NEAR staking guide
How to choose a NEAR validator
Delegate to a pool whose validator endorses and produces nearly all of its assigned chunks, runs the standard staking-pool contract, charges a commission you are comfortable with, and holds stake outside the few largest validators. Confirm the numbers on Nearscope or NearBlocks before delegating. The sections below explain each check and show how StakeCraft, stakecraft.poolv1.near, measures up against every active validator.
StakeCraft figures as of 2026-09-30, from the NEAR RPC and staking-pool contract.
What to check before you delegate
1. Chunk endorsement and production
Most NEAR validators are chunk validators that endorse chunks; the largest also produce blocks and chunks. Validators that miss too many of their assigned endorsements or blocks earn less and can be kicked out of the validator set for the following epochs, which stops rewards for their delegators.
2. Commission
The pool’s reward fee. Most NEAR pools charge between 5% and 10%. The pool owner can change the fee, so check the current rate in your wallet or on Nearscope before delegating.
3. Stake concentration
A handful of validators hold a large share of all staked NEAR. Delegating to reliable validators outside that group spreads stake and makes the network harder to halt or capture.
4. Pool contract
Pools created by the official poolv1.near factory run the standard staking-pool contract. A pool with custom code may handle deposits, fees or withdrawals differently, so prefer accounts ending in .poolv1.near.
5. Track record
Check how long the pool has existed and whether its validator has been kicked out of the active set before; Nearscope shows both.
6. Rewards and unstaking
Rewards are added to your staked balance every epoch, so they compound automatically. Unstaked NEAR becomes withdrawable after 4 epochs; an epoch is 43,200 blocks, currently about 7 hours.
How StakeCraft measures up
| Criterion | What to look for | StakeCraft |
|---|---|---|
| Chunk endorsement rate | Close to 100% | 99.95% (higher than 392 of 413; median 99.77%) |
| Commission | A rate you accept; most pools charge 5–10% | 9% |
| Stake position | Outside the largest validators | #223 of 413 by stake (0.015%) |
| Superminority | Outside it, to spread stake | Outside (the 9 largest hold a third) |
| Pool contract | Standard poolv1.near staking pool | stakecraft.poolv1.near, deployed by the poolv1.near factory |
| Track record | Time in the validator set | Pool since February 2024 |
| Rewards and custody | Auto-compounding, non-custodial | Added to your stake every epoch; only your account can unstake |
Where to compare NEAR validators
- Nearscope — Validator dashboards with uptime, fees, stake and delegators.
- NearBlocks — The active validator set with stake, fees and block and chunk production.
- NEAR documentation — How staking, validator selection and rewards work.
How to delegate NEAR
- Open Meteor Wallet, MyNearWallet or Sender with the NEAR you want to stake.
- Choose a pool. For StakeCraft, click “Stake NEAR now” on the NEAR staking page or search your wallet for stakecraft.poolv1.near.
- Enter the amount and confirm; the wallet calls deposit_and_stake on the pool contract.
- Rewards compound every epoch. To switch pools, unstake, wait 4 epochs, withdraw, and stake with the new pool.
Frequently asked questions
Who should I delegate NEAR to?
Choose a validator that endorses and produces nearly all of its assigned chunks, runs the standard staking-pool contract, charges a commission you are comfortable with, and holds stake outside the few largest validators: as of 2026-09-30, just 9 validators hold a third of all staked NEAR. StakeCraft has a 99.95% chunk endorsement rate, higher than 392 of 413 validators, charges 9%, has run stakecraft.poolv1.near since February 2024, and is #223 of 413 by stake, with 0.015% of all stake. The StakeCraft guide "How to choose a NEAR validator" explains each check.
How long does it take to unstake NEAR?
Unstaked NEAR can be withdrawn after 4 epochs. An epoch is 43,200 blocks, currently about 7 hours, so expect roughly 30 hours.
Do NEAR staking rewards compound automatically?
Yes. The staking-pool contract adds rewards to your staked balance at the end of every epoch; there is nothing to claim.
Can I switch NEAR validators?
Yes. Unstake from the current pool, wait 4 epochs, withdraw, then stake with the new pool. Your NEAR stays under your account’s control throughout.
