WalletConnect token (WCT) staking mining offers investors high return opportunities but also comes with significant risks. This article will analyze the operation guide, revenue logic, and risk control to help users participate rationally.
1. Staking operation guide
Participating platforms: WCT staking can be conducted through the following channels:
• Exchange staking: For example, Gate.io Launchpool supports staking USDT/GT/WCT, with rewards distributed in real-time every hour, totaling 77,000 WCT for the first phase of mining, with an annualized return of up to 335.8%.
• On-chain staking: Stake through the official contract on the Optimism mainnet, supporting flexible lock-up from 1 week to 2 years, with longer lock-up periods yielding higher rewards (e.g., 2-year APY reaching 85%).
• Node operation: To become a relay node, one must stake WCT and maintain network stability; node operators can receive additional governance rights and airdrop bonuses.
Operation steps:
1. Prepare assets: Ensure that your wallet or exchange account holds WCT (for on-chain staking, transfer via the Optimism network).
2. Choose a staking pool: Select a short-term high volatility (exchange) or long-term stable (on-chain) option based on risk preference.
3. Confirm rules: Pay attention to the unlocking period (e.g., real-time unlocking on Gate.io, on-chain staking requires waiting for the lock-up period to end).
2. Revenue logic and influencing factors
• Annualized return composition:
• Basic rewards: Derived from protocol inflation issuance (accounting for 17.5% of the staking pool), the current on-chain APY is about 85%, of which 50% is inflation subsidy.
• Governance bonus: Participating in voting can increase yield weight, such as receiving an additional 5%-10% reward through 'fee distribution proposals'.
• Ecological incentives: Early stakers may receive airdrops (e.g., part of the 185 million WCT in the first quarter is allocated to node operators).
• Key variables:
• Token price fluctuations: If the price of WCT drops, actual returns may be lower than expected. For example, after its launch in April 2025, the WCT price fell from $0.55 to $0.20, resulting in losses for some stakers.
• Staking rate changes: When the on-chain staking rate exceeds 30%, the APY may decrease due to reward dilution.
3. Risk analysis and coping strategies
• Market risks:
• High inflation dependence: Half of the current 85% APY relies on token issuance, which may not be sustainable in the long term.
• Liquidity risk: On-chain staked assets cannot be withdrawn during the lock-up period, making it impossible to stop losses in case of a crash.
• Technical risks:
• Smart contract vulnerabilities: Choose audited official contracts (e.g., Optimism on-chain address 0xeF4...945).
• Node operation threshold: Self-built nodes require technical capabilities; otherwise, there may be penalties for loss of staking due to downtime.
• Suggestions for coping:
• Diversified investment: Combine short-term staking on exchanges with long-term locking on-chain to balance returns and liquidity.
• Monitoring proposals: Pay attention to governance dynamics (e.g., fee model voting) and adjust strategies in advance.
Conclusion
The high returns of WCT staking mining attract a large number of users, but one must be wary of its reliance on inflation and market volatility. It is recommended that investors choose plans based on their risk tolerance and continuously monitor protocol upgrades and on-chain data to optimize the risk-reward ratio. If the MAU fee model is implemented in the future, staking returns may further diversify, benefiting long-term holders more deeply.
