Prototype with sample content. News stories, companies, products and scores are invented, and nothing has been reviewed by an editor.Prototype: invented sample stories, not yet reviewed.

The Coin Dispatch Crypto, explained properly.
Search Get the newsletter

How Ethereum staking works

Validators lock up ether to help secure the network and earn rewards, and they can lose part of it for breaking the rules.

EthereumExplainer26 Oct 2026

By [Author name]. Reviewed by [Editor name]. Published 26 Oct 2026. Draft for editor review.

Three women operating telegraph instruments at a table
Women operating Barclay telegraph instruments.

The basics

Since 2022, Ethereum has relied on proof of stake. Validators lock up ether, propose and confirm blocks, and earn rewards for doing it correctly. Running your own validator requires 32 ether.

The risks

  • Validators that break key rules can be slashed, losing part of their stake
  • Being offline reduces rewards
  • Staked ether can face a waiting period before withdrawal
  • Rewards aren’t fixed, and the price of ether can fall

Other ways to stake

Exchanges and liquid staking services let people stake smaller amounts. These add a different risk, because you’re also relying on that company or its software.

Sources

[The Editor links primary sources here before publication.]

Disclosures

[AI use, holdings and commercial relationships are shown here.]

More Ethereum coverage

What layer 2 networks do

They process transactions off the main Ethereum chain, then post the results back, which can make using Ethereum cheaper.

EthereumExplainer20 Oct 2026