# Monad Staking | Stake MON
> Stake MON in Gem Wallet - a self-custodial app for iOS and Android. Pick a Monad validator, track your APR, and unstake in hours, not weeks.



## What Is MON Staking?

MON is the native token of Monad, a high-performance EVM-compatible Layer 1 that executes transactions in parallel. Its mainnet launched on November 24, 2025. Staking on Monad is delegated Proof-of-Stake built around the MonadBFT consensus: stake weight determines validator voting power and each epoch's leader schedule. Delegators delegate their MON to a validator and receive a share of the rewards it earns from the protocol's fixed reward of 25 MON per block plus priority fees.

## Stake MON in Gem Wallet

Gem Wallet lets you stake MON natively inside the app - no web dashboard and no browser extension. It is a self-custodial wallet, so your keys never leave your device and your MON is protected by a 12-word recovery phrase. You pick a validator from the in-app list, and Gem Wallet shows the APR and your accrued rewards as they build. The minimum stake is just 0.10 MON, so you can start small. If you are new to the network, Gem Wallet is also a full Monad wallet for storing and sending MON.

## How MON Staking Rewards Work

Monad mints a fixed reward of 25 MON per block, and block leaders also collect priority fees. Your validator takes its commission, and the rest is shared pro rata - proportionally to your stake in that validator's total. As of 2026, staking MON in Gem Wallet earns around 14% APR, and the exact rate varies by validator. Rewards are not auto-compounded on Monad: you claim them manually, and claiming does not unstake your MON - your delegation stays active and keeps earning.

## Unstaking MON: Hours, Not Weeks

Monad epochs last about 5.5 hours (50,000 blocks), and unstaked MON becomes withdrawable after one epoch boundary - typically about 5.5 hours and up to roughly 11 hours depending on when you submit. That makes Monad one of the fastest exits among Proof-of-Stake networks. Withdrawal is a separate step: once the delay passes, you claim the tokens back to your balance. Monad currently has no automated in-protocol slashing, and the active set is limited to the top 200 validators by stake.

## How to Start Staking MON

Getting started takes a few minutes. Download Gem Wallet for iOS, Android, or APK and back up your 12-word recovery phrase. Don't have MON yet? You can buy Monad with a card directly in the app. Then open the MON asset, tap Stake, choose a validator, enter the amount, and confirm - the transaction settles in seconds on Monad. Need a walkthrough? Follow the step-by-step MON staking guide. Download Gem Wallet and put your MON to work today.