How to stake Cardano in Yoroi Wallet

Stake your ADA in Yoroi Wallet to earn rewards without locking funds—delegation is simple, secure, and lets you support the Cardano network effortlessly.

Aug 08, 2025 at 10:52 am

Understanding Cardano Staking and Yoroi Wallet

Staking Cardano (ADA) allows holders to participate in the network’s proof-of-stake consensus mechanism by delegating their ADA to a stake pool. This process helps secure the blockchain and rewards participants with additional ADA over time. The Yoroi Wallet is a lightweight, browser extension, and mobile wallet developed by EMURGO that supports Cardano staking directly from the user interface. Unlike full-node wallets, Yoroi doesn’t require downloading the entire blockchain, making it ideal for users who value speed and simplicity.

The wallet supports both Chrome and Firefox as browser extensions and is also available on iOS and Android. One of its key features is seamless integration with the Cardano network, enabling users to send, receive, and stake ADA without compromising security. Importantly, staking in Yoroi does not lock up funds — users retain full access to their ADA at all times, and can transfer or delegate them as needed.

Setting Up Yoroi Wallet

Before staking ADA, users must first install and configure the Yoroi Wallet. The setup process varies slightly depending on the platform but follows the same core principles.

• Visit the official Yoroi website and download the browser extension for Chrome or Firefox.
• Click “Add to Chrome” or “Add to Firefox” and confirm the installation.
• Once installed, click on the Yoroi icon in the browser toolbar to launch the wallet.
• Choose “Create a New Wallet” if starting from scratch.
• Enter a wallet name and a strong password.
• Carefully write down the 15-word recovery phrase and store it in a secure location. This phrase is essential for wallet recovery.
• Confirm the recovery phrase by selecting the words in the correct order.
• Complete setup and view the wallet dashboard.

For mobile users, the Yoroi Mobile app can be downloaded from the App Store or Google Play. The setup steps are nearly identical, requiring a wallet name, password, and secure storage of the recovery phrase.

Transferring ADA to Yoroi Wallet

To begin staking, users must have ADA in their Yoroi wallet. If ADA is held on an exchange or in another wallet, it must be transferred.

• Open the Yoroi wallet and click on the “Receive” button.
• A pop-up will display a public receiving address — a long string of alphanumeric characters starting with “addr1”.
• Copy this address carefully or scan the QR code if using a mobile device.
• Log in to the source wallet or exchange where the ADA is currently stored.
• Initiate a withdrawal and paste the Yoroi address into the recipient field.
• Confirm the transaction and wait for network confirmation. Cardano transactions typically settle within 1–5 minutes.

Once the ADA appears in the Yoroi balance, staking can proceed. It is recommended to keep a small amount of ADA aside for transaction fees, which are usually less than 0.2 ADA.

Selecting a Stake Pool for Delegation

Staking in Yoroi involves delegating ADA to a stake pool, which is a node operator that participates in block production. Users do not run a node themselves but earn rewards based on the pool’s performance and the amount of ADA delegated.

When choosing a stake pool, consider the following factors:

• Saturation level: Pools that are near or above 100% saturation offer lower returns due to Cardano’s incentive design. Look for pools below saturation to maximize rewards.
• Pledge amount: A higher operator pledge indicates commitment and can improve reliability.
• Fee structure: Each pool charges a margin fee and a fixed cost per epoch. Compare these to estimate net rewards.
• Uptime and performance: High-performing pools with consistent block minting generate better rewards.
• Geographic location and decentralization: Supporting smaller or geographically diverse pools promotes network health.

Yoroi provides a built-in stake pool browser that displays key metrics. Users can sort pools by ROI, saturation, and reliability. Clicking on a pool reveals detailed statistics, including live stake, blocks produced, and current fees.

Delegating ADA in Yoroi Wallet

Once a suitable stake pool is selected, delegation can be completed in a few simple steps.

• Open the Yoroi wallet and ensure the correct network (Cardano Mainnet) is active.
• Click on the “Delegation Center” tab located in the main menu.
• Browse or search for the desired stake pool using the search bar or filters.
• Click on the pool to view its details and confirm it aligns with your preferences.
• Select “Delegate” to begin the process.
• Yoroi will prompt a confirmation screen showing the pool name, fees, and estimated rewards.
• Confirm the delegation using your wallet password.
• A small transaction fee (in ADA) will be deducted to register the delegation on-chain.
• Wait for the transaction to be confirmed — usually within a few minutes.
• After confirmation, the wallet will display the selected pool under the “Staking” section.

It’s important to note that rewards do not begin immediately. The first rewards are typically distributed after 15 to 20 days, as Cardano operates in epochs (each lasting 5 days), and there is a delay between delegation and reward issuance.

Monitoring Staking Rewards and Status

After delegation, users can monitor their staking status and accumulated rewards directly in Yoroi.

• The dashboard displays the current delegated stake pool.
• A “Rewards” section shows the total ADA earned over time.
• Rewards are automatically compounded — they are added to the staked balance and contribute to future rewards.
• Users can view upcoming reward estimates based on current pool performance.
• The wallet also shows the current epoch and countdown to the next reward cycle.

If a user decides to change pools, they can re-delegate at any time. The process is the same as the initial delegation and does not affect accumulated rewards. Previous rewards remain intact and continue to compound under the new delegation.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I spend my ADA while it’s staked in Yoroi?

Yes, staking in Yoroi does not lock your funds. You can send, receive, or transfer ADA at any time. Even if you move all your ADA out of the wallet, any earned rewards up to that point remain yours.

Do I need to pay to delegate or re-delegate?

Yes, each delegation or re-delegation requires a small transaction fee in ADA, typically around 0.17–0.20 ADA. This fee covers the on-chain registration cost and is paid only once per delegation action.

How often are staking rewards distributed?

Rewards are calculated at the end of each epoch (every 5 days), but they are not instantly available. There is a 3-epoch delay — meaning rewards from delegation start appearing after approximately 15–20 days.

Is Yoroi Wallet safe for staking?

Yoroi is considered secure because it is a non-custodial wallet — only you control your private keys. The recovery phrase gives full access to funds, so it must be kept private. The wallet uses end-to-end encryption and does not store user data on remote servers.