Solflare
Solflare staking rewards
Solflare is a self-custody Solana wallet with native SOL staking. Returns vary with network conditions and validator choice, while different reward types follow different compounding rules.
- Reward rate
- Variable, depending on network conditions and the selected validator. Rewards are not guaranteed.
- Inflation rewards
- Increase the stake account balance once per Solana epoch and compound automatically.
- MEV rewards
- Some validators distribute them shortly after each epoch. These separate transfers do not compound automatically.
How validator choice affects returns
Your delegated SOL earns a share of the rewards the validator produces. Validator performance affects earnings, and its commission can change during your staking period. A rate you compare today therefore does not establish the return you will receive throughout that period.
Delegation leaves withdrawal control with your wallet. The validator cannot spend, move or withdraw your SOL, even while your stake supports its network activity.
Which rewards increase your stake
Inflation rewards enter the stake account and enlarge the balance earning subsequent rewards. Automatic compounding means you do not need to claim and re-stake each inflation payment.
Validator-dependent MEV rewards follow a separate path. They arrive as ordinary transfers instead of automatically increasing your staked balance. You can withdraw these rewards without waiting for an epoch to end, or re-stake them to earn staking rewards.
What the staking calculator estimates
The calculator uses a SOL amount, duration in months, SOL price and reward-rate assumption. It projects rewards in SOL and dollars while holding the assumed rate constant throughout the selected period.
Actual network conditions and validator results can change during that period, so the projection remains an estimate. With the amount staked, duration and reward rate unchanged, a higher assumed SOL price increases the dollar value of projected rewards. The projected SOL amount stays the same.
When stake starts earning
The wallet’s staking instructions specify a 1 SOL minimum. Creating a stake account reserves about 0.002 SOL in rent; closing the account returns that reserve. Solflare recommends keeping at least 0.01 SOL in your main wallet for staking and unstaking transaction fees.
New stake becomes active at the next Solana epoch and earns through that epoch. Expect the first rewards after that earning epoch ends. An initial period without rewards can therefore reflect the activation schedule rather than a problem with the stake.
When unstaked SOL becomes available
Standard unstaking completes at the end of the current epoch. Depending on when you start, it can finish the same day or take about a day and a half.
Completing deactivation does not automatically return SOL to your available balance. You must then withdraw it from the stake account. Instant Unstake provides immediate access for a 2% fee, offering a separate path when waiting does not suit your needs.
Staking decision checklist
- Compare validator performance and commission when choosing where to delegate; commission can change after you stake.
- Leave funds for transaction fees in your main wallet when deciding how much SOL to stake.
- Allow for activation before expecting the first rewards from a new stake.
- Account for standard deactivation and the separate withdrawal, or weigh the 2% Instant Unstake fee against your timing needs.
