> ## 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.

# SEI staking

> Stake Sei (SEI) to a validator, claim rewards, and unstake.

Sei is a high-performance layer-1 blockchain that uses Delegated Proof-of-Stake (DPoS) consensus and features full Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) compatibility. Holders of SEI, Sei's native token, can earn rewards by delegating their stake to a validator that helps secure the network.

The staking experience follows the same delegation model as other Tendermint assets: you delegate to a validator, rewards accrue separately and are claimed on demand, and unstaking begins a network unbonding period before your SEI returns to your available balance.

## Understanding your SEI balances

As your SEI moves through the staking lifecycle, it appears under different balance types in your wallet.

| Balance type           | Description                                                                                                                                                                |
| ---------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Available**          | Your spendable SEI balance, which you can freely transfer or stake.                                                                                                        |
| **Staked**             | SEI that is actively delegated to a validator and earning rewards.                                                                                                         |
| **Available to claim** | Rewards that have accrued from your staked SEI and are ready to claim. These are not spendable and do not compound until you claim them.                                   |
| **Unstaking**          | SEI that you have unstaked and that is moving through the network's unbonding period. It is no longer earning rewards and cannot be transferred until unbonding completes. |
| **Staking Reserve**    | A small amount of SEI (about 1 SEI) set aside to cover the transaction fees for managing your stake, such as unstaking and claiming. It remains part of your account.      |

## How to stake

<Steps>
  <Step title="Navigate to your wallet">
    Tap the vault, select the **SEI** wallet, then tap **Stake**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Enter the validator address">
    Enter the validator's **address**, then tap **Next**. The field defaults to the Anchorage Digital validator, and you can enter any valid Sei validator address (it starts with `seivaloper1`). The address is checked against the live network, and a validator that does not exist is rejected before signing.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Enter amount">
    Enter the amount you wish to stake, then tap **Next**. There is no minimum stake amount, but keep a small SEI balance available to cover transaction fees.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Review and approve">
    Optionally add a comment, then read the **Sei (SEI) Staking Terms** disclosure and tap **Accept**. Tap **Review** to approve. Once the operation's quorum policy is met, the operation is signed and broadcast on-chain.
  </Step>
</Steps>

After staking, your position briefly shows `Staking in progress` while the transaction confirms on-chain, then `Staked` once it is active and earning rewards. There is no waiting period for your stake to activate. View your positions under **View details** on the wallet screen.

## How to add to a stake or stake to another validator

Each wallet and validator pair is a separate staking position. Staking more to a validator you already use adds to that position, and staking to a new validator creates a new position.

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

  <Step title="Enter the validator and amount">
    Enter the validator address and the amount you wish to stake, then tap **Next**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Review and approve">
    Optionally add a comment, then tap **Review** to approve. Once the operation's quorum policy is met, the operation is signed and broadcast on-chain.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## SEI rewards

Your staked SEI earns rewards continuously as the network produces blocks. Rewards accrue separately for each validator you stake to and appear as an **Available to claim** balance.

Rewards do not auto-compound. To grow your position, claim your rewards and then stake them again. When you unstake a position, the network automatically claims that position's accrued rewards to your wallet as part of the unstake.

<Info>
  Rewards are tracked per validator, so the amount you can claim is shown for each of your staking positions. Claiming returns the full accrued amount for that position to your available balance.
</Info>

## How to claim rewards

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

  <Step title="Select a position and claim">
    Select the staking position you want to claim from, then tap **Claim rewards**. Claiming returns the full accrued rewards for that position.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Review and approve">
    Optionally add a comment, then tap **Review** to approve. Claiming rewards requires initiator approval only, so no quorum or risk review is needed. The rewards return to your wallet as `Available`.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## How to redelegate

Redelegating moves staked SEI from one validator to another without unstaking first. Unlike unstaking, your SEI stays staked throughout, so it does not go through the unbonding period and continues earning rewards.

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

  <Step title="Select a position and redelegate">
    Select the staking position you want to move, then tap **Redelegate**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Enter the destination validator and amount">
    Enter the address of the validator you want to move your stake to, then enter the amount you wish to redelegate and tap **Next**. As with staking, the destination validator address (it starts with `seivaloper1`) is checked against the live network before signing.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Review and approve">
    Optionally add a comment, then tap **Review** to approve. Once the operation's quorum policy is met, the operation is signed and broadcast on-chain.
  </Step>
</Steps>

While the change takes effect, the position shows `Restaking in progress`, then `Staked` under the new validator.

## How to unstake

Unstaking a SEI position takes a single operation. After you unstake, your SEI moves through the network's unbonding period and then returns to your available balance automatically. There is no separate collect step.

<Info>
  You can unstake a full or partial amount from a position. Any rewards that have accrued to the position are claimed automatically when you unstake.
</Info>

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

  <Step title="Select a position and unstake">
    Select the staking position you want to unstake from, then tap **Unstake**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Enter amount">
    Enter the amount you wish to unstake, then tap **Next**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Review and approve">
    Optionally add a comment, then tap **Review** to approve. Once the operation's quorum policy is met, the operation is signed and broadcast on-chain.
  </Step>
</Steps>

Your SEI begins a 21-day unbonding period, during which the position shows `Unstaking in progress`. Once unbonding completes, your SEI returns to your available balance automatically.

## Position statuses

| Stage                                                  | Status                  |
| ------------------------------------------------------ | ----------------------- |
| After staking, while the transaction confirms          | `Staking in progress`   |
| Delegation active and earning rewards                  | `Staked`                |
| Rewards accrued and ready to claim                     | `Available to claim`    |
| While a redelegation to another validator takes effect | `Restaking in progress` |
| After unstaking, during the 21-day unbonding period    | `Unstaking in progress` |

## FAQ

* **Do I need to claim rewards?** Yes. SEI rewards do not auto-compound, so they stay in the **Available to claim** balance until you claim them or until you unstake the position, which claims them automatically.
* **Can I partially unstake?** Yes. You can unstake a full or partial amount from any staking position.
* **Can I add to an existing stake?** Yes. Staking more to a validator you already use adds to that position. Staking to a new validator creates a separate position.
* **Is there a minimum stake amount?** No. There is no protocol minimum, but keep a small SEI balance available to cover the transaction fees for staking, claiming, and unstaking.
* **Can I move stake between validators (redelegate)?** Yes. You can redelegate staked SEI from one validator to another without unstaking, so your SEI keeps earning rewards and does not go through the unbonding period. See [How to redelegate](#how-to-redelegate).