<h2><strong>Prerequisites</strong></h2><h3><strong>Where to buy CUDOS</strong></h3><p>You can get CUDOS tokens at a cryptocurrency exchange, at a DEX, or within select wallets. You should always do your own research when selecting a reputable cryptocurrency exchange. For best security, it is not recommended to leave your tokens on an exchange, but transfer them to your non-custodial or cold/hardware wallet after procuring them.</p><ul><li><a href="https://crypto.com/exchange/trade/spot/CUDOS_USD">Crypto.com</a></li><li><a href="https://www.kucoin.com/trade/CUDOS-USDT?rcode=e21sNJ">Kucoin</a></li><li><a href="https://app.uniswap.org/#/swap?inputCurrency=0x817bbdbc3e8a1204f3691d14bb44992841e3db35&amp;outputCurrency=ETH">Uniswap</a></li></ul><h3><strong>Cudos (CUDOS) wallets</strong></h3><p>Cudos has a variety of non-custodial wallets for you to choose from. We recommend that you use a hardware wallet such as Ledger otherwise we suggest using Keplr wallet. Compatible wallets include:</p><ul><li><a href="https://www.keplr.app/">Keplr</a></li><li><a href="https://www.keplr.app/">Cosmostation</a></li><li><a href="https://metamask.io/">Metamask</a></li></ul><p>&nbsp;</p><h3><strong>How to connect Cudos (CUDOS) to Keplr</strong></h3><p>When setting up your Keplr wallet, it will automatically create a Cudos account for you.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><h3><strong>Selecting Cudos validators</strong></h3><p>Please refer to the FAQ section titled ‘How do I choose Cudos validators’ on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.stakingrewards.com/earn/cudos/"><strong>this page</strong></a> when selecting Cudos validators. Also, you may want to utilize our criteria for verifying providers through the&nbsp;<a href="https://docs.stakingrewards.com/verified-provider-program/">Staking Rewards Verified Staking Provider Program (VSP)</a>.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><h3><strong>How Staking Rewards for Cudos (CUDOS) are Generated</strong></h3><p>Learn how rewards are generated in the FAQ section titled ‘How are the rewards generated’’&nbsp;<a href="https://www.stakingrewards.com/earn/cudos/">here</a>.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><h3><strong>How to stake Cudos (CUDOS)</strong></h3><h3><strong>Step 1: Make sure you have a Keplr wallet</strong></h3><p>Stake your CUDOS tokens using Ledger, Keplr, Cosmostation, amongst others. We will use the Keplr wallet in this staking tutorial.</p><p>As a popular wallet in the Cudos ecosystem, Keplr offers users the ability to stake tokens, access blockchain apps, and manage multiple tokens in one wallet. Simply connect your Ledger (if applicable) to Keplr wallet or use Keplr wallet directly to stake CUDOS. Install the&nbsp;<a href="https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/keplr/dmkamcknogkgcdfhhbddcghachkejeap?hl=en">Keplr browser extension</a> and deposit your tokens into this wallet before continuing onto step 2.</p><h3><strong>Step 2: Go to the&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://dashboard.cudos.org/staking"><strong>Cudos staking portal</strong></a><strong> and choose a validator</strong></h3><p>Go to the&nbsp;<a href="https://dashboard.cudos.org/staking">Cudos staking dashboard</a> and follow the steps below:</p><ul><li>Click the&nbsp;<strong>‘Connect Wallet’&nbsp;</strong>button in the top-right hand corner of the page</li><li>Select a validator from the&nbsp;<strong>‘Staking’</strong> tab. If you are unsure which validator to delegate to, refer to our FAQ on choosing a validator for guidance</li></ul><div class="raw-html-embed"><div style="position: relative; padding-bottom: calc(55.49707602339181% + 41px); height: 0; width: 100%;"><iframe src="https://demo.arcade.software/NOBRbwZ03CkwgLBHgAXP?embed&amp;show_copy_link=true" title="CUDOS Dashboard | Stake your CUDOS &amp; vote on proposals" frameborder="0" loading="lazy" webkitallowfullscreen="" mozallowfullscreen="" allowfullscreen="" allow="clipboard-write" style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;color-scheme: light;"></iframe></div></div><h3><strong>Step 3: Finalize the transaction</strong></h3><p>Once you have chosen a validator and decided on the number of tokens you would like to stake, click ‘Delegate’ and input your desired token amount. Finalize by clicking submit and confirming the transaction in your wallet.</p><p>Congratulations! You have now staked your CUDOS tokens and will start earning those juicy staking rewards.&nbsp;</p><h3><strong>Step 4: Track staking portfolio</strong></h3><ul><li>Track your CUDOS staking rewards on the&nbsp;<a href="https://dashboard.cudos.org/dashboard">Cudos staking dashboard</a>.