If you own any cryptocurrencies that run on a Proof-of-Stake blockchain, you should seriously consider staking them. By staking, you will help secure the underlying blockchain network and grow your crypto holdings over time.
We are highlighting the best crypto for staking that offer the highest rewards in 2026. Although we tried to select cryptocurrencies that offer solid yields, we also considered factors in addition to APY. We took special care to ensure that the list only includes high-quality blockchain projects that have a good chance of success over the long term.
Here are the best crypto coins for staking with highest rewards in 2026:
The best crypto coins for staking with highest rewards
Without further ado, let’s take a closer look at each cryptocurrency that made our list of the best crypto coins for staking.
1. Solana
- Current APY: 6.1%
- Recommended wallet for staking: Phantom
Solana is a rapidly growing blockchain platform known for its low fees and fast transactions, in addition to its smart contract capabilities. Based on the Proof-of-Stake mechanism, Solana allows users to passively increase their SOL holdings through staking. As of now, SOL stakers earn an approximate APY of 6.1%.
For most SOL holders, the practical way to participate in staking is to delegate their stake to an existing validator (the hardware requirements for running a Solana validator are quite steep). In return, delegators they receive a portion of the staking rewards earned by the validator, minus a commission fee. Commission rates vary, with some validators charging no fees and others charging up to 7%.
Staking SOL is straightforward using leading Solana wallets like Phantom and Solflare, which make the process highly accessible. Additionally, some centralized exchanges such as Binance and Coinbase offer staking services, although this involves trusting your crypto to a third party.
2. Avalanche
- Current APY: 7%
- Recommended wallet for staking: Core Wallet
Avalanche is a Proof-of-Stake blockchain known for its strong scalability and support for smart contracts.
A standout feature of the Avalanche platform is its Subnets, which allow developers to create highly specialized blockchains that benefit from the security provided by validators participating in Avalanche’s Proof-of-Stake consensus algorithm. These Subnets can consist of a single blockchain or interconnect multiple blockchains.
The heart of the Avalanche ecosystem is the Primary Network, a special type of subnet that comprises three blockchains, each designed for specific use cases:
- Platform Chain (P-Chain): Staking and validation
- Contract Chain (C-Chain): EVM-compatible smart contracts and decentralized applications
- Exchange Chain (X-Chain): Sending and receiving funds
There are two approaches to staking on Avalanche – you can either run your own validator node or delegate your AVAX stake to an already existing validator. For most users, delegation will be a more convenient options, and it’s easy to get started with Avalanche staking thanks to wallets like Core Wallet.
4. Ethereum
- Current APY: 3%
- Recommended wallet for staking: MetaMask (via Lido or Rocket Pool)
Ethereum is the leading blockchain platform for smart contracts and has been operating on a Proof-of-Stake consensus mechanism since 2022. You can stake Ethereum by running a solo validator or using alternative staking methods such as on-chain liquid staking protocols or staking services offered by centralized cryptocurrency exchanges.
Most crypto investors won’t be able to run an Ethereum solo validator due to the technical knowledge required and the significant hurdle of needing 32 ETH to launch a validator.
The good news you can still earn ETH staking rewards even with a smaller amount of ETH. Liquid staking protocols like Lido allow you to stake your ETH and receive tokens representing your staked coins. These tokens can be used in DeFi applications or held in your wallet. When you’re ready to unstake, you can redeem the liquid staking tokens for ETH.
Currently, ETH stakers are earning an APY of around 3%. While Ethereum’s staking APY may be lower than that of other blockchains, ETH is a well-established cryptocurrency, likely to offer more stable performance compared to lower market cap altcoins, which might offer higher APYs but come with greater price volatility.
4. NEAR Protocol
- Current APY: 4.6%
- Recommended wallet for staking: Meteor Wallet
NEAR Protocol is a high-throughput blockchain platform that leverages sharding to deliver robust scalability. The project places a strong emphasis on AI-focused applications, made possible by the network’s dynamic sharding, rapid finality, and private execution features. Together, these characteristics make NEAR well suited for supporting AI agents.
Smart contracts on NEAR can be developed using widely adopted programming languages such as Rust and JavaScript. The protocol also provides a built-in incentive for builders, as developers receive 30% of the gas fees that are burned whenever their smart contracts are executed on the network.
Among the most notable innovations emerging from the NEAR ecosystem is NEAR Intents, a multichain transaction framework that lets users specify their desired result while external parties compete to fulfill it in the most efficient way. In real-world use, NEAR Intents are most commonly applied to frictionless cryptocurrency swaps across multiple blockchain networks.
NEAR secures its blockchain through a Proof-of-Stake consensus mechanism, allowing token holders to delegate their NEAR to validators and earn staking rewards. At the time of writing, staking NEAR yields an annual percentage return of roughly 4.6%.
5. Bittensor
- Current APY: 6%
- Recommended wallet for staking: Crucible
Bittensor is a decentralized network designed to facilitate a peer-to-peer marketplace for machine intelligence. It is composed of numerous subnets, each optimized for specific functions such as text prompting, transcription, or audio generation, with more than 120 subnets currently active. Bittensor is one of the top AI crypto projects currently on the market.
The protocol features a distinctive consensus model known as Yuma Consensus, which enables validators across different subnets to collectively influence and guide what the network learns over time.
The computing power needed to run machine learning workloads on Bittensor is supplied by miners, who are rewarded with TAO tokens for their contributions. Users seeking access to machine learning services on the network must pay for them using TAO tokens. TAO can also be staked, and is currently delivering an APY of around 6%, although yield can vary significantly depending on the validator you pick.
6. Injective
- Current APY: 6.5%
- Recommended wallet for staking: MetaMask (via Injective Hub)
Injective is a highly performant layer 1 blockchain designed for the development of web3 financial applications. It offers developers advanced, ready-to-use modules for building decentralized applications. The Injective platform is built with the Cosmos SDK, and uses the Tendermint Proof-of-Stake consensus mechanism.
Some of the most notable decentralized applications build on Injective include Helix (orderbook-based decentralized exchange), Mito (DeFi protocol with trading and launchpad features), Hydro Protocol (liquid staking protocol) and Talis (NFT marketplace).
Injective is powered by INJ, a native staking token that also serves as a governance token. A portion of the exchange fees paid on Injective is bought back and burned, which provides deflationary pressure to the token’s supply. INJ can also be used as collateral for certain derivatives markets on Injective.
INJ holders can delegate their tokens to a validator in order to contribute to the security of the network and earn staking rewards. At the time of writing, INJ stakers can earn an APY of over 6%.
The bottom line
When choosing the best cryptocurrency to stake, it’s important to strike a good balance between staking rewards and the stability of the underlying cryptocurrency.
For example, a cryptocurrency might have very substantial staking rewards in APY (annual percentage yield), but that might not matter much if its price drops significantly – you might still lose money overall even if you are technically earning a large APY on your token holdings.
Therefore, it’s important that you don’t only chase the cryptocurrencies that offer the highest APY on paper but also consider the cryptocurrencies you’re interested in staking from other perspectives.
If you want to learn more about the different places where you can stake your cryptocurrency, make sure to check out our list of the best crypto staking platforms.
Source:: 6 Best Crypto Coins For Staking With Highest Rewards in 2026