccessible to anyone else. It is essential to write down the phrase on paper or a secure notepad and store it safely, as failure to remember it could result in the loss of your funds.
Once you have completed this process, proceed by clicking **Ok, I wrote it down**.
Now fill out the empty spaces with your Recovery Phrase to verify it. Click **Continue**.
Congratulations! Your wallet creation is complete. Don’t forget to pin the Begin Wallet extension to your toolbar for convenient access.
### How to Stake ADA using Begin Wallet?
With your newly created wallet, you are now ready to begin staking ADA. Simply follow the steps outlined below to stake your ADA:
#### Step 1. Open Begin Extension and Top Up the Wallet
To initiate the staking process, either click the Begin icon located in the top right corner of your browser or access the wallet extension by clicking the puzzle icon and locating it within the Chrome extensions list.
Before you can begin staking, it is essential to possess ADA tokens. If you do not have any, you must purchase ADA coins and transfer them to your wallet address. To get your wallet address, simply click the button highlighted in the image below.
#### Step 2. Delegate Your ADA
You can start staking when the ADA tokens are in your wallet. Click on the **Earn** button.
To delegate coins to [Everstake](https://everstake.one/), click **Stake with Everstake**.
Staking partial amounts is not available at the moment, which means the total amount of your wallet will be staked. To confirm, fill in the password and click **Confirm**.
Done! You successfully staked your ADA. It may take a few moments for the transaction to complete.
### Where can I stake Cardano?
You can choose a crypto wallet convenient for you and use the guide at the link or write to Everstake support and get more detailed information
| Wallet Type | Wallet Name |
| ------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| **Web** | Gero Wallet
Typhon Wallet
Yoroi Wallet
Exodus Wallet
Adalite Wallet
Daedalus Wallet
|
| **Mobile** | Begin Wallet
Exodus Wallet
Yoroi Wallet
|
| **Hardware** | [Cool Wallet](https://everstake.one/blog/how-to-stake-cardano-ada-via-coolwallet) |
### Staking Details
| Term | Description |
| --------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| **Epoch (cycle) duration** | 5 days |
| **Everstake fee** | 4.00% |
| **Auto-compounding** | Yes |
| **Fee to activate the wallet** | 0.18 ADA |
| **First reward info** | in 20 days |
| **Reward frequency** | Per epoch |
| **Min amount to stake** | 2 ADA and fees (recommended min amount for staking is 4 ADA) |
| **Unstaking period** | There is no lock up period on Cardano. You can unstake at any time |
| **Stake activation time** | 2 epochs (\~10 days) |
| **Re-delegating activation time** | 2 epochs (\~10 days) |
| **Last Reward** | in 2 epochs (\~10 days) |
| **Self-Bond** | None |
| **Active set** | None |
| **Slashing** | No automated slashing currently implemented in the protocol |
| **Stake deactivation time** | 2 epochs (\~10 days) |
### Why Everstake?
* Everstake is the №1 staking infrastructure platform, trusted by over 1.6M users and institutional clients worldwide. Committed to the highest standards of compliance with certifications such as SOC 2 Type II, CCPA/CRPA, ISO 27001, and GDPR, we deliver secure and reliable staking solutions across 130+ supported chains with a reliability rate of 99.98%
* Our skilled team manages reliable infrastructure, prioritizing the safety of your funds. Delegating through Everstake offers opportunities to boost your yields while ensuring peace of mind about your token's security.
### Everstake Participation
> At Everstake, we are proud to participate in the Cardano ecosystem as both a stake pool operator and a DRep (Delegated Representative). Our team ensures reliable and secure infrastructure, maintaining high uptime and performance to support network consensus and block production. By operating professional-grade nodes and actively monitoring their performance, we help secure the Cardano network while providing delegators with consistent staking rewards.
>
> We focus on accessibility and transparency for our delegators, making it easy for ADA holders to stake safely and efficiently. As a DRep, we also take part in Cardano’s governance, contributing to network decisions and the development of its ecosystem. Through our dual role, Everstake is committed to supporting Cardano’s decentralization, strengthening its community, and delivering trustworthy staking and governance services to our users.
