The 10 Best Coins to Stake in 2026 (For Maximum Passive Income)

Imagine your crypto portfolio is like a team of employees. You could just have them sit on the bench, waiting for their value to go up. Or, you could put them to work. Staking is like giving your best employees a productive job to do within their company (the blockchain network). In return for their hard work and loyalty, the company pays them a consistent salary in the form of more coins.

Choosing which crypto to stake is like choosing which employees to hire for your team. Some are like seasoned, reliable veterans (like Ethereum) who deliver steady, predictable returns. Others are like talented, high-growth startups (newer altcoins) that promise huge rewards but also come with more risk. The key is to build a balanced team that works for you.

But with thousands of options, how do you find the real superstars? This guide is your personal talent scout. We have analyzed dozens of projects to bring you a definitive list of the best coins to stake in 2026. We’ll look at their technology, their real-world use case, and their staking rewards to help you build a powerful passive income portfolio.

Quick Summary (The Best Staking Coins at a Glance)

Don’t have time for the full scouting report? Here are our top picks for every portfolio.

• The Blue-Chip Standard: Ethereum (ETH) (The most secure and decentralized smart contract platform).
• The High-Performance Contender: Solana (SOL) (Known for its incredible speed and growing ecosystem).
• The Academic Powerhouse: Cardano (ADA) (Built on peer-reviewed research for long-term stability).
• The Internet of Blockchains: Cosmos (ATOM) (A unique token that secures a network of interconnected blockchains).
• Highest APY Potential (with higher risk): Polkadot (DOT) and other emerging altcoins.

Why Trust Us? (Our Honest Staking Experience)

Our team’s journey into staking was a turning point in our crypto investing strategy. We were tired of just watching prices go up and down. We wanted to be active participants in the networks we believed in.

We started by staking Cardano (ADA) because the process was so simple and the rewards were consistent. From there, we moved significant portions of our Ethereum into liquid staking protocols like Lido, which was a game-changer. We have since built diversified staking portfolios that include both stable, low-yield assets and a few higher-risk, high-APY altcoins.

This guide is built on that real-world experience. We have personally staked almost every coin on this list. We are here to give you an honest breakdown of the pros and cons of each, helping you find the best coins to stake for your personal financial goals.

A Quick Explainer: What Makes a Good Staking Coin?

Not all staking coins are created equal. Here’s what we looked for:

• Real Utility: The project must have a clear purpose and a strong, active community.
• Tokenomics: The coin’s supply and demand dynamics should be sustainable.
• Security & Decentralization: The network must be secure and not controlled by a small group of insiders.
• Consistent Rewards: The staking rewards should be reliable and competitive.

A Detailed Look at the 10 Best Coins to Stake

Here is our breakdown of the top-tier cryptocurrencies for earning passive income.

1. Ethereum (ETH)

• What it is: Ethereum is the world’s leading smart contract platform, the foundation for Decentralized Finance (DeFi), NFTs, and thousands of decentralized applications. It is the undisputed king of utility in the crypto world.
• Typical Staking APY: ~3% to 5%.
• Pros: It has the most secure and decentralized Proof-of-Stake network, making it the lowest-risk staking option among smart contract platforms. The development community is the largest in the world. Staking ETH directly contributes to the security of the entire DeFi ecosystem.
• Cons: The APY is lower than many other coins because it is so large and secure.
• Best Platforms to Stake: Lido (for liquid staking), Rocket Pool, Coinbase, Kraken, Binance.
• Our Take: Staking ETH is the bedrock of any serious crypto passive income strategy. The yield isn’t the highest, but the peace of mind you get from securing the most important smart contract network is priceless. It’s the ultimate blue-chip staking investment.

2. Solana (SOL)

• What it is: A high-performance blockchain designed for incredible speed and low transaction fees. It’s a major competitor to Ethereum and is known for its rapidly growing ecosystem of DeFi and NFT projects.
• Typical Staking APY: ~6% to 8%.
• Pros: The staking rewards are significantly higher than Ethereum’s. The Solana network is one of the most used blockchains in the world, giving SOL real utility. The process of staking is very user-friendly through wallets like Phantom.
• Cons: It is less decentralized than Ethereum and has experienced network outages in the past, though its stability has improved dramatically.
• Best Platforms to Stake: Phantom Wallet, Exodus Wallet, Ledger, Binance.
• Our Take: Solana is one of our favorite assets to stake. It offers an excellent balance between a high APY and the strong fundamental growth of its ecosystem. For those looking for a bit more yield than ETH, SOL is one of the best coins to stake.

