Staking is investing your crypto to secure a network and earn rewards.
But what happens when you want to stop staking and get your funds back?
Here's a simple guide to understanding how to exit staking, whether you're a solo validator or in a pool 👇
💡 Why do you want to quit staking?
There are several reasons why you may want to recover your funds:
You need cash
You want to reallocate your crypto portfolio
You don't want to manage a validator anymore
You change your investment strategy
Whatever the reason, it is important to know the procedure and deadlines.
🧍♂️ If you are a solo validator (for example on Ethereum)
👉 You must signal your intention to leave staking.
This process is called "exit."
Key steps:
Send an exit message from your validator node.
Enter the exit queue.
Wait for the network to process your request.
Once "withdrawable", you can withdraw your staked balance + rewards.
⏳ How long does it take?
It depends on how many other validators are coming out at the same time.
The wait can last from a few hours to several days (sometimes longer).
Then you can manually withdraw your funds from the withdrawal address you initially set.
⚠️ You must keep your node active throughout the process, otherwise you risk a penalty.
🤝 If you stake via a pool (a platform like Binance)
In this case, you are not directly a validator, but you hold tokens representing your participation.
To recover your funds:
Request for withdrawal from the platform.
Entry into queue, depending on available liquidity.
Wait for withdrawal, then receive your ETH or other cryptos.
Some platforms also offer immediate liquidity via secondary markets, but often at a slightly lower rate.
❌ Common mistakes to avoid
Turning off your validator too early: you risk missing the exit or being slashed.
Not following the exact procedure for withdrawing to Ethereum.
Forgot the withdrawal key or associated address.
Thinking everything is automatic: On Ethereum, you often have to take a manual action to withdraw your funds.
✅ In summary
Quitting staking is entirely possible, but you need to know the right steps.
If you are a validator: you must initiate the exit and wait for it to be validated.
If you are in a pool: you follow the platform's procedure, which is often simpler.
In any case, keep your seriousness until the end of the process, so as not to lose funds or rewards.
And above all: don't forget that quitting staking also means saying goodbye to regular rewards. So weigh your decision carefully according to your goals! 🎯