> ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.near.org/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # Validator Staking > Learn how to stake NEAR, delegate to validators, track rewards, and withdraw staked tokens safely. export const TryOutOnLantstool = ({path, user = 'lantstool', repo = 'examples.near-protocol', branch = 'main'}) => { const lantstoolUrl = `https://app.lantstool.dev/import/gh/${user}/${repo}/${branch}/${path}`; const githubUrl = `https://github.com/${user}/${repo}/blob/${branch}/${path}`; const [code, setCode] = useState(null); function toRaw(ref) { const [org, repoName, , branchName, ...pathSeg] = new URL(ref).pathname.split('/').slice(1); return `https://raw.githubusercontent.com/${org}/${repoName}/${branchName}/${pathSeg.join('/')}`; } useEffect(() => { const rawUrl = toRaw(githubUrl); (async () => { try { let res; const validUntil = typeof window !== 'undefined' && localStorage.getItem(`${rawUrl}-until`); if (validUntil && Number(validUntil) > Date.now()) { res = localStorage.getItem(rawUrl); } if (!res) { res = await (await fetch(rawUrl)).text(); if (typeof window !== 'undefined') { localStorage.setItem(rawUrl, res); localStorage.setItem(`${rawUrl}-until`, String(Date.now() + 60000)); } } setCode(res); } catch { setCode('Error fetching code, please try reloading'); } })(); }, [githubUrl]); return

Try it out on{' '} Lantstool

{githubUrl.split('/').pop()}

{code === null ?

: {code.split('\n').map((line, i) => )}

{i + 1}

{line || ' '}

}

; }; NEAR uses a Proof-of-Stake (PoS), meaning that users chose the active node validators by delegating their tokens to them. In this article you'll find a detailed explanation of the staking process, including delegating, viewing balances, and withdrawing using the [NEAR CLI](../../tools/cli). **Contract source code** You can review the Staking pool smart contract source code in [this GitHub repository](https://github.com/near/core-contracts/tree/master/staking-pool). *** ## Delegate NEAR tokens Before delegating, you need to choose a validator (a node that participates in staking). Check [NearBlocks](https://nearblocks.io/node-explorer), [Pikespeak](https://pikespeak.ai/validators/overview) or [Near Staking](https://near-staking.com/), and look for validators with a good track record, uptime, and reasonable commission rates. If you prefer, you can get the list of current validators by using the [`near-validator`](../../tools/cli#validator-extension) CLI: ```sh theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"github-dark"}} near-validator validators network-config mainnet now ``` ### Stake Tokens ```sh theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"github-dark"}} near staking delegation deposit-and-stake '100 NEAR' network-config mainnet sign-with-keychain ``` ```sh theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"github-dark"}} near call deposit_and_stake --useAccount --deposit 100 ``` You will start earning staking rewards after the next epoch (approximately 12 hours) ### Staked Balance To check your staked balance on the `` pool for the `` account, run the following command: ```sh theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"github-dark"}} near staking delegation view-balance network-config mainnet now ``` ```sh theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"github-dark"}} near view get_account_staked_balance '{"account_id": ""}' ``` You can view additional information and balances from the staking pool using the following CLI commands: #### Total staked balance of the entire pool ```sh theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"github-dark"}} near view get_total_staked_balance '{}' ``` #### Owner of the staking pool ```sh theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"github-dark"}} near view get_owner_id '{}' ``` #### Current reward fee ```sh theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"github-dark"}} near view get_reward_fee_fraction '{}' ``` #### Owner's balance ```sh theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"github-dark"}} near view get_account_total_balance '{"account_id": "owner"}' ``` #### Staking key ```sh theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"github-dark"}} near view get_staking_key '{}' ``` *** ## Withdrawing Staked Tokens To withdraw your staked tokens, you will first need to "un-delegate" them from the validator. Your tokens will enter a 4 epoch (\~24 hours) unbonding period before they can be withdrawn. ### Unstake Tokens ```sh theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"github-dark"}} near staking delegation unstake '1 NEAR' network-config mainnet sign-with-keychain ``` Use the `unstake-all` command to to unstake all tokens at once: ```sh theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"github-dark"}} near staking delegation unstake-all network-config mainnet sign-with-keychain ``` ```sh theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"github-dark"}} near call unstake '{"amount": "100000000000000000000000000"}' --useAccount ``` Call the `unstake_all` method to unstake all tokens at once ### Query Unstaked Balance ```sh theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"github-dark"}} near staking delegation view-balance network-config mainnet now ``` ```sh theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"github-dark"}} near view get_account_unstaked_balance '{"account_id": ""}' ``` ### Withdraw Tokens Once the unbonding period has passed, you can withdraw your unstaked tokens: ```sh theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"github-dark"}} near staking delegation withdraw '1 NEAR' network-config mainnet sign-with-keychain ``` If you want to withdraw all available tokens, you can use the `withdraw-all` command: ```sh theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"github-dark"}} near staking delegation withdraw-all network-config mainnet sign-with-keychain ``` ```sh theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"github-dark"}} near call withdraw '{"amount": "100000000000000000000000000"}' --useAccount ``` *** ## Sunsetting a Stake Pool If you are a stake pool owner and want to wind down your validator service, follow these steps to ensure delegators can safely recover their funds. ### Step 1: Notify Delegators Before making any changes, inform your delegators that the pool is shutting down. Give them enough time to unstake and withdraw their tokens. They need to: 1. Call `unstake_all` on the pool. 2. Wait for the **4-epoch unbonding period** (\~48 hours). 3. Call `withdraw_all` to retrieve their tokens. You can share the commands from the [Withdrawing Staked Tokens](#withdrawing-staked-tokens) section above with them. ### Step 2: Pause Staking Call `pause_staking` from the pool owner account. This causes the contract to unstake everything (stake 0) and stop restaking, without affecting share balances or reward calculations. ```sh theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"github-dark"}} near call pause_staking '{}' --useAccount --depositYocto 1 --networkId mainnet ``` The contract will unstake all tokens at the next epoch boundary. Delegators will still see their shares and can unstake and withdraw normally. ### Step 3: Withdraw Owner Balance Once your own staked tokens are unstaked and the unbonding period has passed, withdraw them: ```sh theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"github-dark"}} near staking delegation withdraw-all network-config mainnet sign-with-keychain ``` ```sh theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"github-dark"}} near call withdraw_all '{}' --useAccount --networkId mainnet ``` ### Step 4: Resume (Optional) If you decide to keep the pool running again, you can re-enable staking at any time: ```sh theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"github-dark"}} near call resume_staking '{}' --useAccount --depositYocto 1 --networkId mainnet ``` *** ## Tools and Resources * Supported wallets for staking and managing your tokens: * [Ecosystem Wallets](https://wallet.near.org/) * To explore validators and staking pools: * [NearBlocks](https://nearblocks.io/) * [Pikespeak](https://pikespeak.ai/) * [NEAR Staking](https://near-staking.com/)