The Cosmos network operates via a 'Hub and Spoke' model to allow independent, heterogeneous blockchains to run in parallel and communicate to each other while remaining fully sovereign. There are two main components of the Cosmos network: Zones (independent blockchains) and Hubs (linking points for independent blockchains).
Visit HomepageLearn the basics of the Cosmos blockchain and quickly ramp up your knowledge about the network with these selected pieces of content.
These guides and tutorials help you stake your ATOM token on the Cosmos blockchain using several tools.
With these tools & resources, you can manage your ATOM token or analyze the Cosmos network.
Browse through a selection of Cosmos-related content such as videos, blogs, podcast episodes and more!
Come help us in making this subpage a great resource for the Cosmos community! Please share blog posts, videos, podcasts as well as tools and tutorials that helped you to get started with Cosmos or that you enjoy reading and using.
GET IN TOUCHJoin a Cosmos event to connect with other stakeholders and to experience the Cosmos community first hand!
Once you have staked your ATOMs, you are contributing to the network's security. In return, you will receive rewards in the form of newly minted ATOMs. Conversely, if you do not participate in staking, your assets will get diluted over time.
The Cosmos protocol states that validators are subject to punishment in case of malpractice. This is referred to as "slashing" and can occur in the wake of two events: the validator signing two blocks at the same height ("double signing") or the validator being offline for roughly half a day ("uptime"). The penalty for double signing is 5% of the total stake. The penalty for breaching "uptime" is significantly lower at roughly 0.01%. Penalties are imposed on both, validators as well as delegators.
Therefore, we advice you to carefully choose your validator. Please note, that the costs for running a secure and professional validator need to be covered by the commission rate. Hence, it is worthwhile to accept a certain amount of commission in order to secure your profits and minimize the risk of punishment.
If you stake in a non-custodial fashion, the validator you delegate your tokens to is not able to access your funds at any point in time since you are only delegating your staking rights. Your ATOMs always stay in your wallet and you may re-delegate them to another validator at any time.
Unfortunately, neither of them applies. Your staking rewards are not bonded to a validator by default. In order to achieve compounding interest on your rewards, you have to claim and re-delegate them from time to time. This can easily be done through your wallet UI, learn how to here.
Rewards in Cosmos have to be claimed manually. You can do so via your wallet or the CLI. how you can claim your ATOM rewards using d wallet.
Your tokens are locked (can't be transferred or sold) when staked at a validator. Unlocking ("unbonding") your tokens takes three weeks. During that period your funds do not earn rewards, are illiquid and may still be subject to slashing. This is stipulated by the protocol.
