Staking on Hippius
Staking lets you lock hAlpha tokens to help secure the Hippius network and earn rewards in return.
How it works
Hippius uses Nominated Proof of Stake (NPoS). You stake hAlpha tokens by nominating validators. Validators run the blockchain nodes that produce blocks. When a validator you've nominated earns rewards, you get a proportional share.
- No minimum stake required
- Rewards are distributed per era (roughly every 24 hours)
- Unstaking triggers an unbonding period before funds are available
Stake from the Console
- Go to console.hippius.com and sign in
- Navigate to Wallet → Staking
- Click Stake hAlpha
- Enter the amount and choose a validator to nominate
- Confirm the transaction
The Stake hAlpha widget on the Wallet Overview page shows your current staking status at a glance.
Stake from the Desktop App
- Open the Hippius Desktop App
- Go to Staking in the sidebar
- Select a validator and enter the amount
- Confirm
See Desktop App → Staking for details.
Unstaking
- Go to Wallet → Staking in the console
- Click Unstake
- Confirm — your tokens enter the unbonding period
During the unbonding period, tokens are locked and earn no rewards. After the period ends, they appear in your wallet as available to withdraw.
The unbonding period duration is set by the chain governance. Check the current value in Polkadot.js Apps → Chain State → staking → unbondingDuration.
hAlpha vs Alpha
| Token | Where | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Alpha | Native Hippius chain | Staking, governance, miner rewards |
| hAlpha | EVM-compatible | DeFi, bridges, EVM apps |
Use the Token Bridge to move between the two.
Getting hAlpha
- Buy on a supported exchange
- Bridge Alpha → hAlpha via the Token Bridge
- Earn as a storage miner or validator
FAQ
Can I stake and store files with the same account?
Yes. Your staking wallet and your S3 access keys are separate — staking uses your on-chain account, S3 uses hip_* keys.
What happens if my nominated validator goes offline? Your stake is not slashed for validator downtime on Hippius (unlike some other chains). You can re-nominate at any time.
Is there a minimum staking amount? No minimum. But very small amounts may earn negligible rewards due to transaction fees.