How to stake Cardano (ADA) in Exodus? What are the rewards?

Setting Up ADA Staking in Exodus Wallet

1. Ensure your Exodus desktop or mobile app is updated to the latest version. Older versions may lack staking functionality or display inaccurate reward estimates.

2. Import or restore your ADA wallet using your 12-word recovery phrase. Do not use a hardware wallet for staking directly—Exodus manages staking through its integrated delegation service.

3. Navigate to the ADA asset page inside Exodus. A prominent “Stake” button appears if your balance meets the minimum requirement—currently no fixed minimum, but very small balances yield negligible returns after fees.

4. Select a stake pool from the list provided. Exodus displays pool metrics including saturation level, margin, and live epoch performance. Pools marked “Recommended” are vetted by Exodus for reliability and uptime.

5. Confirm the delegation transaction. This action does not move your ADA—it remains fully under your control in your Exodus wallet. You are only assigning your stake rights to the chosen pool.

Understanding ADA Staking Rewards

1. Rewards are distributed every epoch, which lasts approximately five days. You will see pending rewards accumulate in your wallet interface before they are officially credited.

2. The annual percentage yield varies depending on network parameters and pool performance. As of current epoch settings, typical net APR ranges between 3.5% and 5.2%, after deducting pool margin and fixed fees.

3. Exodus does not charge additional fees beyond what the stake pool itself imposes. Each pool sets its own margin (percentage of rewards kept) and fixed fee (in ADA per epoch), both visible before delegation.

4. Rewards are automatically restaked unless manually withdrawn. This compounding effect increases long-term yield without requiring user intervention.

5. Unstaking is instant in terms of wallet control—you can send or trade your ADA immediately—but rewards earned in the current and prior epochs will still be processed and delivered as scheduled.

Security and Control Considerations

1. Your private keys never leave your device. Exodus uses local key management; no third party—including Exodus itself—can access or move your ADA without your explicit approval.

2. Delegation is non-custodial. You retain full ownership and spendability of all ADA at all times. No lock-up period applies.

3. Exodus does not hold your ADA on centralized servers. All staking operations occur via on-chain delegation certificates broadcast directly from your wallet.

4. If Exodus discontinues support for ADA staking in future updates, your ADA remains accessible. You can export your keys and delegate via Daedalus, Yoroi, or another compatible wallet.

5. Always verify the stake pool ticker and metadata on-chain using Cardanoscan or PoolTool before confirming delegation. Fake or mislabeled pools occasionally appear in aggregated lists.

Tax and Accounting Implications

1. Staking rewards are generally treated as taxable income in most jurisdictions at the time of receipt—not when sold or transferred.

2. Exodus does not auto-generate tax reports for ADA staking. Users must track epoch dates, reward amounts, and ADA market prices on those dates for accurate reporting.

3. Each reward distribution creates a new acquisition event. Cost basis for future disposals includes both original purchase price and the fair market value of each staking payout.

4. Some tax software platforms integrate with Exodus via CSV export, allowing manual import of transaction history including staking events.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I stake ADA held on an exchange using Exodus?A: No. Only ADA stored in your self-custodied Exodus wallet can be delegated. Exchange-held ADA is controlled by the platform, not you.

Q: Why does my staking dashboard show “0% APR” even after delegating?A: This usually occurs during the first epoch after delegation. Rewards begin accruing only after your delegation certificate is included in a block—typically within 15–20 days from initial setup.

Q: Does Exodus support staking for native tokens built on Cardano?A: No. Exodus currently supports staking only for ADA. Other tokens like DJED, iUSD, or project-specific assets cannot be staked through Exodus’s interface.

Q: What happens if my Exodus wallet becomes corrupted or lost?A: As long as you have your 12-word recovery phrase, you can restore your wallet—including all staking delegation status and accumulated rewards—on any device or compatible wallet.