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

# BTC staking with Babylon

> Stake Bitcoin using the Babylon Genesis protocol.

Babylon Genesis is a Bitcoin (BTC) staking protocol that lets holders earn rewards by helping secure other proof-of-stake (PoS) networks. Anchorage Digital is a day-one integrator of Babylon Genesis, enabling institutions to stake BTC and collect rewards directly through the Anchorage platform.

Anchorage Digital supports the following for BTC staking with Babylon Genesis:

* Stake BTC to any Finality Provider
* Collect BABY rewards on the Babylon Genesis chain

<Info>
  Minimum iOS app version required to perform BTC staking operations: **2.87.0**
</Info>

You'll need a Taproot wallet on Bitcoin to stake BTC, and a BABY wallet on Babylon Genesis to collect rewards. You can create both wallets directly from the Anchorage Digital platform.

The timelock for BTC staked with Babylon Genesis is approximately 15 months; however, you may unstake your BTC at any time with a 7-day unbonding period.

## Getting started: Create a Taproot wallet

BTC staking with Babylon Genesis must be performed from Taproot wallets on the Bitcoin network.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Navigate to your vault">
    Navigate to the desired vault and tap **Deposit**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Select Bitcoin">
    Select the asset option **Bitcoin**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Create a Taproot wallet">
    Select the **Create new wallet** icon and choose the address type **Taproot**.

    Taproot wallet addresses will display with the Taproot badge and begin with the characters `bc1p...`.
  </Step>
</Steps>

Once you have funded your Taproot wallet with BTC, you will also need to create and fund a BABY wallet on the Babylon Genesis chain.

<Note>
  Creating new BTC staking positions with Babylon Genesis triggers two on-chain transactions — one on Bitcoin and one on Babylon Genesis. In order for the operation to be successful, each wallet must have funds available to pay their respective transaction fee.
</Note>

## How to stake

Staking BTC can be initiated both in the iOS app and on the web dashboard.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Navigate to your Taproot wallet">
    Navigate to the desired vault, select the Taproot wallet, then tap **Stake with Babylon**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Accept staking terms">
    Accept the Babylon Bitcoin Staking Terms.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Enter Finality Provider public key">
    Input the Finality Provider public key to which you would like to stake.

    <Info>The public key for Anchorage Digital's finality provider is `c405fd997340c532a3b788b3186e779ed7cf9b5f2d6b8c8ad2351d82cfd0fb87`.</Info>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Enter BTC amount">
    Enter the amount of BTC you would like to stake.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Designate reward recipient wallet">
    Designate which BABY wallet you would like to receive rewards.

    <Warning>
      In order for a wallet to be eligible as the reward recipient, it must be funded with a balance to cover gas fees.

      Once a BABY wallet is linked for receiving rewards from BTC staking through a particular Finality Provider, it cannot be used to receive rewards through a different Finality Provider.

      **Example:** If you have staked from Taproot Wallet 1 to Finality Provider 1 with the reward recipient set to BABY Wallet 1, then going forward BABY Wallet 1 will not be a valid option for staking BTC through any Finality Provider other than Finality Provider 1. If you decide to stake BTC again through Finality Provider 1, you may set the reward recipient to BABY Wallet 1 again, or to any other BABY wallet that has not yet been used for receiving rewards through another Finality Provider.
    </Warning>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Preview and submit">
    Select the **Preview operation** button to review and initiate the BTC staking operation. Endorse the staking operation via the iOS app.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Info>
  New BTC staking positions take approximately 5 hours (30 Bitcoin blocks) to activate and begin accruing rewards. Following this time delay, a separate operation will automatically be triggered to register the BTC delegation on the Babylon Genesis chain.

  The default timelock duration for BTC staking is about 15 months (64,000 Bitcoin blocks). You can view the remaining timelock duration for any staking position from the Staking Positions screen.
</Info>

## How to unstake

You can unstake your position at any time before the timelock expires. Unstaking can be performed in two ways:

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Timelock path">
    Wait for the \~15-month timelock to expire, then simply collect your inactive BTC stake back to your Available balance.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Early unbonding path">
    Request to early unbond your BTC stake position at any time before the default timelock duration expires. The Babylon Genesis protocol applies a 7-day unbonding period (1,008 Bitcoin blocks) for this path.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

### Early unbonding path

#### Step 1: Early unstake

<Steps>
  <Step title="Navigate to staking positions">
    Go to the wallet screen and tap **View positions**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Initiate unstake">
    Select the staking position you want to unstake, then select **Unstake** from within the three-dots button.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Review and endorse">
    Proceed to review the operation and endorse in the iOS app.
  </Step>
</Steps>

Once the Early Unstake operation has completed, the BTC will display with the **Unstaking in progress** balance state.

#### Step 2: Collect

After the 7-day unbonding period has elapsed, the BTC will move into the **Inactive stake** balance state and be ready to Collect.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Navigate to staking positions">
    Return to the wallet screen and tap **View positions**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Collect">
    On the corresponding staking position, select **Collect** from within the three-dots button.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Review and endorse">
    Proceed to review the operation and endorse in the iOS app.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Info>
  Each BTC stake position is distinct and can only be unstaked in its entirety — no partial unstaking of individual staking positions.

  Unstaking BTC does not automatically claim accrued rewards. Rewards earned from BTC staking must be claimed from the corresponding BABY wallet on the Babylon Genesis chain.
</Info>

## Claim rewards

Rewards from BTC staking with Babylon Genesis accrue on the Babylon Genesis chain, and can be claimed by the BABY wallet that was designated when the BTC staking position was originally created.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Navigate to your BABY wallet">
    Navigate to the BABY wallet screen and tap **View details** or **Claim rewards**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Claim">
    From the "BTC staking rewards" section, select the **Claim rewards** option from within the three-dots button.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Review and endorse">
    Proceed to review the operation and endorse in the iOS app.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Info>
  A single BABY wallet can be earning rewards from both BTC staking and BABY staking at the same time. Rewards from each source must be claimed separately.

  There is no option to auto-claim BABY rewards earned from BTC staking. The auto-claim and stake feature is available for BABY rewards earned from BABY staking.
</Info>