Staking Activation
After a stake transaction is submitted and approved, there is a delay before the staked assets begin earning rewards. This activation period varies by network and depends on protocol-level queues and processing times.Ethereum (ETH)
After a deposit transaction is processed, the validator enters the activation queue. The queue processes validators based on a per-epoch churn limit, resulting in variable wait times depending on network demand. Top-up deposits to existing active validators have a shorter activation delay than new validator activations. Historical activation times for validators are available in the Prime UI. Tracking Validator Status The Query Transaction Validators endpoint returns the per-validator status that determines when rewards begin accruing.
The
validator_status field reflects the underlying protocol state. A validator must reach VALIDATOR_STATUS_ACTIVE before it begins earning rewards.
Solana (SOL)
Solana staking becomes active at the next epoch boundary after processing. Each epoch takes roughly 2-3 days depending on remaining slots and block times. Balance Tracking Considerations While polling balances can provide directional insight, note thatbonded_balance does not directly indicate whether assets are actively earning rewards. Rewards accrue at epoch boundaries, and timing depends on Solana’s epoch schedule.
Partial Staking and the Secondary Stake Account
Solana supports partial staking: a specific amount can be staked without staking the entire wallet balance, subject to a minimum stake amount of 1 SOL. Because Solana does not allow adding to an existing active stake account, a partial stake is delegated through a secondary stake account rather than the wallet’s primary stake account.
Partial SOL staking is in beta. To request access, please reach out to your account manager.
- A secondary stake account is created.
- The partial amount specified is moved from the primary address into the secondary stake account.
- The secondary stake account is delegated and begins bonding.
Unstaking and Withdrawal
Ethereum (ETH)
ETH unstaking has two different forms:- Full Validator Exit - Unstaking that reduces the staked balance to zero triggers a validator exit. This is subject to the exit queue, which has variable wait times depending on network conditions.
- Partial Withdrawal - Unstaking while keeping at least 32 ETH staked does not result in the validator exiting the network.
- Estimated completion timestamp
- Hours remaining until funds become withdrawable
- Amount being unstaked
- Whether it’s a partial or full unstake
These transaction types can be tracked using the List Portfolio Transactions or List Wallet Transactions endpoints.
Claiming Rewards
Claiming rewards via Prime and partial unstaking (where at least 32 ETH remains staked) both use the same underlying Ethereum partial withdrawal mechanism, but differ in what can be withdrawn. Claim Rewards restricts withdrawals to accumulated rewards only, whereas unstake allows withdrawal of both principal and rewards.
The Claim Wallet Staking Rewards endpoint initiates a reward claim. Transaction-level execution rewards are automatically deposited into the Staking Transaction Rewards wallet and do not require manual claiming.
Solana (SOL)
Solana unstaking completes at the next epoch boundary, the same as staking activation. Each epoch takes roughly 2-3 days. During this cooldown period, the funds appear inunbonding_amount and cannot be withdrawn. Reward accrual ends when the cooldown completes.
Partial unstaking is supported: a specific amount (at least 1 SOL) can be unstaked while leaving the remaining balance staked. The unstaked amount follows the same cooldown described above before becoming withdrawable.
To detect when unstaking is complete, monitor the wallet balance until unbonding_amount transitions to either withdrawable_amount or bondable_amount.