Lending and staking

Lending and staking can both generate token rewards, but they perform different jobs. Lending supplies assets to borrowers, often against collateral. Staking commits assets to help secure a proof-of-stake network.

Crypto lending and staking illustrated with secured coins and a lending ledger

Browse the buying guides

All buying guides

Buy Stader (SD) — A simple guide

If you're looking to buy Stader (SD), you've come to the right place. Stader is a multi-chain liquid staking platform that lets users earn staking rewards across major proof-of-stake networks...

read more

Buy Goldfinch (GFI) — A simple guide

If you're looking to buy Goldfinch (GFI), you've come to the right place. Goldfinch is one of the more unique projects in decentralized finance, focusing on bringing real-world lending to the...

read more

Buy Yei Finance (CLO) — A simple guide

If you're looking to buy Yei Finance (CLO), you've come to the right place. CLO is the token behind Yei Finance's Clovis protocol — a cross-chain liquidity and settlement layer designed to bring...

read more

Buy BENQI (QI) — A simple guide

If you're looking to buy BENQI (QI), you've come to the right place. QI is the governance token powering one of Avalanche's most established DeFi lending protocols, and it's available on major...

read more

Buy FOLKS (FOLKS) — A simple guide

If you're looking to buy FOLKS (FOLKS), the native token of Folks Finance, you've come to the right place. Folks Finance is a crosschain DeFi protocol that lets users lend, borrow, and manage assets...

read more

Buy Dolomite (DOLO) — A simple guide

Looking to buy Dolomite (DOLO)? You've come to the right place. Dolomite is a DeFi protocol built on Berachain that combines decentralized exchange functionality with lending and borrowing — and...

read more

Buy Euler (EUL) — A simple guide

If you're looking to buy Euler (EUL), the governance token behind one of DeFi's more sophisticated lending protocols, you're in the right place. Euler operates on Ethereum and has expanded across...

read more

Buy Moonwell (WELL) — A simple guide

If you're looking to buy Moonwell (WELL), you're already a step ahead of most — this is one of the more interesting DeFi lending projects building on both the Moonbeam and Base ecosystems. WELL is...

read more

Buy Lista DAO (LISTA) — A simple guide

If you're looking to buy Lista DAO (LISTA), you've landed in the right place. Lista DAO is a growing DeFi protocol built on BNB Chain that combines liquid staking with decentralized borrowing —...

read more

Buy Bifrost (BFC) — A simple guide

If you're looking to buy Bifrost (BFC), you've come to the right place. BFC is the native utility token powering the Bifrost Multichain Ecosystem, used by developers to build and run decentralized...

read more

Buy Venus (XVS) — A simple guide

If you're looking to buy Venus (XVS), you've come to the right place. Venus is one of the most established decentralized lending and borrowing protocols in the BNB Chain ecosystem, giving it a...

read more

How do lending and staking tokens differ?

Browse the buying guides

Liquid staking adds a tradable token representing a staking position, while restaking can expose collateral to additional services and conditions.

How it works

A quoted yield may combine borrower interest, network rewards, fees and temporary token incentives. It is not a guaranteed return. Lending can face bad debt or liquidation-related stress; staking can involve lockups, validator penalties and slashing. A liquid receipt token may trade below the value of its underlying position when exits are slow or demand disappears. Combining protocols can compound smart-contract, oracle and liquidity risks. Understand the complete withdrawal path before treating a position as readily available cash.

Blockchain explained: connected blocks in a blockchain network
Cryptocurrency wallet and keys illustrating secure access and recovery

A little groundwork goes a long way

Before your next purchase or transfer, understand who controls access, where your crypto is going and what the trade will actually cost.

Protect access to your crypto

An exchange account and a self-custody wallet need different safeguards. Protect exchange logins with a unique password and strong two-factor authentication. For self-custody, your recovery backup is what lets you restore access.

Keep recovery words offline and private. A support agent or website asking for them is a reason to stop.

See a recovery example

Your phone breaks. An exchange may help you recover your account after identity checks. A self-custody wallet cannot reset your recovery phrase. Check your wallet’s official backup instructions before relying on it.

Choose the right transfer network

The asset, token version and network must be supported at the destination. A familiar ticker or a matching address format is not enough. Read the receiving platform’s deposit instructions before selecting a withdrawal network.

Check the address, any required memo or tag, fees and minimums. Consider a small test transfer first.

See a network example

Your destination accepts USDC on Ethereum. Selecting a cheaper network at the sending exchange does not make it an Ethereum transfer. Use a network both ends support; an ordinary withdrawal does not bridge tokens.

Understand the price you pay

Trading fees are only part of the cost. The spread, available liquidity and withdrawal charges also matter. A market order prioritizes execution; a limit order controls the price but may remain unfilled or fill only partly.

Check the order preview and the amount you will receive, then compare the full cost of your intended purchase and withdrawal.

Work through a cost example

Hypothetical example: a $200 trade with a 0.1% trading fee costs $0.20 in trading fees. A separate $5 withdrawal fee brings those charges to $5.20. Spread or slippage may add more; these are not quoted exchange rates.