Congratulations for finding your way to Cosmos. Ethereum’s slow and expensive transactions brought us all here. Once you find your way around the Cosmos, you will never go back.
You have educated yourself on the risks and rewards of self-custody and are smart enough to use a Ledger hardware wallet. Good for you.
At Blocks United we always recommend using a hardware wallet.
Here’s our detailed step-by-step guide to staking Cosmos ATOM tokens using Ledger and the Ledger Live desktop app.
Let’s Fu%kin Go! (LFG)
How to stake ATOM using a Ledger hardware wallet
Our favorite thing about the Ledger is that it can be connected to just about any blockchain native wallet. The Cosmos-native wallets are Keplr, Leap, and Cosmostation.
Simply connect using USB or Bluetooth, depending on the Ledger model you are using. The Cosmos wallet is your User Interface, but your Ledger USB device holds your keys offline.
Even though you are using Keplr for example, you will still need to press the buttons on the physical Ledger device in your hand to approve transactions. This allows you to access all tokens in the Cosmos ecosystem, while protecting your keys from hackers by keeping them offline.
Why connect Ledger to Keplr or Leap instead of just using the Ledger Live app?
You can stake ATOM using Ledger Live, but cannot manage most of the other Cosmos tokens. You must use a Cosmos-native wallet to send, receive, and stake SAGA, DYM, or TIA for example.
Additionally, Ledger Live does not give you the ability to claim airdrops. When new projects launch in the Cosmos they often give tokens away to ATOM stakers. Those giveaways are called, airdrops.
Fortunately, you can simply connect to Keplr, Leap or Cosmostation to claim Cosmos airdrops. Connecting Ledger to Keplr also allows you to send, receive, and stake those tokens.
Claim Cosmos airdrops
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Now that extra info is out of the way, let’s show you how to stake ATOM tokens using the Ledger Live app.
How to stake ATOM using Ledger Live app
If ATOM is the only Cosmos token you own and installing an additional wallet isn’t for you, Ledger Live works great.
Check out the video below and we will walk you through staking ATOM tokens in Ledger Live.
We will detail the steps below the video too.
If you already have ATOM tokens at your Ledger generated receiving address, skip to step #14 below.
1. Open Ledger Live on your PC and enter your password.
2. Click “Accounts” on the left side menu bar.
3. Click “Add Account” if you don’t already have ATOM in your wallet.
4. Click “Choose Crypto Asset” and type in “ATOM.”
5. Select “Cosmos (ATOM)” and click “Continue.”
6. Make sure your physical Ledger device is plugged in and the Cosmos app is open.
7. Name the account, “Cosmos” or “Cosmos Ledger Nano” and click “Add Account.”
8. A window will pop up that says, “Account added successfully” and click “Done.”
9. While in the “Accounts” tab click into your new “Cosmos” account.
10. Click “Receive” to send yourself ATOM from Coinbase, or from wherever you have your coins.
11. Click “Continue” and then verify the wallet address on your physical Ledger device.
12. Copy the address onto your clipboard. Then paste it into Coinbase, or wherever you are sending your ATOM from.
13. Click “Done.” Then click on your “Cosmos” account while viewing the “Accounts” tab.
14. Click “Stake” or “Earn Rewards” depending on your Ledger Live version.
Please DO NOT STAKE with the Ledger validator. Wallet provider validators get huge quickly and huge validators are terrible for network security.
DO NOT STAKE with centralized exchange validators, like Coinbase, Binance, or Kraken either.
Be sure to read our articles, Why You Should Not Stake With Coinbase and Why You Should Stake With Small Validators.
15. Click “Show all” and then type, “Blocks United” into the search box.
16. Click within the box that says, Blocks United. That will add a checkmark and highlight your selection. Then click “Continue.”
17. Type in the number of ATOM you’d like to stake and click “Continue.”
18. Complete the transaction on your physical Ledger device.
That’s it! Your ATOM is now staked with Blocks United and you are reliably earning ATOM rewards. Your staked ATOM is visible in the main wallet “Accounts” page.
Other tutorials and articles you may enjoy
How To Stake ATOM Using Leap Wallet
How To Stake ATOM Using Cosmostation
How To Stake ATOM Using Trust Wallet
How To Choose The Right Cryptocurrency For Staking
Unleash The Power Of Staking And DeFi With Kava
Why You Should Not Stake With Coinbase Or Any Centralized Provider
Validator Jailed? Here’s What To Do
Import Exodus, Atomic and Trust wallets Into Keplr To Claim Airdrops
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, but not exactly. Your tokens are not in your wallet. They are on the blockchain and never leave the blockchain. Your wallet holds the keys that allow you to unlock your tokens and move them from one place to another on the blockchain.
Wallets would more appropriately be called, keychains or keyrings.
Ledger holds your keys offline, which helps to protect you from hacks.
Yes. You can stake supported tokens, like ATOM from within the Ledger Live wallet app. If the token you are looking to stake is not supported by Ledger Live, connect your Ledger via USB or Bluetooth to the blockchain-native wallet to stake. Examples of blockchain-native wallets are Keplr for Cosmos, Metamask for Ethereum, Phantom for Solana, and Talisman for Polkadot.
Check out our article: Staking From Ledger.
It really depends on your risk tolerance and the level of responsibility you are comfortable taking on. The simplest place to stake ATOM is on an exchange, like Coinbase or Kraken. However, exchanges charge high commissions, disqualify you from receiving airdrops, and are terrible for networks because they centralize power.
If you are comfortable taking self-custody of your tokens we always recommend using a Ledger hardware wallet. Staking yields are higher when cutting out the middleman, like a centralized exchange.
Be sure to check out our article: Why You Should Not Stake ATOM With Coinbase.
The ATOM staking yield depends on several factors including inflation, network activity, validator performance, validator commission, etc. The staking yield constantly fluctuates and as of April, 2024 ATOM stakers enjoy a yield over 13%.
Nothing we say is financial advice or a recommendation to buy or sell anything. Cryptocurrency is a highly speculative asset class. Staking crypto tokens carries additional risks, including but not limited to smart-contract exploitation, poor validator performance or slashing, token price volatility, loss or theft, lockup periods, and illiquidity. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Never invest more than you can afford to lose. Additionally, the information contained in our articles, social media posts, emails, and on our website is not intended as, and shall not be understood or construed as financial advice. We are not attorneys, accountants, or financial advisors, nor are we holding ourselves out to be. The information contained in our articles, social media posts, emails, and on our website is not a substitute for financial advice from a professional who is aware of the facts and circumstances of your individual situation. We have done our best to ensure that the information provided in our articles, social media posts, emails, and the resources on our website are accurate and provide valuable information. Regardless of anything to the contrary, nothing available in our articles, social media posts, website, or emails should be understood as a recommendation to buy or sell anything and make any investment or financial decisions without consulting with a financial professional to address your particular situation. Blocks United expressly recommends that you seek advice from a professional. Neither Blocks United nor any of its employees or owners shall be held liable or responsible for any errors or omissions in our articles, in our social media posts, in our emails, or on our website, or for any damage or financial losses you may suffer. The decisions you make belong to you and you only, so always Do Your Own Research.
