> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://yieldxyz.mintlify.site/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Cardano ADA Staking

> How ADA staking works on Cardano via Yield.xyz

Cardano ADA staking with stake pool delegation. No unbonding period — ADA remains liquid.

***

## What this yield is

* **Asset**: ADA (native Cardano token)
* **Mechanism**: Delegate entire balance to one stake pool
* **Rewards**: Epoch rewards (\~5 days per epoch), must be claimed manually
* **Unbonding**: None — ADA remains liquid while staked
* **Minimum**: 5 ADA (includes 2 ADA staking deposit)

***

## Available yields

| Yield ID                     | Description                 |
| ---------------------------- | --------------------------- |
| `cardano-ada-native-staking` | Delegate ADA to stake pools |

<Note>
  Cardano staking is unique: your ADA stays in your wallet and remains fully liquid. Only delegation preference is recorded on-chain.
</Note>

***

## Required inputs

| Argument           | Required | Description                        |
| ------------------ | -------- | ---------------------------------- |
| `amount`           | No       | Entire wallet balance is delegated |
| `validatorAddress` | Yes      | Stake pool ID (pool1...)           |

***

## Actions & lifecycle

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Enter">
    * Delegation registration transaction
    * Entire wallet balance delegates to chosen pool
    * Rewards begin after 2 epoch delay (\~10 days)
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Exit">
    * De-register delegation
    * ADA is immediately available (no unbonding)
    * Deposit refunded
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Manage">
    * Change delegation to different pool
    * Withdraw accumulated rewards
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

***

## Example flow

<CodeGroup>
  ```bash Get yield metadata theme={null}
  curl --request GET \
    --url https://api.yield.xyz/v1/yields/cardano-ada-native-staking \
    --header 'accept: application/json' \
    --header 'x-api-key: <API_KEY>'
  ```

  ```bash Get validators theme={null}
  curl --request GET \
    --url https://api.yield.xyz/v1/yields/cardano-ada-native-staking/validators \
    --header 'accept: application/json' \
    --header 'x-api-key: <API_KEY>'
  ```

  ```bash Enter staking theme={null}
  curl --request POST \
    --url https://api.yield.xyz/v1/actions/enter \
    --header 'accept: application/json' \
    --header 'content-type: application/json' \
    --header 'x-api-key: <API_KEY>' \
    --data '{
      "yieldId": "cardano-ada-native-staking",
      "address": "addr1YOUR_CARDANO_ADDRESS",
      "arguments": {
        "validatorAddress": "pool1STAKE_POOL_ID"
      }
    }'
  ```
</CodeGroup>

***

## Pending actions

| Action          | Description                                                   |
| --------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `CLAIM_REWARDS` | Claim accrued rewards (automatically added to staked balance) |
| `STAKE`         | Redelegate ADA to a different stake pool                      |

***

## Operational notes

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Epoch delay">
    Rewards have a 2-epoch (\~10 day) delay after initial delegation before they begin accruing.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Liquid staking">
    Unlike most chains, Cardano staking keeps your ADA liquid. You can spend or transfer at any time.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="2 ADA deposit">
    When staking, 2 ADA is used as a staking deposit to register your address. This deposit is not included in the staked balance but is returned when you unstake. Transaction fees are deducted from this deposit.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Full balance delegation">
    You can only stake and unstake your entire balance, and only delegate to one stake pool at a time.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Automatic reward withdrawal">
    Unclaimed rewards are automatically withdrawn when the position is unstaked.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

***

## Preferred stake pools

| Pool           | Address                                                    |
| -------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------- |
| Luganodes      | `0338d4f1c5e8ebee0689e22148c1483d411c5587d0ab986b8e824428` |
| InfStones      | `65b0f6b38938cc3c5cfee6d3d2770847c773a4e7ca5e9d54c36f334e` |
| Kiln           | `4e0356a826bbf3e0525cd4612061a1304710b0c8d12df5457ac17cdf` |
| P2P            | `c29c92f8319150962650bc8a5e24d918491e8a7b3ac43525afe76baa` |
| Coinbase Cloud | `6804118fe78be9bf9213b9e829803952be87814d28b305fa52bf11d9` |
| Everstake      | `e4abcf4408584601e7c707a8902996c0c291e1a3c8300b327ae3f6ab` |

***

## See also

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Tezos" icon="t" href="/documentation/coverage/supported-yields/staking/non-evm/tezos">
    Similar liquid staking model
  </Card>

  <Card title="Non-EVM Overview" icon="globe" href="/documentation/coverage/supported-yields/staking/non-evm">
    All non-EVM staking
  </Card>
</CardGroup>