$ ~/learn/staking cat▊
5 min read
// 08 · earning
Staking & yield
Earning yield in crypto is real — but every yield has a source, and you should always know what it is.
> Protocol staking
On proof-of-stake networks, you can lock tokens with a validator and earn a share of block rewards and transaction fees. Yields on ETH are typically 3–5% and come from actual network activity, not token inflation alone.
> Liquidity provision
In DeFi, depositing tokens into an AMM pool earns you a share of trading fees. Yields vary dramatically with volume and volatility. Understand impermanent loss before committing large positions.
> Rule of thumb
If you can't explain in one sentence where the yield comes from, don't take it. High APRs paid in the protocol's own token are usually just delayed selling pressure.