### FAQ
Cardano Explorers
* [Cexplorer](https://cexplorer.io/)
* [Adastat](https://adastat.net/)
* [Cardanoscan](https://cardanoscan.io/)
What is ADA?
ADA is the native cryptocurrency of the Cardano blockchain, a decentralized platform designed for smart contracts, dApps, and scalable, secure transactions.
Key points about ADA:
1. Staking & Governance: ADA can be staked to participate in Cardano’s Ouroboros Proof-of-Stake (PoS) system, helping secure the network and earn rewards. ADA holders can also influence network governance through DReps (Delegated Representatives).
2. Transaction Fees: ADA is used to pay for transactions and smart contract execution on the Cardano network.
3. Utility & Incentives: Beyond payments, ADA incentivizes validators and delegators, ensuring network security and decentralization.
In short, ADA is the backbone of Cardano, powering transactions, staking, governance, and the overall ecosystem.
Cardano Tokenomics
* Total Supply: 45 billion ADA.
* Circulating Supply: Approximately 36 billion ADA.
* Distribution:
* Public & Community: \~57%
* Cardano Foundation: \~6%
* IOHK / Input Output Global: \~20%
* Emurgo: \~17%
* Staking & Rewards:
* ADA uses Ouroboros PoS. Stakers earn rewards for delegating ADA to a stake pool or running a pool.
* Rewards are proportional to the stake and pool performance, distributed every epoch (\~5 days).
* Utility:
* ADA is used for transactions, staking, governance, and smart contracts on the Cardano network.
How Everstake deduces validator fee?
“Validator fee” refers to the rewards received by Validator for participating in the Blockchain network Validation process. Everstake determines the validator fee through a process involving analysis and consideration of various factors, such as network requirements, operational costs, and market dynamics.
Control over User's Funds
Validators don't have control over users' funds in blockchain networks. Instead, they validate transactions and participate in the consensus process based on the rules defined by the network protocol. Users retain control over their funds through private keys, which are used to sign transactions and authorize transfers. Validators' roles involve confirming the validity of transactions and blocks, but they don't have the authority to access or manipulate users' funds.
Rewards Distribution
* Reward Source:
* Rewards come from transaction fees and the Cardano treasury, which gradually releases ADA to incentivize staking participation.
* Distribution Process:
* Rewards are calculated and distributed at the end of each epoch (every \~5 days).
* Each stake pool receives rewards based on its total stake, performance (blocks produced), and fees set by the pool operator.
* Delegators & Pool Operators:
* Pool operators (like Everstake) receive a fixed fee and a small margin.
* Delegators receive the remaining rewards, distributed proportionally to their staked amount.
* Auto-Compounding:
* Rewards are automatically added to your staked balance for the next epoch, so ADA staking compounds automatically without needing to restake manually.
Who are DReps?
Delegated Representatives (DReps) are ADA holders who register on-chain, enabling other community members to delegate their voting power to them. They function as 'parliamentary representatives' within Cardano's decentralized governance framework.
Do I need to delegate my voting power to DRep?
Yes. Delegation of voting power is required after the Cardano Plomin Hard Fork. To withdraw rewards, ADA holders must delegate to a DRep (there are available “Abstain” and “No Confidence” options).
**Imporant:** Without delegating voting power to a DRep, stakers cannot withdraw their staking rewards.
Read more in our [article](https://everstake.one/blog/cardano-plomin-hard-fork-how-to-delegate-your-voting-power).
How to delegate voting power to Everstake DRep?
Everstake is now an official Delegated Representative (DRep) within the Cardano blockchain ecosystem. This means ADA holders can delegate their voting power to Everstake and rely on our experience, research, and transparency to represent them in critical governance decisions.
Please follow our step-by-step [guide](https://everstake.one/blog/how-to-delegate-cardano-voting-power-to-everstake-drep) to delegate voting power to Everstake DRep.
---
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