</li><li>Monitor&nbsp;<a href="https://dashboard.cudos.org/proposals">governance proposals on Cudos network</a> that may impact the staking mechanism.</li><li>Track the current and historical reward rates, validator count, number of unique Cudos staking wallets, and staking ratio of the Cudos network by visiting the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.stakingrewards.com/earn/cudos/">Cudos asset page</a>. To make better staking decisions, it's essential to understand these relevant data points. To learn how these data points could impact your staking rewards, please read more in the FAQ sections named “How do I choose Cudos validators” and “How are the rewards generated” on the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.stakingrewards.com/earn/cudos/">Cudos asset page</a>.</li></ul><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><h3><strong>Step 5: How to Unstake Cudos (CUDOS)</strong></h3><p>To unstake your CUDOS tokens, follow the steps below:&nbsp;</p><ul><li>Go to the&nbsp;<a href="https://dashboard.cudos.org/dashboard">staking dashboard</a></li><li>Click ‘<strong>Manage’</strong> next to your validator</li><li>Click ‘<strong>Unstake’</strong></li><li>Sign the transaction</li></ul><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><h3><strong>Maximizing Staked Cudos (CUDOS)</strong></h3><p>Now that you have staked your CUDOS, you have four options which can be used to change your position. These options appear on the&nbsp;<a href="https://dashboard.cudos.org/dashboard">Cudos Staking Portal</a>. The options are:</p><ul><li>Stake more</li><li>Redelegate</li><li>Claim reward</li><li>Unbond</li></ul><p>&nbsp;</p><h3><strong>Stake more&nbsp;</strong></h3><p>You can add to your current delegation by clicking on the validators name and staking more CUDOS with them or any other validator.</p><h3><strong>Redelegate&nbsp;</strong></h3><p>Firstly, delegating from one validator to another can be done without waiting for the unbonding period. You might consider redelegating if your current validator raises their commission rate or gets jailed for misbehaviour on-chain. Once redelegated, you have to wait for 21 days before you are able to redelegate again.&nbsp;</p><h3><strong>Compound your rewards</strong></h3><p>Rewards are not auto-compounded. To get the most out of your tokens, you should consider claiming and staking your rewards more frequently, but consider that each transaction will cost you some gas. By using our&nbsp;<a href="https://www.stakingrewards.com/calculator/?asset=cudos">Cudos staking calculator</a>, you can calculate the optimal re-stake frequency for your amount of CUDOS.&nbsp;</p><h3><strong>Claim reward</strong></h3><p>The amount of accrued rewards will be available and shown in your dashboard. To receive your staking reward when it is credited, simply click Claim Reward on the wallet home screen.</p><h3><strong>Unbond</strong></h3><p>You can unstake your delegated CUDOS immediately, but tokens will be available in your wallet only after the end of the period of unbonding, which lasts 21 days. If you want just to change the validator, then there is no need to unstake, since you will not receive rewards throughout the entire unbonding period — just use the Redelegate function. In this case, the unbonding period does not apply.</p><h3><strong>Conclusion</strong></h3><p>Staking is essential to Proof-of-Stake blockchains and comes with many benefits for investors and the network:</p><ul><li>Investors earn yield from token emissions and/or transaction fees.</li><li>Stakers become eligible for airdrops as many networks prioritize granting these benefits to them.</li><li>Staking helps to secure the network</li><li>Staking from multiple participants helps decentralize the network</li><li>Stakers can participate in governance, as many PoS networks allocate governance rights based on the amount of tokens staked.</li></ul><p>Congratulations! You are now not only getting the most out of your investment with compounded returns. YOU are also (in-)directly contributing to the decentralization, and the network security of Cudos and thus contributing to the long-term success of your investment! Cudos needs active stakers like you to become successful long-term.&nbsp;</p><p>Now share the tutorial with your friends so they can get to start staking as well!</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Lastly, don’t forget to check out the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.stakingrewards.com/earn/cudos/">Cudos (CUDOS) asset page</a> for more insights into staking CUDOS and drop us a&nbsp;<a href="mailto:content@stakingrewards.com">message</a> if you found this tutorial useful. Happy staking!</p>

How to Stake Cudos

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