Top 7 Risks of Staking Crypto (Update 2023)

In recent years, the world of cryptocurrencies has witnessed a significant rise in the popularity of staking. Staking has emerged as an attractive alternative to traditional mining, allowing crypto holders to earn passive income by participating in the validation process of blockchain transactions. While staking presents promising opportunities, it is not without its fair share of risks. In fact, there are several inherent risks associated with staking crypto that every investor should be aware of before diving into this venture. In this article, we will delve into the top seven risks associated with staking crypto, shedding light on the potential challenges and vulnerabilities that investors should be mindful of before engaging in this rapidly evolving market.

Cryptocurrencies has surfaced as a widely favored mechanism to generate investment returns in the cryptocurrency markets. Nevertheless, comparable to all forms of investment, staking engenders its own set of hazards. So, you will become well-informed regarding the foremost perils of staking, granting you full cognizance of the precise nature of the venture should you opt to stake your cryptocurrencies.

Staking Crypto, What is it?

The practice of staking cryptocurrency encompasses the act of locking up a digital asset to function as a validator within a decentralized crypto network. The ultimate goal of this act is to guarantee the network’s security, continuity, and integrity. In return for facilitating the network’s security, validators are compensated with newly generated cryptocurrencies.

The Proof of Stake (PoS) consensus algorithm is responsible for making staking possible, and it was formulated as an alternative to Bitcoin’s energy-intensive Proof of Work (PoW).

In contrast to PoW networks that mandate miners to contribute computing power to secure the network, PoS crypto networks mandate that users stake a fraction, or potentially all, of their holdings in the network’s token to ensure its security and functionality.

In the early stages of cryptocurrency, most altcoins employed a PoW protocol similar to Bitcoin’s. However, in more recent years, the majority of new blockchains have integrated PoS-based or PoS-influenced consensus protocols.

Returns of Crypto Staking

It can be argued that the primary reason staking has gained widespread popularity is that it allows cryptocurrency holders to earn considerably higher annual percentage yields (APYs) compared to conventional savings accounts or money market funds.

For instance, utilizing Trust Wallet enables one to earn an APY of 23% or higher by staking Binance Coin (BNB).

Furthermore, Trust Wallet users can stake Algorand (ALGO), Kava (KAVA), Tezos (XTZ), Cosmos (ATOM), and Tron (TRX) to earn APYs ranging from approximately 6% to approximately 12% directly through the Trust Wallet app.

7 Top Risks of Crypto Staking

Staking cryptocurrency has the potential to yield returns that exceed the average for investors in the crypto market. Nevertheless, there are also several risks inherent in the staking process that necessitate careful consideration. In this regard, it is essential to delve into the associated risks.

1. Validator Costs

Aside from the inherent risks associated with running a validator node or utilizing a third-party service to stake cryptocurrency, there are also various costs that must be taken into account.

If one opts to run their own validator node, they must be prepared to incur expenses associated with hardware and electricity usage. On the other hand, staking via a third-party service often involves a charge of a few percentage points of the staking rewards. To prevent costs from significantly reducing staking returns, it is crucial for crypto investors to monitor and manage them carefully.

2. Loss or Theft

It’s important to note that there’s always a risk of losing your wallet’s private keys or having your funds stolen if you don’t take adequate security measures. Whether you’re staking or simply holding onto your digital assets, it’s essential to back up your wallet and store your private keys in a secure location.

It’s also recommended to use staking apps where you hold the private keys instead of relying on custodial third-party staking platforms. This can help mitigate the risk of your funds being compromised by a third party. Overall, ensuring the security of your digital assets should be a top priority for any crypto investor.

3. Rewards Duration

Staking rewards can sometimes have long lockup periods or payout intervals, which may affect the ability of stakers to reinvest their rewards to earn more yield. Although it does not affect the APY earned if staked for the entire year, it can limit the potential to reinvest the rewards in DeFi protocols.

