How to delegate Tezos (XTZ) staking in Temple Wallet?

Accessing the Staking Interface

1. Open the Temple Wallet browser extension or mobile application and ensure your wallet is unlocked.

2. Navigate to the main dashboard where your XTZ balance is displayed prominently.

3. Locate and tap the Stake button adjacent to your XTZ balance—this initiates the delegation flow.

4. Confirm that you are viewing the correct network: Mainnet. Delegation on testnets does not yield real rewards.

5. Review the current annualized yield estimate shown before proceeding, as it reflects live baker performance data.

Selecting a Reliable Baker

1. The wallet loads a list of registered bakers with metrics including fee percentage, uptime, and number of delegated rolls.

2. Tap on a baker’s entry to view detailed statistics such as average block baking success rate over the last 10 cycles.

3. Check whether the baker publishes their public key and maintains transparent communication via official channels like Twitter or Discord.

4. Avoid bakers advertising unusually high returns or those with inconsistent cycle participation history.

5. Confirm the baker’s address starts with tz1, tz2, or tz3—invalid prefixes indicate phishing attempts.

Confirming Delegation Parameters

1. After selecting a baker, the interface displays the delegation contract address and estimated first reward cycle.

2. Verify the delegation fee percentage—this is deducted from your earned rewards, not your principal XTZ.

3. Note that delegation does not lock your funds; you retain full control over your XTZ at all times.

4. Ensure gas limit and storage limit values are auto-filled correctly—the wallet calculates these based on current network conditions.

5. Double-check the transaction preview showing “Delegation” as operation type before signing.

Signing and Broadcasting the Operation

1. Temple Wallet prompts for signature using your wallet’s private key stored locally in your browser or device.

2. Approve the operation by entering your password or confirming via biometric authentication.

3. Once signed, the wallet broadcasts the delegation operation to the Tezos blockchain through its connected RPC node.

4. Monitor the transaction status using the hash provided—successful inclusion appears in less than 60 seconds under normal load.

5. A green checkmark and “Delegated” label appear next to your XTZ balance upon confirmation.

Troubleshooting Common Failures

1. If the “Stake” button remains disabled, verify your XTZ balance exceeds the minimum threshold required for delegation—typically 0.000001 XTZ.

2. A “Bad Signature” error indicates corrupted local key storage—restore wallet from seed phrase and retry.

3. When transaction remains pending beyond five minutes, manually switch RPC endpoints in wallet settings to an alternative Tezos node.

4. Missing delegation confirmation after broadcast may result from incorrect chain ID—ensure Temple Wallet is set to NetXdQprcVkpaWU for Mainnet.

5. Repeated failures during signature may stem from browser extensions interfering with Temple’s cryptographic functions—disable ad blockers temporarily.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I delegate XTZ held in a hardware wallet via Temple?A: No. Temple Wallet only supports delegation for XTZ managed directly within its software wallet. Ledger or Trezor users must use dedicated apps like Galleon or Kukai.

Q: Does changing bakers interrupt my reward accrual?A: Yes. Switching bakers triggers a 7-cycle waiting period before new delegation takes effect. Rewards pause during this interval.

Q: Are delegation rewards taxable upon receipt?A: Tax treatment depends on jurisdiction. In many countries, staking rewards are treated as ordinary income at fair market value on the date received.

Q: What happens if my selected baker gets slashed?A: You do not lose principal XTZ. Only the baker forfeits deposits and future rewards. Your delegation automatically continues with no action needed.