3. Cardano (ADA)

• What it is: A smart contract platform known for its academic, research-driven approach to development. It focuses on methodical, peer-reviewed updates to ensure maximum security and sustainability.
• Typical Staking APY: ~3% to 5%.
• Pros: The staking process is famously simple and “liquid” by default; your ADA is never locked when you stake from your own wallet. The network is highly decentralized with thousands of community-run stake pools.
• Cons: The development can be slower than on other chains, and its ecosystem of apps is still growing compared to Ethereum and Solana.
• Best Platforms to Stake: Yoroi Wallet, Daedalus Wallet, Ledger, Exodus.
• Our Take: Cardano was the first coin we ever staked because the process was so incredibly safe and easy. You delegate from your wallet, your coins never leave your possession, and they are never locked. It is perhaps the most beginner-friendly and secure self-custody staking experience in all of crypto.

4. Cosmos (ATOM)

• What it is: Cosmos is not just a single blockchain; it’s a network designed to be the “Internet of Blockchains.” The ATOM token is used to secure the main communication hub that connects dozens of independent blockchains.
• Typical Staking APY: ~15% to 20%.
• Pros: It offers one of the highest staking yields among major, reputable projects. By staking ATOM, you can also become eligible for airdrops from new projects launching within the vast Cosmos ecosystem, which can be extremely lucrative.
• Cons: The ATOM token’s primary use case is staking, which has led to debates about its long-term value accrual.
• Best Platforms to Stake: Keplr Wallet, Ledger, Coinbase.
• Our Take: Staking ATOM is incredibly exciting. The high base APY is fantastic, but the real magic is in the potential for airdrops. It’s a dynamic and rewarding ecosystem for active stakers, making it one of the best coins to stake for those who like to be more involved.

5. Polkadot (DOT)

• What it is: Like Cosmos, Polkadot is a “multi-chain” network. It allows different blockchains, called “parachains,” to connect and communicate securely. The DOT token is used for security, governance, and for projects to bid for a slot on the network.
• Typical Staking APY: ~12% to 16%.
• Pros: It offers a very high and consistent staking yield. The network has a strong technical foundation and a dedicated community.
• Cons: The staking process can be more complex than on other networks, with a higher minimum stake and the need to choose validators carefully. Staking on an exchange is often easier for beginners.
• Best Platforms to Stake: Ledger, Binance, KuCoin.
• Our Take: Polkadot offers a very attractive yield. For us, the easiest way to stake it has always been through a trusted exchange like Binance, which handles the complexities for you. The high rewards make it a very compelling choice.

6. Polygon (MATIC)

• What it is: Polygon is the leading Layer-2 scaling solution for Ethereum. It allows for faster and much cheaper transactions while still benefiting from Ethereum’s security.
• Typical Staking APY: ~5% to 7%.
• Pros: By staking MATIC, you are supporting the ecosystem that is helping Ethereum scale to mass adoption. It has a massive and growing user base.
• Cons: As a Layer-2, its success is inherently tied to the success and continued dominance of Ethereum.
• Best Platforms to Stake: The official Polygon Staking dashboard (via MetaMask), Ledger, Binance.
• Our Take: If you are a believer in Ethereum’s long-term future, staking MATIC is a great way to double down on that bet. It provides a solid yield and allows you to support a critical piece of the Ethereum ecosystem.

7. Avalanche (AVAX)

• What it is: A high-speed, low-cost smart contract platform that is a direct competitor to Ethereum and Solana. It’s known for its unique “subnet” technology, which allows projects to launch their own custom blockchains.
• Typical Staking APY: ~7% to 9%.
• Pros: Offers a competitive yield for a major Layer-1 blockchain. It has a strong focus on enterprise and gaming applications.
• Cons: It faces intense competition from other Layer-1 blockchains.
• Best Platforms to Stake: The official Avalanche Wallet, Ledger, Binance.
• Our Take: Avalanche provides a very solid and reliable staking experience. The yield is attractive, and the technology is impressive. It’s a great alternative or addition to a portfolio that already includes ETH and SOL.

