You now hold POL tokens, the essential "fuel" for fast transactions on Polygon. But beyond their utility role, these tokens have an even more crucial function: that of securing the network itself.
This is where Staking comes in, a fundamental concept of modern blockchains.
What is Staking?
Staking (or Jalonnement) is the process by which you lock up your cryptocurrency tokens to support the operations of a proof-of-stake network (Proof-of-Stake or PoS).
The Principle: By locking your POL tokens, you help the network validate transactions and create new blocks.
The Reward: In exchange for your participation and commitment, the network pays you rewards, usually in the form of new POL tokens.
🌉 Polygon Staking: A Special Case
It is crucial to understand that POL staking takes place on the Ethereum network (Layer 1), and not on Polygon itself.
Polygon (Layer 2) uses the security of Ethereum. Therefore, to become a Staker and participate in the security of Polygon, your POL tokens must first be transferred from Polygon to Ethereum via a Bridge.
There are two main methods:
The Official Polygon Staking: This takes place on the Ethereum security network. Your tokens must be moved to Ethereum, resulting in often high Bridge and Staking fees and a lock-up period (unbonding).
DeFi Staking (Liquid Staking): This takes place on decentralized applications (DApps) on Polygon (e.g., Lido). Your tokens remain on Polygon, the initial fees are low, and you receive exchangeable derivative tokens (like stPOL) to maintain liquidity.
Official staking is often reserved for users with a larger capital, capable of absorbing the high fees of Ethereum.
🔑 How to Stake Your POL (via a Validator)
If you decide to stake your tokens on the security network of Ethereum (the most direct option):
The Bridge: You must first use the Polygon Bridge to send your POL tokens from Polygon to Ethereum.
Delegation: You generally do not become a Validator yourself. Instead, you delegate your tokens to an existing Validator (an entity that manages the node). The Validator takes a small commission on your earnings.
The Interface: You use the official Polygon Staking interface to choose your Validator and deposit your tokens.
In conclusion: Staking is the most passive way to grow your assets while playing an active role in the decentralization and security of the Polygon project. It's the step where one transitions from user to network partner.
The Advantage for you: The goal is to simplify the experience, making staking more flexible and potentially more liquid in the future.