To avoid this, investors can consider staking assets that offer daily staking rewards, which can help to maximize returns by allowing for more frequent reinvestment of rewards.

4. Validator Risk

When staking with a third-party provider, the provider will operate a validator node on your behalf, eliminating the need for technical knowledge and reducing the risk of downtime or penalties.

However, it’s important to note that using a third-party provider still carries some risks. For example, the provider could be compromised, leading to the loss of staked assets. Therefore, it’s important to thoroughly research any third-party provider before delegating your stake.

Additionally, some crypto networks have a limited number of validator slots available, which means that third-party providers might not always be able to accept new delegations. This could lead to missed staking opportunities or the need to switch providers frequently.

5. Market Risk

Investors should also pay close attention to the underlying fundamentals of the cryptocurrency they are staking. Factors such as the project’s development progress, adoption rate, community support, and competition can all impact the long-term viability of the cryptocurrency.

Investors should also diversify their staking assets to spread out the risk across different cryptocurrencies and networks. This can help mitigate the impact of adverse price movements in a single asset.

Finally, it’s important to remember that staking should be considered a long-term investment strategy. It’s not a get-rich-quick scheme, and investors should be prepared to hold their staked assets for an extended period to realize the full benefits of staking.

6. Liquidity Risk

The liquidity of the asset being staked is an important factor to consider, as low liquidity can make it difficult to sell or convert the staked asset or the staking rewards into other cryptocurrencies or fiat currencies.

For instance, staking a micro-cap altcoin that has low liquidity may result in difficulties in selling the asset or converting the staking rewards into more liquid assets such as Bitcoin or stablecoins.

To mitigate liquidity risks, investors are advised to stake liquid assets that have high trading volumes on exchanges. This allows for easy buying and selling of the assets and conversion of the staking rewards.

7. Lockup Periods

Lockup periods are a risk factor that investors need to consider when staking cryptocurrency. During these periods, investors are unable to access their staked assets, and if the price of the asset drops significantly, it can negatively impact overall returns. For example, Tron and Cosmos have lockup periods.

Investors can mitigate lockup risk by staking assets that don’t have a lockup period. This allows them to unstake their assets and sell them if the price drops, thereby avoiding potential losses.

Easiest and Safest Way to Stake Crypto

RoboFi Staking

RoboFi is a decentralized finance (DeFi) platform built on the blockchain that provides various staking services for different cryptocurrencies, such as VICS and Ethereum (ETH). With RoboFi’s staking services, users can earn rewards on their staked assets.

The amount of rewards that users receive from staking on RoboFi depends on the duration of the staking period and the cryptocurrency being staked. Typically, longer staking periods result in higher rewards, while shorter periods offer more flexibility and liquidity. This enables users to choose a staking strategy that matches their investment goals and risk tolerance.

In addition to staking rewards, RoboFi offers users other DeFi services, such as decentralized exchanges and liquidity pools. These services provide users with greater access to the cryptocurrency markets and multiple opportunities to earn rewards. Overall, RoboFi is a comprehensive platform that caters to the various needs of cryptocurrency holders, offering numerous ways to earn passive income on their investments.

About RoboFi

Robofi is a Defi platform that envisions a marketplace for revolutionary Dao crypto trading bots. Through its IBO (Initial Bot Offering) system, community members can maximize their earnings in an easy, simple, and secure way. We create a safe and transparent environment based on blockchain technologies that help developers bring crypto trading bot platforms to the market. In addition, individuals will have easy access to these bot applications, thereby generating more earning opportunities. RoboFi ecosystem is fueled by the VICS token.

About VICS

VICS token has a distinctive and enticing concept. VICS is the BEP-20 token, built on the Binance smart chain. It is a core utility token in the RoboFi ecosystem, the reliable crypto trading bot marketplace. One important utility is to own the governance token of DABots and participate in an IBO (Initial Bot Offering) to receive additional incentives. VICS is available on major exchanges for trading.

Official Link

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