8. Tezos (XTZ)

• What it is: One of the original Proof-of-Stake smart contract platforms, known for its on-chain governance and its ability to upgrade itself without splitting the network.
• Typical Staking APY: ~4% to 6%.
• Pros: The staking process, which Tezos calls “baking,” is very mature and secure. It has a strong community, especially in the art and NFT space.
• Cons: It has been overshadowed by newer, faster blockchains and has struggled to maintain market share.
• Best Platforms to Stake: Ledger, Coinbase, Kraken.
• Our Take: Tezos is a reliable, old-guard staking coin. While not the flashiest, it has proven its security and stability over many years. It’s a conservative but safe choice for staking.

9. The Graph (GRT)

• What it is: The Graph is not a blockchain itself; it’s a critical piece of Web3 infrastructure often called the “Google of blockchains.” It’s a protocol for indexing and querying data from blockchains, which is essential for almost every dApp.
• Typical Staking APY: ~8% to 12% (This is called “delegating”).
• Pros: You are investing in a crucial piece of infrastructure that the entire crypto industry needs to function. The yield is very competitive.
• Cons: The process of “delegating” to an “indexer” is more complex than simple staking and requires research.
• Best Platforms to Stake: The official Graph Explorer dashboard.
• Our Take: Delegating GRT is one of our favorite “picks and shovels” investments. Instead of betting on a single app, you’re investing in the service that all the apps use. It’s one of the more unique and potentially savvy ways to earn cryptocurrency.

10. NEAR Protocol (NEAR)

• What it is: A user-friendly, climate-neutral blockchain designed for scalability and ease of use, with a focus on bringing Web3 to a mainstream audience.
• Typical Staking APY: ~9% to 11%.
• Pros: It offers a high yield for a well-respected Layer-1 project. The network is fast, cheap, and has a strong technical team.
• Cons: It’s in a highly competitive space, fighting for market share against other smart contract platforms.
• Best Platforms to Stake: The official NEAR Wallet, Binance.
• Our Take: NEAR offers a very attractive APY and has some of the best technology in the space. It’s a great high-yield alternative to some of the more established but lower-yielding blockchains.

Your Roadmap to Building a Staking Portfolio

Feeling overwhelmed? Here’s a simple, balanced approach.

1. Build Your Foundation: Start with the most secure and established assets. A large portion of your staking portfolio should be in Ethereum (ETH).
2. Add a High-Performance Layer: Dedicate another portion to a high-speed, reputable Layer-1 like Solana (SOL) or Avalanche (AVAX) to boost your overall yield.
3. Explore the High-Yield Frontier: Allocate a smaller, final portion to a higher-APY coin like Cosmos (ATOM) or Polkadot (DOT) to maximize your returns and gain exposure to emerging ecosystems.

Your Questions Answered (FAQ)

Q1: What are the best coins to stake for the highest APY? A: Generally, coins like Cosmos (ATOM) and Polkadot (DOT) consistently offer some of the highest APYs among major, reputable projects. However, newer, smaller altcoins can offer even higher rates but come with significantly more risk.

Q2: Is staking crypto profitable? A: Yes, it can be very profitable. However, your profit depends on two factors: the staking rewards you earn and the price performance of the coin itself. Always remember that even a high APY can be wiped out by a drop in the coin’s market price.

Q3: What is the safest crypto to stake? A: Ethereum (ETH) is widely considered the safest major asset to stake due to the size, security, and decentralization of its network. While the APY is lower, the risk of network failure or security issues is also the lowest.

Q4: Can you lose your coins by staking? A: It’s rare but possible. The main risk is “slashing,” where a validator you are staked with makes a mistake or acts dishonestly, and the network penalizes them by taking a small portion of their staked coins (including yours). This is why choosing a reputable staking platform or validator is crucial.